Older members reimagining ageing: a novel knowledge translation model
Tracks
Harbour View 1
Adaptation
Evidence Based Policy
Evidence based practice
Future Directions
Wellness / Well Being
| Thursday, November 14, 2024 |
| 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
Speaker
Dr Jane Sims
Director
Jane Sims & Associates
Older members reimagining ageing: a novel knowledge translation model
Thinktank abstract
The AAG is unique in that its members come from many backgrounds, from researchers, educators, policy makers, health professionals to service providers and advocates for older adults. Together, they are committed to supporting the Association’s aim: to improve the experience of ageing by connecting research, policy and practice.
Having operated as an impartial, independent organisation for almost six decades, the Association is not only distinctive in its membership representing a multidisciplinary workforce. Unlike other organisations with complementary aims, it contains a significant proportion of members who can not only offer their professional expertise, but also their lived experience as older people. There are currently 47 who hold ‘retired’ category memberships and a growing number of older adults in the overall membership base.
This thinktank will employ brainstorming techniques to consider how best to harness the diverse expertise of this sub-group of members. The aim will be to facilitate connection for exchange and collaboration amongst these older members, similar to the current Special Interest Groups, to enable them to contribute in a strategic, tailored way to the Association’s key activities.
The proposed group’s objectives will be to share professional and lived experience, knowledge and expertise in order to, for example,
• enhance the co-design of programs aimed at promoting the health, wellbeing and quality of life of older Australians.
• consider gaps/limitations experienced in service provision and to advocate for research, policy and service developments to address these
• share personal development ideas in areas such as choices, planning, decision making and resilience in later life and discuss evidence-based means to tackle these
In summary, the proposed group will share, review and repurpose their professional and lived experience expertise to support one another and collaborate in furthering the Association’s goals.
The outcome of the thinktank will be to produce a structured proposal on the means to formally establish and operationalise this older members’ group, for the AAG Board’s consideration.
Timeframe
Welcome, introductions and overview of session’s purpose 15 minutes: Facilitators, all
Brainstorm 1 scope of ‘Special Interest Group’. 20 minutes : Small groups
Summary of and agreement on scope 10 minutes : All
Brainstorm 2 operational framework 20 minutes: Small groups
Summary of and agreement on framework 10 minutes: All
Next steps 15 minutes: All
Total 90 minutes
Having operated as an impartial, independent organisation for almost six decades, the Association is not only distinctive in its membership representing a multidisciplinary workforce. Unlike other organisations with complementary aims, it contains a significant proportion of members who can not only offer their professional expertise, but also their lived experience as older people. There are currently 47 who hold ‘retired’ category memberships and a growing number of older adults in the overall membership base.
This thinktank will employ brainstorming techniques to consider how best to harness the diverse expertise of this sub-group of members. The aim will be to facilitate connection for exchange and collaboration amongst these older members, similar to the current Special Interest Groups, to enable them to contribute in a strategic, tailored way to the Association’s key activities.
The proposed group’s objectives will be to share professional and lived experience, knowledge and expertise in order to, for example,
• enhance the co-design of programs aimed at promoting the health, wellbeing and quality of life of older Australians.
• consider gaps/limitations experienced in service provision and to advocate for research, policy and service developments to address these
• share personal development ideas in areas such as choices, planning, decision making and resilience in later life and discuss evidence-based means to tackle these
In summary, the proposed group will share, review and repurpose their professional and lived experience expertise to support one another and collaborate in furthering the Association’s goals.
The outcome of the thinktank will be to produce a structured proposal on the means to formally establish and operationalise this older members’ group, for the AAG Board’s consideration.
Timeframe
Welcome, introductions and overview of session’s purpose 15 minutes: Facilitators, all
Brainstorm 1 scope of ‘Special Interest Group’. 20 minutes : Small groups
Summary of and agreement on scope 10 minutes : All
Brainstorm 2 operational framework 20 minutes: Small groups
Summary of and agreement on framework 10 minutes: All
Next steps 15 minutes: All
Total 90 minutes
Biography
Dr. Jane Sims has been involved in teaching and research in gerontology for over two decades. Her area of expertise is healthy ageing, especially physical activity promotion in older people. She was an Executive Committee Member of the Australian Association of Gerontology’s (AAG) Victorian Division from 2004-2017, serving as Hon. Secretary, Vice President and President. She is currently Deputy Editor in Chief for the Australasian Journal on Ageing.
Jane has an established track record in research on ageing, mental health, primary health care research, including health service evaluation, and the delivery of quality education programs for health professionals and service providers. Dr Sims is committed to the conduct of high quality research and evaluation programs and to the development of a research and clinical workforce. Dr Sims has a broad range of research expertise, consultancy skills and strong knowledge of the health sector. She has collaborated effectively with a range of organisations on local and national projects, and managed projects in a challenging health environment for many years.
Jane also works in her community to promote healthy ageing. She has served on the City of Port Phillip Council’s Older Persons Consultative Committee, advocating for an age friendly city. She continues volunteering, to support the work of Sacred Heart Mission: to build people's capacity to participate more fully in community life, by addressing the underlying causes of deep, persistent disadvantage and social exclusion.
Ms Sharon Wall
AAG Life Member
Aboriginal Health And Ageing Program (NeuRA))
Older members reimagining ageing: a novel knowledge translation model
Biography
Sharon Wall is a Registered General and Geriatric Nurse, has a Diploma of Nursing Education, a Diploma of Counselling, a Degree in Health Sciences and a Masters of Public Health and is a level two Executive Coach. She has a history of over 45 years working in the area of ageing. She has over this time, developed special interests and expertise in caring for those living with dementia as well end of life issues and end of life decision making for older people and is published in these areas. She has authored several books, book chapters and educational resources particularly focusing on dementia and other challenges and inequities of ageing. She has an experience portfolio which incorporates education, research and clinical practice across the residential, community care and tertiary education sectors and embraces using creative teaching and learning practices in working with these groups. Sharon has worked , most recently, as part of the Aboriginal Health and Ageing team at NeuRA for almost 15 years at the interface of translating research undertaken into practical resources and outcomes for Aboriginal communities as the Translation Research coordinator working across all projects being undertaken by that team. Sharon has been an active and committed member of the AAG for over 35 years and has worked on National and State committees over that time. She was awarded a lifetime membership of the AAG in 2023. She is currently transitioning into and reimagining her own retirement , as she humbly acknowledges that Gerontologists do not actually retire but simply become more experienced (in the first person) with their craft .
