Ageing

AUSTRALIA CHINA INDIA ITALY MALAYSIA SOUTH AFRICA

monash.edu/industry

the challenge
is to ensure that older people lead healthy, productive, financially secure and connected lives.

Why Monash?
In Australia and internationally, people are living longer. The challenge is to ensure that older people lead healthy, productive, financially secure and connected lives. AtMonash University we are responding to the challenges relating to Australias ageing population by improving the quality of life for older people. Monashs enormous breadth of expertise means we can tackle these challenges in a multidisciplinary manner where innovative ideas and research initiatives can assist in providing solutions for the older members of our community. Monash researchers are finding new ways to age well, defy negative stereotypes and manage chronic illnesses and age-associated disabilities. Our research and innovation in housing design, health service delivery, technologies and transport systems will enable older people to live at home longer and lead more active, connected lives. We are improving medication regimes and drug safety, and also reducing the incidence of injuries from falls. Our researchers have worked to improve public transport services and facilitate more interconnectedness with the local communities in which our ageing population lives. In addition, Monash is investigating ways to increase workforce productivity and maximise returns from superannuation funds to deliver a better economic future for investors, families and society.

Healthy ageing Health and wellbeing Independent living Empowering our ageing population Older workers Retaining the vitality of our workforce Planning and policies Providing a supportive infrastructure

Who we are
Monash University is a global leader in innovative and multidisciplinary research. Ranked among the top onepercent of universities in the world, Monash has grown to become Australias largest university. Monashs five Australian campuses are complemented by a strong and expanding international presence in Italy, India, Malaysia, South Africa and China. We have also recently established an alliance with Warwick University inthe United Kingdom.

Industry Engagement and Commercialisation

Monash University seeks to work in partnership with business,government and the healthcare sector to addressthe challenges and opportunities arising from theageing ofourpopulation. Our Industry Engagement and Commercialisation Group canconnect your organisation with the relevant people to meet your needs. We can arrange contracts, manage intellectual property and put together a research and development team that works for you.

Contact Us
Industry Engagement and Commercialisation Dr Heather St John, Director, Industry Engagement +61 3 9902 9854 heather.stjohn@monash.edu monash.edu/industry

Healthy

ageing

Research into the health and wellbeing of our ageing population involves reviewing the opportunities for healthy lifestyles, increased participation and recovery from illness. Monash is working to find new ways to optimise healthy ageing, reduce the prevalence of diseases and reduce healthcare costs. Monash University has a wealth of research capabilities in the health and medical fields that are of relevance to olderpeople. This includes chronic diseases, mental health, continence, palliative care, pain management, agedcare services, and vision restoration.

Positive ageing
The challenge for governments and individuals is to enhance the health of individuals across their lifespan leading to more productive ageing. Research is needed to address gaps in knowledge and develop an evidence base to underpin more effective and well informed policy and practice. The Healthy Ageing Research Unit at Monash conducts research into the psychological, social, health and cultural aspects of ageing. Their work is designed to improve the quality of life for older people. Directed by Professor Colette Browning, the unit conducts multidisciplinary research which has led to:

Mental health
Researchers at Monash are investigating the prevention, diagnosis, assessment, treatment and non-pharmacological management in mental illnesses experienced by olderpeople. Thisincludes depression, anxiety, dementia andAlzheimersdisease.

Movement disorders
Monash is undertaking multidisciplinary research to understand brain-behaviour relationships in both healthy seniors and individuals with movement disorders. Capabilities include: state-of-the-art neuroimaging technologies (MRI,EEG and TMS); neuromotor (eye-tracker, gait-mat) and neurocognitive assessments, including driving simulation; genetic analysis to study variability of disease onsetand progression; and epidemiological surveys and clinical trials.

improvements in the quality of healthcare services improved management of chronic diseases and mental health increased consumer involvement in healthcare decision making.

Falls prevention
Monash is working to slow the steady growth in deaths and injuries from falls. These are the main cause of Victorian hospital injury admissions with annual estimates of injuries from falls being around one in three people aged over 65. In 2009 falls among seniors accounted for 24% of the 97,205 injury-related admissions. This is estimated to cost Victorian hospitals $261million. Monash University has been pursuing research in the area of falls prevention for more than 20 years. We continue to assess the effectiveness of falls interventions for older people. This includes modelling the impact of proven interventions and how this can reducethe strain on the hospital system.

