Research Institute 2025 Report
The Research Institute is leading the way in positive ageing – enabling, celebrating and supporting older people to live full, happy and healthy lives.
Leading the way in positive ageing
For nearly 25 years, the Research Institute has been at the forefront of research that is helping older people to live full, happy and healthy lives.
Multidisciplinary team
As an embedded academic Research Institute, we are uniquely placed to conduct and translate research into real services and solutions that enhance the lives of older Australians. Our multidisciplinary team have backgrounds in dietetics, nursing, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology and speech pathology, ensuring a holistic and integrated approach to our work.
Providing evidence-based care is enhanced through building research capacity across Bolton Clarke, supporting teams and students to deliver research and quality improvement projects. Together with frontline carers and clinical and quality experts, the Institute brings deep expertise and insights to deliver excellence in care.
Globally connected
The impact of the Research Institute is demonstrated by the breadth and depth of our collaborations with national and international university, health and government partners. These partnerships strengthen our reach as we contribute our aged and community care perspective to national and international practice and policy debate.
Research translated into practice
We co-design solutions and translate evidence into meaningful outcomes through deeply listening to clients, residents and their families, and drawing on insights from frontline teams, community advisory bodies and governance committees. The extensive and comprehensive process associated with our Implementation Framework for Aged Care, including a robust focus on sustainability, ensures programs and models are designed and implemented to meet the unique needs and preferences of clients, residents and our workforce.
Our highlights
In the last two years, the Research Institute has:
Secured $155K in grant funding and participated in partner-led collaborations totalling $17M
Published 46 peer reviewed publications, book chapters and industry articles
Supported and supervised 48 students
Delivered 76 international, national and community presentations Participated in 67 research collaborations
Research priorities
Our work focuses on four key areas:
Optimising health and wellbeing
Combatting loneliness and isolation
Addressing mental health
Evaluating the implementation of assistive technology
Supporting our future workforce
In partnership with universities across Australia, the Research Institute is committed to supporting future researchers and practitioners.
Our research and professional placements are an excellent opportunity for students to align their undergraduate and postgraduate coursework with real-world work experience and practical application.
Students can be immersed in both the research and service sectors, applying their knowledge within a unique and supportive context.
Congratulations to Dr Ying Yu, who graduated with a PhD from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, on the topic ‘Evaluating the effectiveness of an Australian iSupport for Dementia education program for carers’, with support from her Adjunct supervisor Dr Claudia Meyer.
We are currently supporting the following doctoral candidates:
Duaa Alrashdi, University College London –Development and feasibility of a culturally adapted, brief, self-guided online mindfulness-based intervention for university students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Associate supervisor Dr Carly Meyer).
Divya Anantharaman, The University of Queensland – The Actors, Behaviours and Challenges: The ABC of resilient hearing and vision healthcare systems for people in aged care communities (Associate supervisor Dr Carly Meyer).
Jacqueline Batchelor, University of Sydney –Comprehension of pre-operative medication changes in the telehealth preadmission clinic: analysis in patients with diabetes (Associate supervisor Dr Rajna Ogrin).
Laylla Galvao Azevedo, The University of Queensland – ClearTalk: Co-design of a communication program to enhance how future medical doctors communicate with adults with hearing loss (Associate supervisor Dr Carly Meyer).
Olivia Liu, Queensland University of Technology – ‘Knowing the person’: A codesigned ready-toimplement approach to enhance person-centred home care for people living with dementia (Associate supervisor Dr Linda Schnitker).
Ash McEvoy, Monash University – Enabling multidisciplinary home medication reviews for patients receiving home care packages: nominal group technique and workflow analysis (PhD industry placement, Supervisors Dr Rajna Ogrin and Fleur O’Keefe).
University student Leya supported residents John and Thorold to tell their stories as part of the SHARE storytelling program.
Student placements: Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees
Education provider and degree
Monash University
Bachelor of Health Science (Honours)
Monash University Master of Wound Care
Monash University
MD Scholarly Intensive Placement (primary
supervisor Dr Daniel Fineberg)
Southern Cross University Master of Social Work
University of Melbourne
Master of Public Health
Student name
Focus area
University of Melbourne Master of Social Work
Tanycia Munasinghe
Connecting Communities to Care - volunteering
University of Queensland
Master of Biostatistics
Caroline Page
Vignesh Ashok
Chatnapa Yodkitudomying
Rekha Singh
James Du
Theresa Chow
KJ Gerraty
Madeline Wu
Daniel Wong
Ei Phyu (Aileen) Moe
Aimei (Emily) Wang
Grace Lesmana
Safa Alrababah
Bachelor’s and Master’s course students across a range of disciplines
27 students from five universities
Exploring occupational therapists’ perceptions and experiences on their current and potential roles in wound management in Australia
Social connection incorporated in hospital care
Trauma-informed screening in residential aged care
Connecting Communities to Care
Understanding the profile and management of Hoarding and Squalor in Home Care
Connecting Communities to Care
CaTPin: Perspective of older adults on loneliness
Health and Wellbeing in Retirement Survey 2023 – factors associated with subjective memory problems and self-reported health
As part of the Storytelling in Health and Aged care, Research and Education (SHARE) program, university students supported residents at eight residential homes to tell their stories
Strong governance
Robust governance ensures our research is ethical, high quality and benefits our customers and the community.
Executive Research Management Committee
All research at Bolton Clarke is overseen by the Executive Research Management Committee (ERMC) to ensure that it is developed and managed ethically in line with the strategic needs and direction of the Bolton Clarke Board. The ERMC meets quarterly and reports directly to the Board through the Group CEO.
ERMC membership encompasses a broad range of clinical, research and managerial experience.
ERMC membership as at 30 June 2025:
Deidre McGill (Chair)
RN, BHlthSc, MSc Healthcare Mngt, GAICD, MACN
Chief Operating Officer, Home & Community Support, Bolton Clarke
Meredith Bird
BA, PGDipEd, MCom
Executive General Manager, Brand, Marketing & Communications, Bolton Clarke
Emeritus Professor Sue Gordon
BAAppSc(Physio), BCEd, PhD
Chair, National Aged Care Advisory Council
Adjunct Professor Stephen Muggleton BAppSci, MHA (UNSW), FInstLM, GAICD
Group Chief Executive Officer, Bolton Clarke Retired 30 June 2025
Katherine Platt
RN, BN, MPH (Health Services Mgt and Policy Sciences), MAICD
Head of Clinical & Service Governance, Bolton Clarke
Brett Rice
BEc (Acc), CPA, GAICD
Chief Operating Officer, Retirement Living, Bolton Clarke
Distinguished Professor Patsy Yates AM
RN, PhD, FACN, FAAN
Executive Dean, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology
Research Review and Governance Committee
The role of the Research Review and Governance Committee (RRGC) is to ensure that all research conducted at or with Bolton Clarke is high quality, relevant and meets an identified need. The RRGC meets fortnightly to review all proposed research and quality improvement projects (including grant applications) to ensure they have scientific merit, clinical significance, rigour, feasibility and alignment with organisational priorities.
Membership of the RRGC consists of the Secretary of the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), the Head of the Research Institute, Senior Research Fellow as co-ordinator, and two rotating positions from the Bolton Clarke Research Institute.
All research undertaken with Bolton Clarke is reviewed by the RRGC before being reviewed by the Bolton Clarke Human Research Ethics Committee.
Human Research Ethics Committee
The Bolton Clarke Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) is an accredited HREC that operates within the Australian Government’s National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines. The HREC works to protect the welfare and rights of Bolton Clarke individuals, groups and communities who participate in research projects. The HREC has approved seven projects during the past two years from both internal and external researchers.
