MARC

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

Our Partners and Supporters

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, Benetas, Carers Victoria, COTA Victoria, Deakin University, Dementia Australia, Federation University, Lyndoch Living, Monash University, NARI, North Western Melbourne Primary Care Network, Northern Health, RMIT University, St Vincent’s Health, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, and Western Health. The Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services is actively involved in the collaboration. Meaningful Ageing Australia has 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.

Our Approach

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.

Our Achievements

Since 2014, the MARC team has hosted over 20 events, conducted over 15 research projects and disseminated information into over 60 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 6 years.

MARC on the Record

Join the MARC Matters mailing list for quarterly updates here.

Latest

Seminars in Ageing: Care and Connection during COVID-19

A/Prof Jenny Waycott presents: Care and Connection during COVID-19 -Lessons about the effective use of technology for communication with loved ones in aged care
Launch of Art Centres: Supporting our Elders - A good news story

Join us on 6 August in person or online as we launch this important research.
Seminars in Ageing: Sleep, ageing and neurodegenerative disease: optimising sleep for a healthy brain and mind

Professor Sharon Naismith presents: Sleep, ageing and neurodegenerative disease: optimising sleep for a healthy brain and mind.
Advancing Alzheimer’s family caregiving interventions and research capacity in Vietnam

This project evaluates the efficacy of a culturally adapted community-based intervention for family caregivers. Funded by the US National Institute of Health, it strengthens Vietnam’s dementia research capacity to develop the next generation of dementia researchers in Vietnam.

Falls risk for older People in the community: FROP-Com

The Falls Risk for Older People in the Community (FROP-Com and FROP-Com Screen) are tools used in the community for assessment or screening of falls risk.
AUSTIN HEALTH (HEIDELBERG REPATRIATION HOSPITAL)
Indigenous Cognitive Assessment: Regional and Urban KICA

The regional and urban KICA is an instrument to assess dementia in older Aboriginal people in regional and urban settings.
What is the Seniors Exercise Park?

The Seniors Exercise Park is an outdoor exercise equipment includes multiple stations specifically designed for older people to improve strength, balance, joint movements, mobility and function.
Professional Development Workshop: Falls prevention in residential aged care workshop

Join us on 11 August for this evidence based workshop on falls prevention in residential aged care.
Elder abuse and dementia

These three short films demonstrate how to respond where the carer abuses the person with dementia; where the person with dementia abuses their carer; and where there is unintended neglect related to advancing dementia. They were co-produced with providers and older people, with funding from the State Trustees Australia Foundation.
Healthy Ageing Quiz survey

What can you do to maximise your current and future health? If you are aged 50 years or older take NARI’s 20 min survey to help us update and validate the Healthy Ageing Quiz.
Victorian falls and balance service directory

The Victorian Falls and Balance Service Directory provides details of the clinics and programs operated by public hospitals and community health services in Victoria for older people who have had a fall or are at risk of falling.
Associate Professor Bianca Brijnath

Associate Professor Bianca Brijnath is the Divisional Director of Social Gerontology at the National Ageing Research Institute. Her disciplinary training is in medical anthropology and public health and her research expertise is in cultural diversity, dementia, and mental health. She leads the Moving Pictures study in Australia and India.
Professor Briony Dow

Professor Briony Dow is Director of the National Ageing Research Institute and Honorary Professor at the School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne and Honorary Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University. Briony leads a range of both aged care and social and clinical gerontology research programs.