Melbourne Ageing Research Collaboration (MARC)

Melbourne Ageing Research Collaboration

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.

Logos of MARC partner organisations

Seed Funding

The Melbourne Ageing Research Collaboration (MARC) holds a regular research seed funding round to build ageing research capacity and promote research translation. Funded projects focus on one of the five MARC themes:

Dementia
Falls Prevention
End of Life Care
Management of Clinical Frailty
Mental Health and Wellbeing.

2025 RECIPIENTS

Asmita Manchha Silverchain

Co-designing A Reflective Experience-based Resource with Voices of Informal/family Carers Engaging in Storytelling (CARER VOICES)

Huong Xuan Thi Nguyen University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital

Understanding Dementia Diagnosis and Care Pathways for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities: Insights from the PATRON Primary Care Database

Rishni Perera Austin Health

Retrospective Cohort Study Investigating the Impact of Sarcopenia and Frailty on Dysphagia in Older Adults Undergoing Surgical Management for Head and Neck Cancer: Pilot Study

2024 Recipients

Joseph Cobbledick - Royal Melbourne Hospital
Does frailty matter? Measuring mobility improvements in hospitalised older adults

Millie Watkins - Royal Melbourne Hospital
Using bedside ultrasound to detect injuries in frail older patients presenting with low mechanism trauma to the emergency department setting.

Jack Feehan - RMIT University
Engaging Greek older people in mental health care planning and delivery – a co-design approach.

Stephanie Than - Western Health
Optimising antipsychotic prescribing at discharge for hospitalised older people: a pre-post implementation study

2020 - 2021 Recipients

In 2020 - 2021 MARC decided to focus the funding on nurses and allied health professionals with limited research experience to further their skills and understanding of research processes.

Jacqui Kay - The Royal Melbourne Hospital

ACE: Implementation of high frequency therapy to prevent loss of function and reduce falls in hospitalised older adults

Kathryn Barker - Western Health

Falls and disability in people diagnosed with COVID-19

2019 Recipients

Dr Paul Yates - Austin Health

Consumer and practitioner experiences of residential respite care: a scoping study

Dr Paula Loveland - The Royal Melbourne Hospital

Personalised falls prevention in home-based geriatric rehabilitation

2018 Recipients

Dr Claire Maddison - The Royal Melbourne Hospital

Comprehensive geriatric assessment and interventions in older lung cancer patients: a randomised controlled trial

A/Prof Wendy Bower - The Royal Melbourne Hospital

Development of a cost description model for nocturnal bladder symptoms in older inpatients at risk of toilet-related falls

Latest

MARC Matters - June 2026

MARC Matters Newsletter - June 2026
2025 Highlights Report

The National Ageing Research Institute's 2025 Highlights Report
Pinyi Zou

Pinyi is a Research Assistant with a Bachelor of Biomedicine from the University of Melbourne, majoring in Human Structure and Function. She is interested in healthy ageing, dementia research, and culturally inclusive healthcare, with experience in healthcare administration, volunteering, and participant support.
Research in Ageing - Skills and Networking Workshops

The Melbourne Ageing Research Collaboration (MARC) facilitated two professional development Research Skills workshops to consider important aspects of conducting research with older people. These workshops provided attendees from MARC partner organisations and the Community Advisory Panel members networking, knowledge transfer and skills acquisition opportunities for those new to research in ageing including older people, practitioners/clinicians, academics, and policy makers.

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.
Age-positive language guide

As part of our commitment to combatting ageism, NARI has developed an age-positive language guide. The guide provides practical examples of how words, phrases, and images can better portray older people and combat ageism.
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.
Where are the seniors exercise parks?

Seniors exercise parks are located across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Healthy Ageing Quiz

If you're 50 or over, take our Healthy Ageing Quiz to find out if you're on the right track to age well.
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.
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.
How to stay active at home - Exercises for older people

NARI's exercise videos can help older people stay active at home, particularly during times when you may not be as physically active outdoors. The exercises were developed by allied health professionals with expertise in exercise for older people.
Pain Management Guide (PMG) Toolkit for Aged Care, 2nd edition

The PMG toolkit, 2nd edition is a free resource to help implement the book Pain in Residential Aged Care Facilities: Management Strategies, 2nd Edition.
Research participants

Make a difference in the lives of older people and those who care for them by volunteering to be involved in research.