HREC membership as at 30 June 2025:
Professor Melissa Bloomer (Acting Chair)
Dr Michael Bauer (Deputy Chair)
Dr Irene Bouzo
Dr Stephanie Champion
Ms Susan Cott
Dr Denise Hobson
Our multidisciplinary team
Our team brings together research experience and clinical expertise, complemented by proficiency in program and service delivery.
Research
Dr Carly Meyer, BSpchPath (Hons1) PhD
Senior Research Fellow
Affiliations: Honorary Senior Research Fellow, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland; Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Clinical, Educational, and Health Psychology, University College London.
Carly is a mixed-methods researcher who is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of older adults through the implementation of evidence-informed practice. Her areas of research include hearing rehabilitation (including people living with dementia), patient- and family-centred care, telehealth, and the behavioural and implementation sciences. Carly’s research has sought to examine hearing help-seeking and identify and address the psychosocial impacts of hearing impairment for people with hearing loss and their families. She has also used and developed telehealth solutions (e.g., web-based portals) to complement traditional services and address unmet need. Carly regularly collaborates with universities, research institutes, clinicians, charitable organisations, and consumer groups, nationally and internationally.
Dr Claudia Meyer, BAppSci (Physio) MPH PhD
Senior Research Fellow
Affiliations: Adjunct Research Fellow - Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living Research Centre, Monash University; Adjunct Research Fellow – College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University; Honorary Associate – Centre for Health Communication and Participation, La Trobe University.
Claudia is a dedicated implementation scientist, combining almost 30 years of clinical physiotherapy expertise with research, to move evidence into practice for older people, carers and the aged care workforce. Her focus is on best practice dementia care and reducing falls and frailty across the spectrum of home and community services, retirement living and residential care. She willingly collaborates and has built extensive networks across academia, government and industry. She is the immediate past President of the Australian Association of Gerontology, immediate past student/early career representative for the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics Asia-Oceania region and current non-executive board director of Dhelkaya Health (public health) and Annie North (women’s refuge) in regional Victoria.
Dr Rajna Ogrin, BSc BPod (Hons) PhD
Senior Research Fellow
Affiliations: Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Surgery, Monash Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University.
Trained as a clinical podiatrist, Rajna’s research focus is improving the implementation of evidence into practice, underpinned by co-design. Her expertise includes interprofessional person-centred collaborative care for chronic condition assessment, diagnosis and management (with a particular focus on chronic wounds and diabetes), implementation of evidence-based practice and social connection. Rajna is currently the Chair of the Primary Care Diabetes Society of Australia, an Associate Editor of the Australasian Journal of Ageing, and Chair of the Wound Course advisory group at Monash University.
Dr Angela Joe, BTech (Hons) MPH PhD
Research Fellow
Following her PhD in microbiology, Angela built extensive post-doctoral experience as an infectious disease researcher before completing a Master of Public Health specialising in epidemiology and biostatistics. Angela is skilled in descriptive and inferential analyses of large healthcare data sets. Her focus has been on the use of routinely collected health data to inform improvements and new approaches to health service delivery.
Dr Arti Appannah, BPsych (Hons) MPsychOrg PhD
Research Fellow
Arti’s PhD examined the factors contributing to building an age-friendly organisational culture, with a social policy perspective. Arti has worked on several projects within the fields of organisational psychology and gerontology, including a landmark study on cognitive health, ‘Australian Imaging Biomarkers and Lifestyle study’. She has also worked in research management at La Trobe University. Her research interests span organisational culture, the ageing workforce, workplace diversity and wellbeing.
Dr Linda Schnitker, RN BN MN PhD
Bolton Clarke - QUT Conjoint Research Fellow
Linda is an internationally recognised leader in gerontological nursing. She is a Registered Nurse (RN) and award-winning educator at QUT’s School of Nursing, honored by the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (2020). As an early mid-career researcher, Linda designs and leads impactful studies to improve aged care, particularly for residents living with dementia, focusing on practical, sustainable changes in nursing practice.
Senior Research Fellows
Dr Carly Meyer, Dr Claudia Meyer and Dr Rajna Ogrin.
Dr Sarah Bonell, BPsychSci (Hons) PhD
Research Fellow
Sarah completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Queensland in 2017 and her PhD in psychology at the University of Melbourne in 2022. Her previous research in part has focused on the relationship between ageing and body image; that is, the ways in which getting older shapes and shifts how we feel about our appearance. Since starting at Bolton Clarke in 2024, Sarah has been working on the Connecting Communities to Care project which aims to improve social connection and wellbeing for older people in Victoria.
Elizabeth Robinson, BA/BSc BA (Hons) (Psych)
Research Officer
Elizabeth completed her Honours in Psychology at the University of Melbourne in 2019. She has been involved in implementing and evaluating two social connection programs at Bolton Clarke: HOW-R-U? and Connecting Communities to Care, in addition to analysing routinely collected healthcare data to develop client profiles, undertaking codesign and frailty interventions. Her research interests also include rigorous research methods, psychometrics, data analytics and neuropsychology.
Georgina Johnstone, BA/BSc BSc (Hons) (Psych)
Research
Officer
Georgina has a background in psychology, with a passion for impactful research grounded in contextual understanding and collaboration. She translates complex findings into actionable insights across diverse projects, including to improve health and wellbeing in retirement living and care through analysis of routinely collected data. Central to her approach is building capacity through enhancing health and research literacy and supporting meaningful research engagement. Her interests span palliative and end-of-life care, trauma-informed approaches and psychosocial safety.
Safa Alrababah, BOptom MPH MBiostat
Research Officer
With a background in optometry, Safa has a Master of Public Health with a major in Epidemiology and Research Methods, and a Master of Biostatistics. Her work is embedded in the aged care sector with a particular emphasis on linked administrative and clinical data. Safa is passionate about applying statistical methods to different sets of health data and contributing to research and evidence-based practice.
Zoe Selby, BHlthSci MDietSt APD
Research Officer
Zoe is an Accredited Practising Dietitian with a keen interest in supporting the health and wellbeing of older adults. She contributes to projects that focus on dementia care and encouraging social connection, and enjoys working alongside individuals and their caregivers to help deliver thoughtful, person-centred care. Combining her dietetic expertise with her role as a Research Officer, Zoe aims to make a meaningful and practical difference in the community.
Former team members:
Professor Judy Lowthian, LMusA BAppSc (SpPath) MPH PhD *Retired February 2025
Head of Research and Principal Research Fellow
Dr Xanthe Golenko, BBus (Hons) PhD *Until August 2023
Research Fellow
Dr Asmita Manchha, BCom/BBusMan (Hons) PhD *Until August 2023 Research Fellow
Dr Ahsan Saleem, PharmD, PhD *Until June 2024 Research Fellow
Dr Deepa Sriram *Until February 2024
Research Officer
Ms Anne Young, BA GradDipLib *Retired April 2024
Library Services Manager
Program support
Team members provide program coordination and delivery support including Kerry Rendell, Project Manager, Connecting Communities to Care; Heather Williams, iSupport Facilitator; Ann Van Leerdam, Lynn Cai and Taryn Ferguson, Connect Local Community Connectors; and Meg A’Hearn, HOW-R-U? Program Coordinator (until June 2024).
Research Officer Zoe Selby sharing healthy eating advice with retirement living residents.