Medication management
Adverse drug events and medication errors are a leading cause of death among older Australians. Monash researchers at the Centre for Medicine Use and Safety are at the forefront of developing strategies to better understand and promote the quality use of medicines in olderpeople. Thisis done in collaboration with consumer organisations and a multidisciplinary team of health professionals in Australia andinternationally.

Geriatric medicine
Monash medical research that focuses on the healthcare of olderpeople is providing:

Chronic diseases
Chronic diseases contribute to major funding pressures in the healthcare system. People who are ageing are particularly susceptible to long-term medical conditions that decrease their quality of life and ability to participate productively in the workforce. Monash has world-class capabilities to undertake large-scale research into chronic diseases. The breadth and depth of chronic disease research at Monash covers cancer, arthritis, stroke, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, age-related macular degeneration and osteoporosis.

new understanding of diseases associated with ageing andneurological disorders improved quality of care and health service delivery emergency care management evidence bases for clinical management and practice withinhospitals, the community and government.

Delivering

impact
Improving health and wellbeing of older people
Professor Colette Browning is co-director of an ongoing 18-year longitudinal study focusing on the physical and mental health of older people. This study, the Melbourne Longitudinal Studies on Healthy Ageing Program (MELSHA), has provided invaluable knowledge for improving the health and independence of older people. Findings to date have resulted in the better planning and design of health programs and a better understanding of how people age. The study commenced in 1994 and isongoing. MELSHA has collected data on demographic, health and psychosocial influences on ageing from a cohort of 1,000 people aged 65 and over living in community settings in Melbourne. The results of the study showed that there were a number of predictive factors of healthy ageing and these have subsequently informed public health campaigns. Results have also provided important evidence for policy positions articulated in the Australian Governments Intergenerational Reports. On a global stage the MELSHA findings have also influenced the design and delivery of health interventions for older people in China. TheHappy Life ClubTM, led by Professor Browning together with colleagues at Monash and Peking Universities, is one such example. The intervention is a chronic illness management system that trains doctors and nurses in the use of behaviour change principles. It uses motivational interviewing techniques to help people with diabetes and other chronic conditions, such as heart disease, to change their behaviours.

Large-scale study into healthy ageing

Monash University, with collaborators across Australia and the USA, are conducting a five-year clinical trial of 19,000 participants called ASPREE. ASPREE is short for ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly. ASPREE aims to determine if a daily low-dose aspirin can keep healthy people aged 70 and older healthier for longer. ASPREE is fast becoming one of the largest platforms available for researchers to examine issues associated with healthy ageing in Australia. In addition to clinical data, the study is developing a rich dataset to determine demographic, biological and lifestyle influences on the ability to age well. ASPREE has also developed the infrastructure, networks and capacity to undertake studies of an international calibre throughout southern Australia. It is the largest clinical trial ever conducted in Australia via general practitioner clinics and ASPREE has enabled regional and rural communities to participate in world-leading research. Results about the role of aspirin in healthy ageing are expected in 2018 but the impact of ASPREE with its integrated health, social and economic research is anticipated to be far-reaching and a major influence on future government planning and policies related to the ageing population and healthcare fortheelderly.

Monash University hasa wealth of

research capabilities
in the health and medical fields that are of relevance to

older people.

Our key people

Positive ageing
Professor Colette Browning Professor Browning leads a number of research and training programs that focus on healthyageing, improving the quality of life for older people, chronicdisease self-management and consumer involvement in healthcare decision making.

Quality of life for people withParkinsons

Monash University has developed an education program aimed at carers working in residential care facilities for patients of Parkinsons disease and related disorders. Theprogram successfully improved the quality of life for those patients through rehabilitative approaches learned frombasic and applied research. The areas investigated werebasal ganglia function, gait and balance as well as clinicalrehabilitation models spanning over 20 years. Thisinitiative was developedthrough Monash and its collaborators at theUniversity ofMelbourne. The education program was implemented through the Victorian Comprehensive Parkinson Program at the Kingston Centre in Melbourne. The program focuses on giving carers a better understanding of gait control mechanisms and the impact on this as a result of Parkinsons disease. It included the refinement of previous rehabilitative approaches as well as building knowledge of Parkinsons disease and therelatedmedication. Approximately 120 carers have participated in the educational program so far, resulting in a dramatic improvement in quality of life, fatigue and depression in their patients. One of the community care nurses, ChrisCameron, said she felt more able to manage residents needs safely by gaining this greaterunderstandingof Parkinsons disease. The number of patients who fall has decreased from nearly 200 to 50 per month, showing how just a small intervention in patient care can dramatically improve their quality of life. Professor Robert Iansek says it only takes a one or two day educational package with an annual top-up to train caregivers in how to give targeted care to people living withParkinsons.

