Stratos (Steven) Vakkas

B.Sc, B.A. (Hons)

Bilingual Research Assistant

Stratos has worked as a tutor and academic assistant in Philosophy at Melbourne, Monash and La Trobe Universities. He has also taught high school mathematics and chemistry. At NARI Stratos is working in the Social Gerontology Division with the MindCare team as a Bilingual Research Assistant on the Dementia Risk Reduction program for CALD communities. Stratos has also worked with a major vehicle manufacturer for many years in Europe and Australia where he’s held senior roles in sales, marketing and general management. He has particular interests in dementia and mental health.

Email: [email protected]

Latest

Seminars in Ageing: Putting patient values into shared decision making

Join us Tuesday 30th July for the Seminar in Ageing presented by Sharyn Milnes who will discuss the topic: Putting patient values into shared decision making
Launch of the Framework for Enabling Technology-supported Aged Care at Home

Join us for the launch of the Framework for Enabling Technology-supported Aged Care at Home, Friday 9th August 2024, 12:30 – 1.15pm AEST, register to attend in person or online (Zoom). Note in-person attendence has limited capacity.
Wendy Taylor

Wendy is the project manager of the MRFF-funded IDC-IMPROVE project. Her research interests include the aged care workforce, new models of care and dementia. She has expertise in qualitative research and evaluation and a strong commitment to research translation.
Conversations on Ageing: Understanding, embracing & supporting Neurodiversity as we age

Join us on 14 August at 6:00pm for our free online Conversation on Ageing 2024 to hear from Professor Sandra Thom-Jones & Professor Mark Bellgrove.

Wendy Taylor

Wendy is the project manager of the MRFF-funded IDC-IMPROVE project. Her research interests include the aged care workforce, new models of care and dementia. She has expertise in qualitative research and evaluation and a strong commitment to research translation.
Sunny Huang

Sunny Huanh is a Bilingual Research Assistant at NARI, working closely with the Chinese dementia community. She has extensive experience in healthcare, research, disability support, and working with people living with dementia. Her research interests include the biopsychosocial aspects of aging, dementia care, sleep and mental health, and community health initiatives.
Rina Barhoum

Rina is a Bilingual Research Assistant within the Social Gerontology Division at NARI. She has a background in public health with a focus on cardiovascular diseases. Rina is currently working on the MindCare study which aims to co-produce a dementia risk reduction program for CALD communities to improve health self-efficacy.
Pooi Kheng Lee

Pooi Kheng, also known as PK, is a bilingual research assistant focusing on the MRFF-funded Befriending with GENIE project to enhance dementia care for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities. With expertise in dementia-enabling design, PK is dedicated to creating supportive environments and volunteers in aged care.
Marla Stone

Marla is a research assistant working on the ENJOY IMPACT Project in Mitchell Shire. She has a background in Education, Logistics and Neighbourhood House services.
Kira Kezia-Pearl

Kira is a Research Assistant within the Clinical Gerontology Division at NARI. She is working on the ENJOY IMP-ACT project which aims to improve older people’s health through physical activity.
Nyssa Clarke

Nyssa Clarke is a Research Assistant working on the MINDSET project at NARI. She has experience in public health research, primarily in the areas of health literacy, traumatic injury and sustainable transport.
Liam Borelli-Millott

Liam is a Research Assistant working with the Clinical Gerontology Division and an assistant with the NARI Education program. Liam is also a PhD Candidate focusing on the impacts of lifetime trauma on the experience of dementia and dementia care.
Dr Anna Lane

Dr Anna Lane is a Research Fellow within the Aged Care and MARC Divisions at NARI, working on the IMPART and Befriending with GENIE projects. Her research is focused on ageing and disability, ageing in place, death and dying, and aged care workforce.
Dr Upasana Baruah

Dr Upasana Baruah is a Research Fellow in Social Gerontology. She is a social work and mental health professional with fifteen years of experience in the field of clinical social work, mental health and psychosocial research, teaching, supervision, sustainable development, and project management.

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.
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.
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.
Research participants

Make a difference in the lives of older people and those who care for them by volunteering to be involved in research.
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.
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.
MINDSET: Free training to interpreters for Dementia Assessments

MINDSET is providing free specialist online dementia training to all interpreters across Australia regardless of level or language!
Grief in Older People and its Effect on Healthcare Use

Examines the effects of grief in older people on healthcare use from the perspective of (a) the older bereaved person who is experiencing grief and (b) GPs who are treating grieving older people.