Care Innovation Team
Janeen Cato RN BN GradDip of Business (Human Resource Management)
Cert IV Training & Assessment Manager, Clinical Innovation
Janeen is responsible for leading, supporting and coordinating the Care Innovation Team across Bolton Clarke. Janeen has worked in several clinical and managerial roles and presented at national conferences.
Leanne Davey, RN DipAppSciNsg GradDipAdvNsg MN
Nurse Practitioner, Palliative Care
Leanne is dedicated to enhancing generalist palliative care at Bolton Clarke and strengthening collaboration with specialist services. She supports staff to deliver holistic, evidence-informed care in partnership with the person and their family, prioritising comfort, dignity, and quality of life. With extensive experience in end-of-life care, advance care planning, and pain and symptom management, Leanne has presented at conferences, co-authored publications and served on committees. In 2005, Leanne became Bolton Clarke’s first Nurse Practitioner, and one of Victoria’s first, in Palliative Care.
Senior Clinical Nurse Advisor Kylie Elder.
Kylie Elder, RN BN GradDipAdvNsg GradDipNsgEd MN
Senior Clinical Nurse Advisor, Skin Integrity and Wound Management
With extensive experience in managing pressure injuries and complex wounds, Kylie has held representative roles on Wounds Australia committees and been invited as an expert member and presenter at industry forums and on projects. She has presented at conferences and has been published both nationally and internationally in wound management.
Kate McLeod, RN BN GradCert (Urology & Continence) MN
Senior Clinical Nurse Advisor, Continence and Urology
Kate is passionate about providing contemporary, evidence-based continence and urinary catheter care. She has developed a strong professional network in the field of continence. Her particular interests are in urinary catheter care, constipation management, and individualising continence management. She has held representative roles on the Continence Foundation of Australia board (Victorian branch) and the Continence Nurses Society of Australia (Vic/Tas) committee (Chair) and has presented at national and international conferences.
Fleur O’Keefe, RN BN MN NP
Nurse Practitioner and Senior Clinical Nurse Advisor, Aged Care and Dementia
Fleur’s focus is on dementia care, healthy ageing and appropriate medication management. She has presented at both national and international conferences and authored and co-authored papers published nationally and internationally on aged care and dementia.
Allira
Panebianco RN BN MN Prac GradCert DiabEd GradCert Intensive Care Cert IV Trng Assmnt
Senior Clinical Nurse Advisor, Diabetes Management
Allira is passionate about the delivery of quality diabetes care that integrates advances in all areas of diabetes management. She has particular interests in improving clients’ diabetes health outcomes and quality of life through employee education and the use of diabetes technology.
Marlize Senekal Dip RN (Gen Psyc Community- and Midwifery) MN Prac Dip in Gen Critical Care Nursing Cert IPC Cert Immunisation MN Adv Practice: IPC Cert IV in Trng Assmnt Adv Dip Com Sector Management
Senior Clinical Nurse Advisor, Infection Prevention and Control
Marlize is an experienced Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner with a background in Acute, Aged and Community Care. She is a member of Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control and has presented at a conference. She is passionate about all aspects of Infection Prevention and Control to ensure the safety and wellbeing of workers and consumers.
Projects and collaborations
Bolton Clarke led
Project Description
Research
Funding
Being Your Best
Biennial Health and Wellbeing Survey in Retirement Living
Co-designing implementation of Bolton Clarke’s Lifestyle Framework in Retirement Living
Co-designing and testing an innovative approach to frailty and care transitions from hospital to home to prevent or overcome frailty.
Understanding the needs of retirement village residents to inform service development and delivery.
Co-designing and implementing a holistic lifestyle framework in retirement living to improve health and wellbeing.
Alfred Health, Cabrini Health, Monash Health, Deakin University
Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre – Medical Research Future Fund
$198,727 over 2 years, 2019 – 2021*
Perpetual Impact Philanthropy Program
$74,526 over 1 year, 2022-2023
Connecting Communities to Care / Connect Local
Conversation as Therapy (CaT) Pin: Proof of Concept Study
Co-designing, testing and evaluating implementation of a community-wide social connection model of care for older people with chronic health conditions living in Glen Eira region in Melbourne.
Alfred Health, Australian Disease Management Association, South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network
Felton Bequest
$40,000
Perpetual Impact Philanthropy Program
$56,660 over 1 year, 2021-2022
$89,000 over 1 year, 2022-2023
$89,000 over 1 year, 2023-2024
Murrumbeena Community Benefit Fund
$26,265 over 1 year, 2024-2025
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust
$60,000 over 1 year, 2025-2026
The Ian Potter Foundation
$455,997 over 4 years, 2021-2024
Testing whether the number of words spoken and time spent in conversation are linked to loneliness in older people using a wearable prototype device.
RMIT Health Transformation Lab
RMIT Health Transformation Lab
$80,000 over 1 year, 2021-2022*
Project Description
Creating intergenerational connections through digital and creative storytelling
Research partners
Connecting older adults and Year 7 students over a school term to create 3-minute video stories and engage in creative storytelling activities.
Enabling Choices: pilot and implementation
Epidemiological Analysis of community and aged Care Health data (EACH)
Evaluating pilot testing of the implementation of a falls prediction tool in residential aged care
Piloting and evaluating an electronic conversation tool that enables clinicians to empower people with dementia to balance choice and risk around activities of daily living.
Faith Lutheran College, Queensland
Funding support and grants
Constance Ackroyd Trust, administered by Perpetual Trustees
$27,600
University of Newcastle; Flinders University
State Trustees Australia Foundation - Medical Research
$100,000 over 2 years, 2017-2019
Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia
$159,594 over 1 year, 2023-2024
University of Newcastle led: NHMRC Boosting Dementia Research Leadership Fellowships Scheme $128,000
Analysing routinely collected data to improve aged care services across the sector. - -
Developing and implementing a falls prediction tool for residential aged care.
Evaluating implementation of the Bolton Clarke Storytelling Program in Residential Aged Care
Evaluating hearing and vision friendly design in retirement living communities
Enhancing social connection through storytelling, facilitated by Lifestyle Coordinators and university students.
Students from Queensland University of Technology, Southern Cross University, University of the Sunshine Coast, Griffith University, Central Queensland University, James Cook University, TAFE QLD
Incorporating and evaluating hearing and vision-friendly design in retirement living refurbishments.
Estate of Arthur James Sutton
$96,431
The University of Queensland -
Project Description
Frailty screening tool implementation
HOW-R-U?
Implementation of an aged care context-specific digital decision support tool to enable bestpractice
Intergenerational community partnerships program
Preventing need-driven compromised dementia behaviour: Transforming everyday care in residential aged care through codesign (‘CoCo’)
Removing hearing loss as a barrier in assessments of people with dementia
Co-designing the implementation of the validated modREFS frailty screening tool across Home & Community Support.
Implementing an innovative volunteerdelivered social support program designed to reduce isolation and loneliness in older people.
Co-designing, implementing and evaluating a decision support tool to assist aged care staff to utilise an evidence-based and person-centred approach to care.
Building social connections in Caboolture through intergenerational activities.
Co-designing the development and implementation of an evidence-based multicomponent nursing and care staff intervention to prevent/manage constipation in people with dementia in residential aged care.
Exploring the feasibility, usability and acceptability of using a personal amplification device to improve clinical assessments in older community members.
Research partners
Funding support and grants
Impact of Models of Home Care – RDNS New Zealand
Conducting a literature review to understand the impact of models of home care, complemented by analysis of RDNS New Zealand data.