Geriatric medicine
Professor Barbara Workman Professor Workman heads the Monash Ageing Research Centre that undertakes clinical research into diseases associated with ageing and neurological disorders. Barbaras expertise is in aged care, rehabilitation, chronic pain, medication, wellbeing of older people and medical ethics.

Falls prevention
Dr Lesley Day Dr Day is head of falls prevention research at the Monash Injury Research Institute and is investigating the effectiveness of falls interventions for older people.

Mental health
Professor Daniel OConnor Professor OConnor is head of the Aged Mental Health Research Unit and his research includes behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, residential care, psychosocial interventions for dementia and assistive technology.

Movement disorders
Professor Robert Iansek Professor Iansek is a neurologist with expertise in central nervous system neurophysiology, gait control mechanisms, rehabilitation, and service delivery in Parkinsons disease.

Large-scale healthy ageing study

Professor John McNeil Professor McNeils research background is in clinical and public health. He is a principal investigator of the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study.

Medication
Associate Professor Simon Bell Associate Professor Bells main research interest is the study of the use of drugs in large numbers of older people and is working in a large research program to address cognitive and related functional decline in theelderly.

Independent

living

Research has shown that the health and wellbeing of older people is intrinsically linked to housing and good access tohealthcare. Older Australians also want to stay at home in their local community for as long as possible. Deferringthe need for residential aged care, receiving healthcare at home and reducing the number of emergency department admissions will result in huge cost savings for governments and individuals. Monash researchers are investigating new ways to help older people live more independently, be more socially connected, and receive healthcare in thehome.

Housing innovation
Monash researchers are designing dwellings and urban environments that integrate care and housing in a supportive environment. Thiswork draws upon research in health, socialscience, multimedia technology, architecture, urbandesign,industrial design, urban planning, community services andtransport.

Mobility
Access to public transport systems is an important factor in connecting older people to their communities. Monash University has world-renowned capabilities in its Institute for Public Transport. The institute addresses issues related to strategic planning, public transport policy, travel behaviour, transport economics, travel modelling and operations modelling. Monashhas recently undertaken research into mobility and socialdisadvantage in Australia that has ledto improved Victorianbusservices in parts ofMelbourne. Driving is also a key to keeping older people mobile and connected. The Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) is investigating road safety for older people. This has a particular focus on licensing, the decision to stop driving, and the relationship between driving and health. MUARC has played an important role in influencing planning, policy and infrastructure development for vulnerable road users in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Sweden, and the UK. MUARCcan provide research, expert advice and consultancy services inthe assessment of fitness to drive and improving the safety ofolderdrivers.

Assisted living
Monash University has enormous breadth and multidisciplinary capability in this area covering e-health and telemedicine, sensors, remote monitoring, networks, information integration, communication devices, assistive technologies, robotics, usability and decision support systems for health service delivery.

Healthcare redesign
Governments around the world are reforming their healthcare systems in response to ageing populations and increasing rates of chronic disease. These reforms are strengthening primary healthcare systems to free up hospital services and help people to better manage their health conditions while remaining within their community. Monash is responding to these challenges by conducting high-quality research which can influence policy makers and health services to shape a better primary care system. Examples include:

Family and care conflict

Family members may disagree on how to care for an older person and may need help resolving complex issues. These can extend to quality of life and living transitions, healthcare decision making and financial decision making. It has been found that mediation can be helpful in dealing with family disputes and service provision on health matters. This gives process and form to difficult and often emotional decisions. Monash has conducted extensive research into conflict in the disability sector. This research has shown that collaborative problem-solving approaches and mediation can helpthose undergoing conflict come to a resolution.

MAGNET is a research platform that draws on a unique dataset from a large network of general practices. It is generating evidence to inform policy and practice around primaryhealthcare. Integrated Home Telehealth is a project that is trialling the use of the National Broadband Network to transform aged care. Itis doing this by enabling people over 65 with chronic disease and complex conditions, cancer, or requiring palliative care to receive telehealth solutions in an integrated care model. Innovative Models and Promoting Access and Coverage Team (IMPACT) is a new Australian-Canadian centre of research excellence. The centre aims to uncover new evidence based approaches to help vulnerable communities access the best qualityhealthcare.

