About UARC

The team

UARC’s research is led by research theme leads, researchers from across UTS faculties and schools and affiliates. Meet the team

It is also supported by an advisory group and industry and government partners.

The vision

To enable healthy ageing population and an aged-care sector that is sustainable in terms of its fiscal, financial, workforce and social dimensions, we must first find solutions to the complex problems that characterise the social practices and the sector.

We conceptualise aged care as a healthcare and social support system that delivers subsidised and regulated services to senior citizens in need. These services need to support the quality of life as well as the quality of care.

We use the Commonwealth of Australia’s definition of ageing of people 65 and over (and 50 and over for people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander).

Translational and transdisciplinary research

UARC engages in collaborative and translational research that addresses complex problems in ageing policy and practice.

The translation of the results of research into practice is often referred to as ‘bench to bedside’ and forms the basis of ‘evidence-informed practice’.

Our work combines and synthesises theories, concepts and methods from different disciplines to form a new approach for research. It reflects the following characteristics.

PROBLEM FOCUS

Explicitly oriented to solving complex and wicked problems.

INTEGRATION

Disciplines, frameworks, theories, methods and findings are integrated into a whole that is more than the sum of the parts. It transcends and integrates human as well as natural systems.

COLLABORATION

The integration of researchers from multiple disciplines, as well as practitioners, industry, government and users.

CO-PRODUCTION

Knowledge is co-produced between the collaborating stakeholders from problem formation to solution and implementation.

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE

The focus of research is to produce knowledge that is oriented toward social justice.