Northern Health
Queensland University of Technology
Better Care Victoria Innovation Fund
$158,000 over 2 years, 2019-2021*
Perpetual Impact
Philanthropy Program
$97,078 over 1 year, 2020-2021*
Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation
Australia
$69,937 over 1 year, 2025-2026
Caboolture State School; Caboolture Neighbourhood Centre; Moreton Bay Council; Caboolture Village Hub
Queensland University of Technology
Brisbane North Primary Health Network
$165,500 over 18 months, 2023-2024
Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation
Australia
$95,880 over 1 year, 2023-2024
RDNS New Zealand -
Project Description
Understanding the profile and management of hoarding and squalor in home care
Examining the profile and management of hoarding and squalor in home care through an environment scan.
Virtual Model of Care – allied health services
Codesigning and piloting virtually supported occupational therapy and physiotherapy services in regional and remote Queensland using telehealth, supported by trained personal care workers.
Bolton Clarke as partner
Project Description
Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovations (ACADI):
Using textural analysis of thermal imaging to predict healing status of diabetes related foot ulcers
Changing the focus: Facilitating engagement in physical activity for people with dementia in a local community - A feasibility study
Creative care in residential aged care: An evaluation of the Tovertafel in Bolton Clarke aged care homes
Co-designing a prototype of a noninvasive tool to help clinicians identify foot ulcers that are progressing towards healing and those that are not.
Developing, piloting and evaluating a new model of care to improve physical, cognitive, mental health and wellbeing outcomes for people with mild dementia.
ACADI, RMIT University, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Royal Melbourne Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital
Rehabilitation Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre - Monash University, Peninsula Health
Evaluating the use of the Tovertafel device as an enrichment activity in residential aged care. University of Melbourne
Medical Research Future Fund MTPConnect’s Targeted Transition Research Accelerator (TTRA) Initiative 2021
$10 million over 4 years, 2022-2026
Creating partnership in the iSupport program
Enhancing support for carers and optimising their ability to support people with dementia at home.
Flinders University
National Centre for Healthy Ageing
$398,946 over 3 years, 2022-2025
University of Melbourne’s Creativity and Wellbeing Research Institute (CAWRI)
Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration World Class Research
$543,299 over 3 years, 2021-2024
Medical Research Future Fund Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission
$1,406,657 over 4 years, 2021-2025
Project Description
Future proof for a good life
Groups and Relationships to Optimise Wellbeing and HealTH (GROWTH): A public health solution for prevention and management of loneliness
Home hearing and vision care to improve quality of life for people with dementia and carers
Exploring older people’s perceptions of what is necessary to future proof for a good life.
Targeting the prevention and management of loneliness through a new integrated, sustainable, communityfocused approach.
Curtin University -
HOW R U? Toronto
Co-designing adaptation and evaluation of the European SENSEcog intervention for people with dementia receiving homecare services.
Understanding the impact of peer- support programs to improve loneliness and social isolation due to COVID-19.
University of Queensland
University of Queensland
University of Queensland ViceChancellor’s Health Research Accelerator (HERA) 2.0 initiative
$1.7 million over 5 years, 2022-2027
NHMRC MRFF
Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission
$1,361,892 over 3 years, 2023 - 2026
Sinai Health Toronto
Mental health and emergency care for older people aged over 65 years
Take 2 diabetes
Translating Core Outcome Measures to Improve Care (COM-IC) for people living with dementia into Australian practice
Training on loneliness for aged care staff
Co-designing a digital intervention within unplanned emergency care to improve recognition of and response to psychological distress and common mental disorders among older people in the emergency department.
Adapting and implementing of the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) protocol to supporting newly diagnosed patients to achieve remission through a structured diet and exercise program.
Co-designing a suite of outcome measures with development of implementation guidelines to improve the lives of people with dementia.
Monash University
Mount Sinai Hospital – UHN Academic Medical Organization Innovation Fund CAN$100,000
National Centre for Healthy Ageing
$146,000 over 3 years, 2022-2025
University of Melbourne nib foundation/ RACGP Foundation
Healthcare Systems & Sustainability Grant
$250,000 over 2 years
Medical Research Future Fund
University of Queensland, HammondCare
Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission
$999,286 over 3 years, 2021-2024
Conducting a systematic review of training on loneliness for aged care staff. Ending Loneliness Together -
* Funding extensions granted in recognition of disruptions to research caused by COVID-19.
Publications 2023–2025
Peer reviewed articles
Allen, M. J., Carter, H. E., Cyarto, E., Meyer, C., Dwyer, T., Oprescu, F., Aitken, C., Farrington, A., Shield, C., Rowland, J., Lee, X. J., Graves, N., Parkinson, L., & Harvey, G. (2023). From pilot to a multi-site trial: refining the Early Detection of Deterioration in Elderly Residents (EDDIE +) intervention. BMC Geriatrics, 23(1), 811. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04491-z
Anantharaman, D., Meyer, C. J., Keay, L., Kumaran, S., & Dawes, P. (2025). Topical review: Challenges and solutions for eye care in long-term care. Optometry and Vision Science, 102(2), 127-132. https://doi.org/10.1097/opx.0000000000002224
Austen, E., Hunger, J. M., Bonell, S., & Griffiths, S. (2025). Gaps in measurement: Highlighting anti-fat bias as an underrepresented construct in the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 19: e70057. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.70057
Batchelor, J., Hemmert, C., Meulenbroeks, I., Tang, C., Harrison, R., Ogrin, R., Baillie, A., & Sarkies, M. (2024). Factors influencing the translation of evidence into clinical practice for hospital allied health professionals in terms of the domains of behaviour change theory: A systematic review. Evaluation & the Health Professions, 1632787241285993. https://doi.org/10.1177/01632787241285993
Carpenter, C. R., Lee, S., Kennedy, M., Arendts, G., Schnitker, L., Eagles, D., Mooijaart, S., Fowler, S., Doering, M., LaMantia, M. A., Han, J. H., & Liu, S. W. (2024). Delirium detection in the emergency department: A diagnostic accuracy meta-analysis of history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and screening instruments. Academic Emergency Medicine, 31(10), 1014-1036. https://doi.org/10.1111/acem.14935
Clark, D. P. Q., Zhou, Z., Hussain, S. M., Tran, C., Britt, C., Storey, E., Lowthian, J. A., Shah, R. C., Dillon, H., Wolfe, R., Woods, R. L., Rance, G., & McNeil, J. J. (2024). Low-dose aspirin and progression of agerelated hearing loss: A secondary analysis of the ASPREE randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 7(7), e2424373. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.24373
Comans, T., Nguyen, K., Gray, L., Flicker, L., Williamson, P., Dodd, S., Kearney, A., Cunningham, C., Morris, T., Nunn, J., Trepel, D., Almeida, O. P., Kenny, D., Welch, A., Lowthian, J. A., Quinn, J., Petrie, G., Dao-Tran, T. H., Manchha, A., & Kurrle, S. E. (2023). Measuring the success of programmes of care for people living with dementia: a protocol for consensus building with consumers to develop a set of Core Outcome Measures for Improving Care (COM-IC). BMJ Open, 13(12), e073884. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073884