Social inclusion
Social isolation is a key area of risk for older people particularly for those living in rural areas. Monash University has undertaken research into:

service interventions targeting social isolation social isolation in rural Australia lifelong learning and social inclusion.

Delivering

impact
Monash researchers areinvestigating new ways to help older people live

Ozcandrive older drivers study

With baby boomers about to enter old age, there is an urgent need to understand more about the next wave of older road users and how to effectively manage their safemobility. Research has shown that mandatory testing ofolder drivers doesnt make roads any safer. Australian and Canadian researchers are collaborating on a five-year longitudinal study following more than 1200 drivers over the age of 75 to determine how their driving changes over time. The Ozcandrive/Candrive study is the largest and most comprehensive of its kind, enlisting the assistance of new technologies, which can be used in cars to track the drivers behaviour. Associate Professor Judith Charlton leads the Australian and New Zealand arms of the study. Theprimary objective of the project is to develop a screening tool that can help GPs identify at-risk older drivers.

receivehealthcare inthehome.

more independently, bemore socially connected, and

Enhancing intergenerational relationships

Monash researchers recently completed a project on enhancing intergenerational relationships, by bringing together secondary school learners of Chinese, German and Spanish with older speakers of the language. Whilethe project showed that the encounters enhanced second language acquisition outcomes for the students, it demonstrated more importantly that the older participants benefitted through greater social engagement. Thesignificance of this is an enhanced senseof empowerment, wellbeing and self-esteem for theoldermembers of ourcommunities.

Telemedicine for delivering healthcare

The Monash Alliance is a major program that is demonstrating the innovative use of next generation information and communication technologies to deliver healthcare more effectively. The Monash Alliance is a consortium of clinicians from major medical schools, hospitals and e-health solution providers. The participants are united by the goals of delivering clinical excellence, improved access to healthcare and research that underpinscontinuing investment and support for e-health.

Space of Ageing
The Space of Ageing program is a new and innovative research initiative designed to rethink housing and neighbourhood systems for older people. The reasons for redesigning houses and urban environments includes: adesire of older people to age in place, the sheer volume of people that cannot be accommodated in age-specific accommodation, and health technologys capability to deliver healthcare at home. Space of Ageing will examine how our housing developments and urban environments will need to be designed to meet this growing need, and what environmental changes medical, physical and technological will be necessary.

10

Our key people

Housing innovation
Professor Shane Murray Professor Murray is an award-winning architect and academic who researches contemporary housing and urban design issues including the improvement of architecture and public space for older people and people with disabilities.

Improving bus services for older people

Urban sprawl has resulted in more dependence on the car in Melbournes outer suburbs and in rural and regional Victoria. The lack of alternative transport options can result in many people without cars becoming isolated andmarginalised. A three-year study led by Professor Graham Currie at Monash Universitys Institute of Transport Studies, investigated the link between availability of transport, social exclusion and wellbeing. The study, funded by an ARC Linkage grant and in partnership with the Victorian Department of Infrastructure, the Bus Association of Victoria and the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, identified gaps in transport accessibility across the Melbourne Metropolitan Area and mapped these gaps across areas of transport need. The results showed a mismatch between public transport supply and social needs. Those particularly impacted were the elderly, Indigenous Australians, the disabled, families on low incomes, the unemployed, and young people. The results from Professor Curries research provided support for local councils to approach the Victorian Government for improved access to transport services intheir areas. Dr Michael Kennedy, CEO of the Mornington Peninsula Shire, said that the research undertaken in partnership with Monash University was very important in showing that older people living in the Mornington Peninsula have lacked access to public transport, which strengthened our position in advocating for service improvements, which we achieved, based on the results, and this led to an improvement in busservices in this region. The work by Professor Currie and his team also contributed to improvement in the SmartBus service which operates across Melbourne. This was achieved by providing a social equity case of $1.2 billion to the Victorian Governmentto: invest in more buses, abolish the expensive Zone 3 transport ticket, and increase the number and frequency ofSmartBus services across Melbourne. Professor Curries work has been critical to improving the mobility of elderly people around Melbourne, says Chris Lowe, CEO of Bus Victoria. (His) work provides sound policy that underpins the need for continued service improvements in Melbournes route bus network.

