The National Centre for Healthy Ageing (NCHA) has officially opened six Advanced Simulation Research Facilities to help inform preventative health for older people and people living with disability.
Based across three locations in Victoria, the facilities include an Independent Living Laboratory and Mobility Garden, an Intergenerational Playground, Ageing Well Clinics, Smart Ward, Digital Library and a Multipurpose Research Facility featuring a Movement Analysis Laboratory and Broadcasting Studio.
At the official launch at the Healthy Futures Hub in Seaford, NCHA director Velandai Srikanth paid tribute to the “many visionary partners” involved in the project and said it could help change “many lives.”
“We are excited about the transformative impact these NCHA Advanced Simulation Research Facilities will have in generating evidence to inform government, industry, education, technology and service sectors. With greater investment from government and industry, they could extend into many more communities across Australia, unlocking even greater national impact,” Professor Srikanth said.
At the launch, Federal Member for Dunkley Jodie Belyea highlighted the importance of NCHA’s approach to working closely with the community in co-designing and developing the facilities.
Bayside Health Peninsula CEO Jana Gazarek said NCHA and its partners should be “incredibly proud” of the simulation facilities model.
“By combining simulation, data and partnership, we can now reimagine models of care for older people – ensuring they are not only living longer, but living healthier, more connected and more fulfilling lives,” Ms Gazarek said.
Monash University Head of School Primary and Allied Health Care and chair of the NCHA Simulations Facilities Terry Haines said the aim was to be “at the cutting-edge of research in ageing.”
“This required bold ideas, taking a bit of a risk, being adventurous – but always embedding that with what our stakeholders were telling us was something that would be useful, with something that would drive innovation in the aged care space and be something that would really inspire a new way of thinking in our researchers and our clinicians for how they could go about their work,” Professor Haines said.
“One of the great things of the simulated facilities infrastructure is it gives people an opportunity to dream a bit more, to expand their horizons, to understand what is possible. New boundaries will be pushed, new ways of doing things will be developed and better care is going to be developed through that.”
Prof Srikanth added that addressing healthy ageing was a “complex issue,” noting “not one solution fits everything.”
“We’re really proud that the National Centre for Healthy Ageing has delivered on its promise of providing preventative health for older people and people living with disability in Australia. We are also very excited these facilities will help inform research into future models of care and living environments so we can age well, live well.”
Pulse+IT previously reported on the project’s Independent Living Laboratory and Mobility Garden, a purpose‑built research facility aimed at helping older Australians and people with disabilities to build the confidence and skills to live independently at home and avoid unplanned hospitalisation.
Add Comment