Davison, N., Hammarberg, K., Tran, T., Collyer, T. A., Lowthian, J. A., Kirkman, M., Fisher, J., Dwyer, R., & Layton, N. (2025). Understanding the psychosocial well-being of people older than 65 years during emergency department admissions: A qualitative analysis of patients’ accounts of their experiences. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 44(2), e70033. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.70033
Davison, N., Waddell, A., Chandrasekara, D., Tran, T., Hammarberg, K., Kirkman, M., Nimesh, S., Lowthian, J. A., Olivier, P., Romero, L., Fisher, J., & Dwyer, R. (2024). Barriers and facilitators to implementing psychosocial digital health interventions for older adults presenting to emergency departments: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open, 14(8), e085304. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085304
Dwyer, R., Jachno, K., Tran, T., Owen, A., Layton, N., Collyer, T., Kirkman, M., Lowthian, J. A., Hammarberg, K., McNeil, J. J., Woods, R. L., Berk, M., & Fisher, J. (2024). Symptoms of depression and risk of emergency department visits among people aged 70 years and over. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 385. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17794-6
Ekberg, K., Nickbakht, M., Meyer, C. J., Waite, M., Timmer, B., Scarinci, N., & Hickson, L. (2025). Who do you tell about your hearing loss? A stigma-induced identity-threat model for adults with hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology, 64(sup1), S65-S70. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2025.2489569
Ekberg, K., Timmer, B., Meyer, C. J., Waite, M., Scarinci, N., Nickbakht, M., & Hickson, L. (2024). A laughing matter? Managing hearing difficulties in real life everyday social interactions with adults with hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology, 64(sup1), S39-S47. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2024.2389189
Golenko, X., Manchha, A., Fowke, A., Johnstone, G., & Lowthian, J. A. (2025). Reading between the lines: An exploratory pilot study of a co-creation approach to life story work in aged care in Australia. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 44(3), 417-427. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648241274545
Gurteen, H., Toomey, M., Franco, B., Bennett, R., Cenin, D. R., El-Saifi, N., Ferguson, M., Gu, Y., Heine, C., Keay, L., Kumaran, S., Lenzen, S., Leroi, I., Lowthian, J. A., Meyer, C. J., Mitchell, L. K., Newall, J., Pachana, N. A., Piano, M., Raichand, S., Scanlan, E., Sohrabi, H. R., & Dawes, P. (2025). Protocol for the process evaluation of the SENSE-Cog sensory support intervention field trial to improve quality of life for older people receiving home care in Australia. Health Expectations, 28: e70305. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70305
Johnstone, G., Joe, A., Dickins, M., & Lowthian, J. A. (2025). Modifiable factors associated with frailty in older Australians in retirement living: A partial proportional odds model. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 44(2), e70023. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.70023
Lee, D. A., Callisaya, M., Meyer, C., Taylor, M. E., Lawler, K., Levinger, P., Hunter, S., Mackey, D., Burton, E., Brusco, N., Haines, T. P., Ekegren, C., Crabtree, A., Licciardi, L., & Hill, K. D. (2024). Changing the focus: Facilitating engagement in physical activity for people living with mild dementia in a local community - Protocol for a pre-post mixed methods feasibility study. PLoS One, 19(9), e0307018. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0307018
Lee, J. S., Rose, L., Borgundvaag, B., McLeod, S. L., Melady, D., Mohindra, R., Sinha, S. K., Wesson, V., Wiesenfeld, L., Kolker, S., Kiss, A., & Lowthian, J. A. (2024). Impact of a peer-support programme to improve loneliness and social isolation due to COVID-19: does adding a secure, user friendly videoconference solution work better than telephone support alone? Protocol for a three-arm randomised clinical trial. BMJ Open, 14(1), e056839. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056839
MacAndrew, M., Sriram, D., Chambers, S., Spooner, A., Schnitker, L., Jack, L., Yates, P., Beattie, E., & Parker, C. (2025). Detection of acute deterioration in care home residents: A multicenter qualitative exploration of barriers and enablers. Journal of Nursing Scholarship. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.70005
Martin, S., Taylor, S. B., Pejhan, S., Shideler, B. L., Ogrin, R., & Begg, R. (2025). Immediate effects of visual feedback on the accuracy of foot landing adjustments in older people with diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One, 20(5), e0323569. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0323569
Martin, S., Taylor, S. B., Shideler, B. L., Ogrin, R., & Begg, R. (2023). Overground gait adaptability in older adults with type 2 diabetes in response to virtual targets and physical obstacles. PLoS One, 18(9), e0276999. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276999
Meyer, C., Golenko, X., Sinclair, R., & Lowthian, J. A. (2024). Transition for people with dementia from day respite services to permanent residential care: a realist synthesis. BMC Health Services Research, 24(1), 1520. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12020-w
Meyer, C., Lee, D. A., Callisaya, M., Taylor, M. E., Lawler, K., Levinger, P., Hunter, S., Mackey, D. C., Burton, E., Brusco, N., Haines, T., Ekegren, C. L., Crabtree, A., & Hill, K. D. (2024). ‘Changing the Focus’: Co-design of a novel approach for engaging people with dementia in physical activity. Nursing Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep15010002
Meyer, C. J., El-Saifi, N., Rose, N., Bail, K., Browning, C., Cenin, D., Ahumada-Canale, A., Campbell, M., England, T., Ferguson, M., Gu, Y., Harrison, R., Heine, C., Keay, L., Kumaran, S., Leroi, I., Liew, G., Martini,
A., Martins, R., Newall, J., Raichand, S., Scanlan, E., Sohrabi, H. R., Toomey, M., Westbrook, J., & Dawes, P. (2025). Protocol for a field trial of a hearing and vision support intervention for people living in longterm care in Australia. Health Expectations, 28(1), e70175. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70175
Meyer, C. J., Nickbakht, M., Ekberg, K., Timmer, B., Scarinci, N., Waite, M., & Hickson, L. (2025). The decision to tell or not to tell is associated with experiences of stigma and hearing aid use among adults with hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology, 64(sup1), S48-S57. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2024.2446480
Meyer, C. J., Scarinci, N., Ekberg, K., Nickbakht, M., Timmer, B., Waite, M., & Hickson, L. (2025). Understanding affiliate stigma among significant others of adults with hearing loss: a cross-sectional survey in Australia, the UK, and the US. International Journal of Audiology, 64(sup1), S58-S64. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2025.2505979
O’Gorman, K., Fisher, K., Wilson, M., Bonell, S., Swann, R., Oliffe, J., Englar-Carlson, M., Chu, J., Rice, S., & Seidler, Z. (2025). “The landscape’s changed and no one’s giving them a new map”: Positive masculinity in boys and young men. International Journal of Men’s Social and Community Health, 8(1), 36-49. https://doi.org/10.3138/ijmsch.2024.0007
Ogrin, R., Robinson, E., Rendell, K., Alrababah, S., Fineberg, D., Fiddes, K., Yerolemou, A., Lim, M. H., Engel, L., & Lowthian, J. A. (2024). “Connect Local”: protocol for the evaluation of a codesigned whole of community approach to promote social connection in older adults. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1342562. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1342562
Ogrin, R., Rushford, M. A., Fallon, J., Mannix, R., Quinn, B., & Lewis, A. (2024). Describing the development and implementation of a novel collaborative multidisciplinary approach to deliver foot health supports for individuals experiencing homelessness and its outcomes. PLoS One, 19(4), e0302572. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0302572