Assisted living
Professor John Wilson Professor Wilson is from The Alfred Hospital and a lead person in the Monash Alliance, a consortium of clinicians from major medical schools, hospitals and e-health solution providers. Professor Frada Burstein Professor Bursteins expertise is in providing decision support and improving the user experience on devices, information management and systems. Professor Bursteins team has developed the architecture for smart health information portals which provide customised information to consumers, especially those of older generations and from culturally diversebackgrounds.

Healthcare redesign
Professor Grant Russell Professor Russell is a primary care clinician and health services researcher. His investigation is directed towards understanding and measuring the impact of primary care reform on patients, clinicians and general practices, including transforming models of care. Professor Ian McLoughlin Professor McLoughlin is an international expert on management and social informatics. His investigation into innovations in healthcare, include new service models for healthcare delivery that optimise the use of enablers such as e-health, telemedicine, project management and change management.

Mobility
Professor Graham Currie Professor Currie is an internationally renowned public transport research leader and policy adviser with over 30 years experience. He has worked for some of the worlds leading public transport operators including London Transport. Associate Professor Judith Charlton Professor Charlton leads the behavioural safety science group at MUARC. Her team focuses on research into the safe mobility of vulnerable roadusers. They have provided research evidence that has influenced planning, policy and infrastructure development for vulnerable road users in Australia andinternationally.

Family and care conflict

Professor Tania Sourdin Professor Sourdin has extensive experience in the litigation system and in alternative dispute resolution such as mediation. She has researched and written extensively in the area of healthcare complaints, family conflict and mediation, including the use of mediation in resolving family, age and health related issues.
11

Older

workers

Remaining part of the workforce is important for many older people. Along with other forms of social participation, itcan also improve health and wellbeing. Economically it is estimated that people aged 45 and over will need to provide 85 per cent of workforce growth in the next decade in order to meet labour market demands. Asthepopulation ages, demand for innovative programs and courses for older workers is likely to increase. Monash University conducts research across a range of areas including workforce planning, human resource management, education and training needs, employer attitudes and practices, workplace intervention to improve the ability to work, government policies and labour marketmodelling.

12

Lifelong learning
Lifelong learning is an essential component of healthy ageing and a way to enable social connectedness. Research has shown that learning continues throughout our lifespan, and improvements in learning capability also improve motivation, emotional stability and brain health. Monash undertakes internationally renowned research and training programs in adult education, lifelong learning and workforce development. The research being undertaken by the National Centre for Vocational Education and Training Research at Monash University examines how to help older workers and those making transitions later in life to new locations. They are exploring geographical dimensions of social inclusion focusing on education and training opportunities, employment outcomes and utilisation of skilled migrantsin regionalAustralia.

inadulteducation, lifelonglearning and workforce development.

Our key people
Lifelong learning
Professor Sue Webb Professor Webb researches lifelong learning, workforce development, work-based learning and skillutilisation. Her expertise can be applied to providing policy advice on enhancing lifelong and work-based learning for older workers.

internationally renowned research and training programs

Monash undertakes

Older workers
The issue of workforce ageing is becoming increasingly important in Australia. Monash is researching:

Older workers
Associate Professor Kathleen Riach Associate Professor Riach investigates how organisational practices and social assumptions surrounding ageing influence the experience of growing older at work, particularly in relation to olderworker inequality and discrimination.

the attitude of employers to mature-age workers public policy developments concerning the prolongation ofworkinglives in other countries managing health and wellbeing over a working life the later career transitions of women.

Workplace law

Workplace law
Monash has a breadth of expertise in workplace and employment law which can be applied to issues regarding older workers. Monashs law researchers have a strong track record in producing influential cross-disciplinary legal research that has governmental, professional, and social impact. In relation to older workers, legal researchers have expertise in national employment standards, individual employment contracts, occupational health and safety, unfair dismissal, and discrimination in the workplace.

Professor Marilyn Pittard

Professor Pittard leads the Corporate Workplace and Employment Law and Policy program group and is an expert in the area of Australian and international employment and labour law.

Occupational health and safety

Associate Professor Peter Smith Associate Professor Smiths major research interests are in the epidemiology of work-related injury and itsconsequences, andthe relationshipbetweenhealthconditions andtheabilityto remain in work.

