The Melbourne Ageing Research Collaboration (MARC) is a unique collaboration of health, research, aged care and advocacy organisations working together to improve the lives of older people.
Our vision is that older people received the best possible care and support through services, programs and policies which support health and optimal quality of life.
Established in 2014, MARC (Melbourne Ageing Research Collaboration) is a unique consortium of 20 partners, bringing together hospitals, universities, aged care services, primary health, government and advocacy organisations. MARC aims to improve the lives of older people through rapid translation of research into policy and practice. We seek to improve aging-related knowledge, skills and understanding among researchers, the health and aged care workforce, policymakers and the general public to ultimately create long-lasting, systemic change.
MARC’s focus is on addressing key issues of importance to older people, their carers, health professionals and the wider community. Our four key themes are preventing falls, providing better dementia care, improving mental health and wellbeing, and enabling better end-of-life care.
MARC Capability Statement
By engaging key stakeholders across settings and services in the field of ageing, MARC is able to reach a diverse range of older people, carers, health and aged care staff, communities, universities, policymakers and government entities.
MARC is led by the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), the ‘backbone’ organisation.
MARC’s partner organisations include Austin Health, Australian Unity, Barwon Health, Benetas, Carers Victoria, COTA Victoria, Deakin University, Dementia Australia, Department of Health Victoria, Federation University, Lyndoch Living, Merri Health, Monash University, NARI, North Western Melbourne Primary Care Network, RMIT University, Silver Chain, St Vincent’s Health, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, and Western Health. Meaningful Ageing Australia joined MARC as an affiliated member in 2020.
MARC also has an affiliation with the regionally-based Western Alliance Academic Health Science Centre.
MARC includes a Community Advisory Group (CAG), a group of volunteers with a wide range of professional and personal experience of consumer issues related to health and aged care.
Our research is funded by the JO & JR Wicking Trust, other philanthropy, donations, financial contributions from the partner organisations, and the Victorian Government.
Working as a strategic partnership, we are combining resources and expertise to influence policy and practice in Victoria and beyond for the benefit of older people, their families and health and aged care providers and the community generally.
It has been widely acknowledged that current systems are not designed to provide optimal support for older people. MARC seeks to actively change this through research and collaboration. All MARC research projects involve multiple partners and representatives, including from our community advisory group, adopting a co-design approach. To share our knowledge, MARC facilitates educational events and hosts regular public forums to highlight and discuss ageing-related matters to bridge the divide between research, policy and practice. MARC provides research opportunities to future students who wish to make a difference in the ageing research sector. MARC also provides funding for PhD Scholarships, clinicians and practitioners to build their skills and capacity in ageing research.
Since 2014, the MARC team has hosted over 38 events, conducted over 17 research projects and disseminated information into over 120 settings.
Our research and advocacy activities have already led to wide-reaching and sustainable practice change, but there is still more to do.
MARC on the Record provides a snapshot of our achievements over the past 9 years.
MARC on the Record
Listen to some of our members talk about the importance of MARC's work and the their experiences of its impact and the power of collaboration.
MARC has awarded $180,000 in research seed funding to build ageing research capacity and promote research translation. Funded projects focused on one of the four MARC themes – Dementia, Falls Prevention, End of Life Care, and Mental Health and Wellbeing. Find out about the successful seed funding grants.
MARC has provided four PhD Scholarships to enable students enrolled at a MARC academic partner organisation to undertake their PhD in an area of ageing research. Find out about the PhD Scholarships we have awarded.
Join the MARC Matters mailing list for quarterly updates here.
Contact us to become a MARC partner or affiliate [email protected]