Pacheco, L. B., Feuerriegel, D., Jach, H. K., Robinson, E., Duong, V. N., Bode, S., & Smillie, L. D. (2024). Disentangling periodic and aperiodic resting EEG correlates of personality. NeuroImage, 293, 120628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120628
Robinson, E., Dickins, M., Lad, L., Beard, S., McGill, D., Hayes, J., Fabri, A. M., Wade, H., Meyer, C., & Lowthian, J. A. (2024). Adaptation and implementation of a volunteer-delivered, telephonebased, social support program HOW-R-U? during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pragmatic study. The Gerontologist, 64(6), gnae034. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnae034
Saleem, A., Appannah, A., Meyer, C., Hutchinson, A. M., Mills, A., Smit, V., Boyd, L., Rose, M., Sutherland, F., O’Keefe, F., & Lowthian, J. A. (2024). A qualitative exploration of challenges recruiting older adults for Being Your Best, a co-designed holistic intervention to manage and reduce frailty: lessons learnt amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Melbourne, Australia. BMJ Open, 14(5), e082618. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082618
Saleem, A., Elder, K., Smedley, P., Ogrin, R., & Lowthian, J. A. (2025). Pilot implementation of the modREFS frailty screening tool in an Australian home care provider to improve client health and wellbeing. Australasian Journal of Ageing, 44:e70056. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.70056
Schnitker, L. M., Alrababah, S., Young, A., Meyer, C., Selby, Z., & Lowthian, J. A. (2025). Best practice to prevent constipation in people living with dementia: A scoping review. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 20: e70033. https://doi.org/10.1111/opn.70033
Timmer, B. H. B., Ekberg, K., Meyer, C. J., Waite, M., Scarinci, N., Nickbakht, M., & Hickson, L. (2024). Using Ecological Momentary Analysis to explore stigma experiences in the real world for adults with acquired hearing loss. International Journal of Audiology, 64(sup1), S28-S38. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2024.2418970
Tomlinson, E. J., Schnitker, L., & Casey, P. A. (2024). Exploring antipsychotic use for delirium management in adults in hospital, sub-acute rehabilitation and aged care settings: A systematic literature review. Drugs & Aging, 41(6), 455-486. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-024-01122-z
Yu, Y., Hunter, S. C., Xiao, L., Meyer, C., Chapman, M., Tan, K. P., Chen, L., McKechnie, S., Ratcliffe, J., Ullah, S., Kitson, A., Andrade, A. Q., & Whitehead, C. (2023). Exploring the role of a facilitator in supporting family carers when embedding the iSupport for Dementia programme in care services: A qualitative study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(19-20), 7358-7371. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16836
Yu, Y., Hunter, S., Kitson, A., Xiao, L., Meyer, C., Chapman, M., Tan, K., Chen, L., McKechnie, S., Ratcliffe, J., Ullah, S., De Andrade, A., & Whitehead, C. (2025). Stakeholder’s consensus on activities to be delivered by the facilitators in a planned iSupport program in Australia: A mixed-methods study. Geriatric Nursing, 64, 103412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2025.103412
Zheng, D., Rose, L., Borgundvaag, B., McLeod, S. L., Melady, D., Mohindra, R., Sinha, S., Wesson, V., Wiesenfeld, L., Kolker, S., Kiss, A., Lowthian, J. A., & Lee, J. S. (2024). Impact of an intergenerational program to improve loneliness and social isolation in older adults initiated at the time of emergency department discharge: study protocol for a three-arm randomized clinical trial. Trials, 25(1), 425. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-024-08250-2
Book chapters
Cameron, R., & Golenko, X. (2023). Mapping mixed methods in business and management and charting the future course. In R. Cameron & X. Golenko (Eds.), Handbook of Mixed Methods Research in Business and Management (pp. 412–425). https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800887954
Golenko, X., & Cameron, R. (2023). Introduction: mixed methods research in business and management fields. In R. Cameron & X. Golenko (Eds.), Handbook of Mixed Methods Research in Business and Management (pp. 2-10). https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800887954
Golenko, X., Meyer, C., Ogrin, R., & Lowthian, J. A. (2023). Challenging traditional methodologies in health management research: MMR applications in the codesign, implementation, and evaluation of a health care intervention. In R. Cameron & X. Golenko (Eds.), Handbook of Mixed Methods Research in Business and Management (pp. 223-242). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800887954
Industry articles
Howari, A., Audehm, R. G., & Ogrin, R. (2024). Exploring the interplay between diabetes, chronic kidney disease and eye health. Optometry Connection, July: p7-12.
Johnstone, G., Davey, L., Cato, J., & Lowthian, J. A. (2023). Enhancing palliative care at home: The role of generalist home care services. CareSearch Palliative Perspectives Blog.
Ogrin, R., & Howari, A. (2023). The eyes as windows to the ‘sole’: How optometry can play a role in preventing amputations. Optometry Connection, July winter edition.
Ogrin, R., Manger, S., Deguara, A., Baker, J. R., Chiva Guerca, B., & Lowthian, J. A. (2025). How social prescribing can support holistic wellbeing. Insight+.
Vazhayil, M., Ng, A. H., Taverna, G., & Ogrin, R. (2024). Peer support: The missing piece in diabetes care. APNA Primary Times. Summer 2024-2025, p12-15.
Presentations 2023–2025
Peer reviewed - international conferences
Allen, M., Aitken, C., Cyarto, E., Carter, H., Oprescu, F., Meyer, C., & Harvey, G. (2024, December 4–6). Avoiding hospital transfers: Insights and lessons learned from the EDDIE+ study [Oral presentation]. Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand conference, Brisbane, Australia. Carter, H., Donovan, T., White, N., Lee, X., Graves, N., Allen, M., Shield, C., Dwyer, T., Meyer, C., Cyarto, E., Oprescu, F., Rowland, J., & Harvey, G. (2024, December 4–6). The effectiveness and costconsequences of a multi-component hospital avoidance program in 11 residential aged care homes: results from a stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial [Oral presentation]. Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand conference, Brisbane, Australia.
Keay, L., Toomey, M., Gurteen, H., Cenin, D., Ferguson, M., Gu, Y., Heine, C., Kumaran, S., Lenzen, S., Leroi, I., Lowthian, J. A., Meyer, C. J., Mitchell, L., Newall, J., Pachana, N., Piano, M., Raichand, S., Scanlan, E., Sohrabi, H., & Dawes, P. (2024, November 6–9). Vision and hearing support care needs of older adults in home care setting [Poster presentation]. Academy 2024 Indianapolis, Indianapolis, U.S.A. Meyer, C. (2024, May 22–24). Transition for people with dementia from day respite services to permanent residential care: a realist synthesis [Oral presentation]. The Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Schnitker, L., Dhir, M., Soni, E., Wagle, J., Selby, Z., McLeod, K., Feeley, Y., Myers, D., Meyer, C., O’Keefe, F., Paine, K., Phillips, J., & Lowthian, J. A. (2024, September 5–6). Development of a constipation prevention care-bundle for people living with dementia in residential aged care [Oral presentation]. International Dementia Conference, Sydney, Australia.
Toomey, M., Gurteen, H., Cenin, D., Ferguson, M., Gu, Y., Heine, C., Keay, L., Kumaran, S., Lenzen, S., Leroi, I., Lowthian, J. A., Meyer, C. J., Mitchell, L., Newall, J., Pachana, N., Piano, M., Raichand, S., Scanlan, E., Sohrabi, H., & Dawes, P. (2024, September 19–22). Adapting a sensory support intervention for older adults with hearing and vision impairment for home aged care settings in Australia [Oral presentation]. World Congress of Audiology, Paris, France.
Peer reviewed - national conferences
Briffa, M., Jensen, N., Crock, E., Meyer, C. J., & Saleem, A. (2024, August 14–16). PozQoL- evaluating and reinvigorating quality of life in HIV nursing [Poster presentation]. National Nursing Forum, Cairns, Australia.
