One of Australia's most pressing challenges - improving the health and wellbeing of older Australians -will be significantly boosted with Flinders University becoming the lead university partner of the Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA).
Based at SAHMRI, ROSA is a unique aged care data platform, combining robust analytics and research translation to drive improvements in Australia's burgeoning aged care sector.
The first project of its kind in Australia, ROSA brings together data from the health, aged care, and social welfare sector so that the experiences of people in aged care can be better understood.
Monitoring health, service utilisation, medication use, mortality, and other important outcomes, ROSA provides a complete picture of the ageing pathway in Australia.
The registry's critical work was highlighted earlier this month by the newly established Office of the Inspector General of Aged Care.
In a progress report assessing the current implementation of the recommendations made following the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Inspector General recognised ROSA's value, recommending that the government do everything possible to support the registry going forward.
ROSA Director Professor Maria Inacio, alongside Associate Director Professor Gillian Caughey and colleague Associate Professor Stephanie Harrison, will join Flinders' Caring Futures Institute as part of the partnership and says Flinders University will be key in powering the registry to grow its impact.
"The synergy of the SAHMRI and Flinders University partnership comes at a critical juncture for ROSA, maturing into a crucial national ageing and aged care research centre and expanding its portfolio. The team is excited about our future working together to deliver important evidence on how to better care for older people," Professor Inacio said.
Interim Director of the Caring Futures Institute Professor Rebecca Golley says the partnership will amplify Flinders' research that is already improving the aged-care sector.
"Flinders hosts the Commonwealth funded Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation (ARIIA) organisation which is driving workforce development and innovation in the sector. Our stronger partnership with the ROSA team will reinforce our Caring Futures Institute's contributions to improving the lives and experiences of older people in our communities," Professor Golley said.
"A number of Caring Futures Institute research projects have already had a tangible impact on improving Australia's aged-care sector, thanks to our Knowledge Translation capability which drives systems change, but also puts the older Australians we serve at the centre of our research.
"Flinders will extend on these successes with the help of Professor Inacio and her colleagues who are international leaders in their fields."
ROSA was established by SAHMRI in 2017 with the support of the Government of South Australia as a partnership between Flinders University, University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, together with aged care providers (which now include Silverchain, ECH Inc, Bolton Clarke), Council on the Ageing SA (COTA SA) and SA NT DataLink and SA Health.
The Caring Futures Institute is an endorsed Flinders research entity that works in partnership with people and organisations across the health, education, aged care and social services sectors. Through research, knowledge translation and partnerships we are ensuring the best care is accessible for all who need it, across the course of their lives.