Chambers, S., Spooner, A, Parker, C., Jack, L., Schnitker, L., Beattie, E., Yates, P. & MacAndrew, M. (2023, November 14–17). Improving the detection of acute deterioration in residential aged care: looking for solutions [Oral presentation]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
Davey, L., Johnstone, G., Lowthian, J. A., & Cato, J. (2024, August 14–16). Leading the way: specialist palliative care nursing within homecare [Oral presentation]. National Nursing Forum, Cairns, Australia.
El-Saifi, N., Meyer, C. J., & Dawes, P. (2024, June 3–5). The co-design of a sensory support intervention for people with dementia in residential aged care facilities [Poster presentation]. Australian Dementia Research Forum, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Goh, A., Tropea, J., Smith, R., Harvey, G., Windle, A., Hutchinson, A., Lee, L., Meyer, C., & Ogrin, R. (2024, November 12–15). Unlocking potential: A Think Tank on translating evidence into everyday aged care practice [ThinkTank presentation]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Hobart, Australia.
Johnstone, G. (2023, November 14–17). We all do the same thing... just completely differently: Evaluating the implementation of a Storytelling Program in Residential Aged Care [Presentation as part of Symposium]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
Presentations cont.
Johnstone, G., Gerraty, K., Karazantoulis, A., & Meyer, C. (2024, November 12–15). Balancing dignity of risk with duty of care: exploring hoarding and squalor in home care [Poster presentation]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Hobart, Australia.
Johnstone, G., Joe, A., Dickins, M., & Lowthian, J. A. (2023, November 28). Lonely but not alone: Predictors of loneliness in retirement living communities [Oral presentation]. Emerging Researchers in Ageing Conference, online.
Johnstone, G., Joe, A., & Lowthian, J. A. (2024, November 12–15). Positive ageing and fulfilment in retirement living communities [Oral presentation]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Hobart, Australia.
Johnstone, G., Walters, K., Meyer, C. J., & Lowthian, J. A. (2024, November 12–15). Enhancing communication, clarity and comfort: using hearing amplification devices to improve assessment [Oral presentation]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Hobart, Australia.
Loader, D., Attard, K., & Ogrin, R. (2024, August 14–16). Addressing social determinants of health for sustainable outcomes in homelessness [Oral presentation]. National Nursing Forum, Cairns, Australia.
Merrett, J., Atley, K., Selby, Z., & Ogrin, R. (2024, August 14–16). Cooking classes for holistic wellbeing [Oral presentation]. National Nursing Forum, Cairns, Australia.
Meyer, C. J. (2023, November 14–17). Learnings from the pilot implementation of Being Your Best, a co-designed frailty program in healthcare settings [Presentation as part of Symposium]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
Meyer, C. J. (2023, November 14–17). SECG Symposium - How do we connect and break down barriers between disciplines in ageing? [Panellist]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
Meyer, C. J., Durant, K., Jones, B., Balu, C., Meyer, C., Ogrin, R., Lowthian, J. A., Cato, J., McLeod, K., Phukan, A., Ramm, C., Tamary, M., Hogg, R., & Doherty, A. (2024, November 12–15). Empowering the personal care workforce to support allied health services in aged care using telehealth [Poster presentation]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Hobart, Australia.
Meyer, C., Meyer, C. J., Robinson, E., & Johnstone, G. (2023, November 14–17). Reimagining ageing – realities of implementing evidence into practice in the aged care context [Symposium]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
Meyer, C. (2023, November 14–17). Overview of the IFAC: Implementation Framework for Aged Care [Presentation as part of Symposium]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
Meyer, C. (2023, November 14–17). Implementing a holistic frailty screening tool to optimise home care client health and wellbeing [Presentation as part of Symposium]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
Ogrin, R., Cusack, L., O’Brien, J., French, N., Di Franco, T., & Au, J. (2024, August 21–23). Diabetes primary care team – Living the dream [Symposium]. Australian Diabetes Congress, Perth, Australia.
Ogrin, R., Johnstone, G., Crammond, B. & Lowthian, J. A. (2024, November 12–15). Rethinking technology to meet the needs of older people: Conversation as Therapy Pin case study [Poster presentation]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Hobart, Australia.
Ogrin, R., Meyer, C., Meyer C. J., Johnstone, G., Robinson, E., & Lowthian J. A. (2024, November 12–15). Promoting implementation of evidence-based practice in the real world to bridge academic research and aged care practice gaps [ThinkTank presentation]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Hobart, Australia.
Ogrin, R., Rendell, K., Robinson, E., Fineberg, D., Fiddes, K., Yerolemou, A., & Lowthian, J. A. (2023, November 3). Connect Local: A program codesigned using evidence to address loneliness, social isolation and/or depressive symptoms in older community members [Oral presentation]. Australian Loneliness Research Conference, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Ogrin, R., Rendell, K., Robinson, E., Fineberg, D., Fiddes, K., Yerolemou, A., & Lowthian, J. A. (2024, June 25 – 27). Connect Local: Learnings from developing an evidence-informed social connection program for older people [Oral presentation]. EACH 2024, ASPIRE, Sydney, Australia.
Ogrin, R., Ngo, Q. C., Polus, B., Hanna, S., Bradley, J., Tint, A. N., MacIsaac, R. J., Ekinci, E. I., & Kumar, D. (2024, August 21–23). Co-design of a thermal imaging device to predict healing of diabetes related foot ulcers [Poster presentation]. Australian Diabetes Congress, Perth, Australia.
Ogrin, R., Rendell, K., Robinson, E., Saleem, A., Fineberg, D., Fiddes, K., Yerolemou, A., & Lowthian, J. A. (2024, November 12–15). Early learnings from developing Connect Local, an evidence-informed social connection program for older people [Oral presentation]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Hobart, Australia.
Robinson, E. (2023, November 14–17). Early stage implementation of a community wide social connection program: Connect Local [Presentation as part of Symposium]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
Robinson, E., Dickins M., Lad, L., McGill, D., Beard, S., Hayes, J., Fabri, A. M., Wade, H., Meyer, C., & Lowthian J. A. (2023, November 28). Challenges in adaptation and implementation of a volunteerdriven, telephone social support program, HOW-R-U?, during the COVID-19 pandemic [Oral presentation]. Emerging Researchers in Ageing Conference, online.
Schnitker, L. (2023, November 14–17). CO-designing strategies to prevent COnstipation (COCO) in residents with dementia – The COCO project [Oral presentation]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
Schnitker, L. (2024, May 22–25). Modified Delphi approach for consensus on constipation prevention strategies and implementation in residential aged care [Oral presentation]. National Conference on Incontinence, Brisbane, Australia.
Schnitker, L. (2024, May 22–25). Developing draft strategies to prevent constipation in residential aged care: Scoping review and context mapping [Poster presentation]. National Conference on Incontinence, Brisbane, Australia.
Tomlinson E., Schnitker L., & Casey P. (2023, November 2-3). Are we still overusing antipsychotics for delirium? Exploring antipsychotics prescribing patterns and behaviours for people with delirium: A systematic literature review [Oral presentation]. Australasian Delirium Association, Adelaide, Australia.
Toomey, M., Piano, M., Gu, Y., Gurteen, H., Heine, C., Keay, L., Kumaran, S., Lenzen, S., Lowthian, J. A., Martini, A., Meyer, C. J., Newall, J., Pachana, N., Sohrabi, H., & Dawes, P. (2024, June 3–5). How can we improve hearing and vision loss support in home care settings? Exploring sensory support care needs of home care recipients with self-reported dementia diagnosis or memory difficulties [Poster presentation]. Australian Dementia Research Forum, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Walters, K., Johnstone, G., Meyer, C. J., & Lowthian, J. A. (2024, August 14-16). Communication, clarity and comfort: hearing amplification devices improving in-home nursing [Poster presentation]. National Nursing Forum, Cairns, Australia.
Xiao, L., Milte, R., Meyer, C., Chang, R., Tran, K., Ullah, S., Laver, K., Yu, Y., & Kitson, A. (2024, November 12–15). Stakeholders’ perspectives on adapting Greek, Italian and Spanish versions of iSupport program in Australia [Oral presentation]. Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Hobart, Australia.
Community and industry presentations
Bonell, S. (2025, February 25). Ageing and body image [Interactive presentation]. Wellness and Wisdom series, Caulfield South Community House, Caulfield.
Gerraty, K., Johnstone, G., Karantzoulis, A., & Meyer, C. (2023, October 18). Understanding hoarding and squalor management [Virtual presentation]. Northwest Hoarding and Squalor Network.
Johnstone, G. (2023, November 30). Bolton Clarke’s Storytelling Program in Residential Aged Care [Webinar]. Stories and the Student Experience, James Cook University Social Work Practice in Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities.
Johnstone, G., Davey, L., Cato, J. & Lowthian, J. A. (2023, October 10). Enhancing palliative care at home: the role of generalist home care services [Webinar]. Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying.
Lowthian, J. A. (2023, August 7). Older peoples’ perspectives [Oral presentation]. Parliamentary Friends of Ending Loneliness Together, Parliament House, Canberra.
Kumar, D. & Ogrin, R. (2024, October 18) Imaging modalities for detecting healing trajectory of diabetes related foot ulcers [Online presentation]. Endocrinology Team Meeting. Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia.
Meyer, C. (2025, March 13). Diabetes and cognitive decline [Webinar]. Primary Care Diabetes Society Australia.
Meyer, C. (2025, February 27). A simple framework for implementation in complex aged care settings [Webinar]. Institute for Musculoskeletal Health and the Prevention Research Collaborative, University of Sydney.
Meyer, C. (2023, September 23). Situating people with dementia and their carers at the nexus of research, policy and practice [Keynote presentation]. Dementia Inclusive Ballina Alliance, Ballina, NSW.
Meyer, C. (2023, October 9). Community programs to prevent falls for people living with dementia [Webinar]. Texas Aging & Longevity Consortium, University of Texas at Austin.
Meyer, C. (2023, November 1). Intergenerational Community Partnerships Program [Panel presentation], Brisbane North Primary Health Network Aged Care Forum.
Meyer, C. (2024, March 22). Implementation sustainability: a case study [Virtual symposium presentation]. Implementation in the Real World of Aged and Community Care, Bolton Clarke Research Institute.
Ogrin, R. (2023, September 14). Loneliness, social isolation, health and wellbeing: What is the issue and what can we do about it? [Webinar]. Primary Care Diabetes Society of Australia.
Ogrin, R. (2023, September 21). Social prescribing case-study: Implementation science and co-design [Online - Co-Facilitator]. Community of Practice Session for VicHealth, Department of Health and Local Public Health Units (LPHUs) Health Promotion and Prevention Practice Fellowship pilot.
Ogrin, R. (2023, November 9). Implementation of a social connection program: Connect Local [Online]. Therapy Hub Team, SPD Ability Centre, Singapore.
Ogrin, R. (2024, May 10). Social connection and diabetes [Oral presentation]. Mayfield Education Centre, Hawthorn.
Ogrin, R. (2024, May 10). Diabetes foot ulcers and healing [Oral presentation]. Mayfield Education Centre, Hawthorn.
Ogrin, R. (2025, February 25). Activating social connection [Invited panel chair]. Activating social connection symposium, Swinburne University and RMIT University, Melbourne.
Ogrin, R. (2025, February 26). Social connection [Oral presentation]. Ageing Well Network Meeting, Safety Beach, Victoria.
Ogrin, R. (2025, March 14). Connect Local to promote social connection [Oral presentation]. World Social Prescribing Day 2025 Victorian Forum, Melbourne.
Ogrin, R. (2025, May 7). Social connection and diabetes [Oral presentation]. Mayfield Diabetes Education Centre, Hawthorn, Victoria.
Ogrin, R. (2025, May 8). Social connection, diabetes and cognitive decline [Webinar]. Primary Care Diabetes Society of Australia.
Ogrin, R., & Cai, L. (2025, March 25). Social connection [Oral presentation]. Neighbour Day Event, Phoenix Park Community Centre, Malvern East, Victoria.
Ogrin, R., & Cai, L. (2025, March 26). Social connection [Oral presentation]. Neighbour Day Event, Glen Eira Adult Learning Centre, McKinnon, Victoria.
Ogrin, R., & Kumar, D. (2024, April 19). Using Artificial Intelligence to predict healing of diabetes related foot ulcers [Webinar - recorded]. Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovation Seminar Series.
Ogrin, R., Kirschner, J., & Saleem, A. (2024, May 22). Social prescribing in pharmacy – What exactly does it mean? [Webinar]. Australasian College of Pharmacy.
Ogrin, R., Mansour, G., Rogers, A., Rungie, M., & Scicluna, T. (2024, March 21). Panel Discussion: Ageing well in a changing world [Panellist]. LGPro 2024, Melbourne.
Ogrin, R., & Rendell, K. (2024, February 13). Implementing Connect Local: A co-designed whole of community social prescribing trial in the City of Glen Eira [Webinar]. Australian Disease Management Association Social Prescribing Webinar Series.
Ogrin, R., & Rendell, K. (2025, June 3). Social connections through community connectors –Implementing Connect Local [Webinar]. Municipals Association Victoria.
Ogrin, R., & Rendell, K. (2024, March 21). Collaboration to promote social connection for 65+ in Glen Eira LGA: Connect Local [Oral presentation]. LGPro 2024, Melbourne.
Ogrin, R., & Sehee, J. (2024, May 16). People who need people: Fostering social connection [Oral presentation]. Humanists Victoria, Brunswick.
Rendell, K., & Ferguson, T. (2025, March 26). Social connection [Oral presentation]. Neighbour Day Event, Moongala Women’s Community House, Bentleigh East, Victoria.
Rendell, K., & van Leerdam, A. (2025, March 25). Social connection [Oral presentation]. Neighbour Day Event, Caulfield South Community House, Caulfield, Victoria.
Schnitker. L. (2023, November 30). ARIIA Networking Event – Brisbane [Panel member]. ARIIA Networking Event, Brisbane, Australia.
Schnitker, L. (2024, August 22). Establishing a program of industry-driven aged care research [Oral presentation]. QUT Faculty of Health Aged Care Evening, Brisbane, Australia.
van Leerdam, A. & Bonell, S. (2025, March 26.) Social connection [Oral presentation]. Neighbour Day Event, St John’s Uniting Church, Elsternwick, Victoria.
Thank you
to all our funders, collaborators, partners and participants. The positive impact our work has on the lives of older Australians would not be possible without your generous support.
For more information about our work or to discuss future research opportunities, please visit www.boltonclarke.com.au or contact the Bolton Clarke Research Institute at: research@boltonclarke.com.au
Brisbane
Level 3, 44 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove QLD 4059
Telephone: 07 3251 6200 Facsimile: 1300 536 099
Bolton Clarke is the brand name for a group of companies being RSL Care RDNS Limited ABN 90 010 488 454, Royal District Nursing Service Limited ABN 49 052 188 717 and RDNS HomeCare Limited ABN 13 152 438 152