Occupational health and safety

Monash focuses on understanding the risk factors associated with work-related injuries and illness as well as labour market outcomes after returning to work. Monash is currently undertaking a large cohort study of injured workers in Victoria togain a better understanding of where the challenges arise when older workers return to work. The outcomes of this and other injury research will be critical for designing intervention programs that assist older people to maintain health and productivity in theworkplace.

13

and policies
Governments, industry and academia across the globe are interested in the impact of an ageing population on the economy and in particular the financing of healthservices, labour markets, and providing for retirement in a sustainable manner. Monash University hasbroad expertise in economic modelling covering business and investment forecasting, education economics, health economics, quantitative financial modelling, quantitative social policy modelling, and social and medical forecasting. Monashhasa long history in delivering research and consultancy projects related to the economics of an ageingpopulation.

Planning

14

Superannuation
Australia has over $1.6 trillion of superannuation funds invested. The challenge is to use these funds in ways that best meet the long-term needs of our society as well as funding the retirement of individuals. Monash is meeting these challenges by harnessing its expertise in accounting, finance, econometrics, economics, superannuation law, and economics to investigate superannuationopportunities. Monash has strong collaborative relationships with researchers in CSIRO and Warwick University in the UK, who have complementary capabilities in superannuationresearch.

Demographics and workforce planning

Monash University has the expertise to conduct research and provide consultation across a variety of demographic, urban, labour market and related fields. It is specialised in relating population and household projections to labour market issues, resource use issues, and housing and urban planning outcomes. Monash has prepared many reports for government agencies, professional bodies andcorporations.

Health economics
Monash is recognised for its research excellence in health economics and has made a significant contribution to debate and policy development in the Australian healthcare sector. Itshealth economists have collaborated with international institutions such as the World Health Organisation and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Achievements include:

significant contributions to public policy in the areas of hospital funding, health insurance and health technology assessment playing a major role in the development of policy and the practice of economic evaluation of health services through work with the Pharmaceutical Benefits and Medical Services AdvisoryCommittees identifying efficiency and measuring the performance ofhealthcareorganisations.

Monash is investigating ways to increase workforce productivity and maximise returns from superannuation funds to deliver a better economic future for investors, families andsociety.
15

Delivering

impact
Monash has a long history in delivering research and consultancy projects related to the economicsof an ageingpopulation.
The science of superannuation
Monash University and CSIRO recently formed a research cluster to address some of the big challenges in managing Australias $1.6 trillion superannuation system. Monashis the lead in this $6 million project which draws on the expertise of researchers in Australia and overseas. TheCSIRO-Monash Superannuation Research Cluster will take advantage of Monashs strengths in accounting, economic modelling, finance, health economics and marketing. The cluster will provide stakeholders with evidence, tools and the opportunity to work together to address the big challenges of managing superannuation and create a win-win situation where the funds and their members have higher returns and key sectors of the economy gain moreinvestment.

Benchmarking countries pension systems

Monash Universitys expertise and leadership has helped to produce the Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index, which is the worlds most comprehensive survey of international retirement income systems. The fourth edition of the Index was published in October 2012 and compares 18 countries retirement income systems against more than 40 indicators. In 2012, Australias superannuation system was ranked third in the world. This was an improvement from previous years and resulted from an increase in the level of pension fund assets and a rise in the labour force participation rate amongst those aged 55 to 64. The Index is produced from research conducted in collaboration by Mercer and the Australian Centre for Financial Studies, of which Monash University is a core partner. The centre specialises in leading edge finance and investment research to boost the global credentials ofAustralias finance industry and bridges the gap betweenresearch and industry. Monashs Professor Deborah Ralston is the Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Financial Studies. She has played a leadership role in the project including convening an expert reference group from industry and academia to advise on the development of the Index. Professor Ralston said of the Indexs 2012 edition thatit remains a critical comparative tool for governments, industry and academia. The Index highlights areas of policy debate in retirement systems around the world by suggesting possible areas of reform that would provide more adequate retirement benefits, increased sustainability over the longer term and/or greater trust in the private pension system.

16

Our key people

Superannuation
Professor Deborah Ralston Professor Ralston coordinates superannuation-related research activities at Monash through her leadership of the CSIRO-Monash Superannuation ResearchCluster. Her research interests include superannuation, theimpact of financial regulation, and the strategy andmanagement of financial institutions.

Demographics
Associate Professor Dharma Arunachalam Associate Professor Arunachalam is Director of the Centre for Population and Urban Research. Thecore of his work is in family demography, householdprojection and applied demography.

Workforce planning
Associate Professor Chandra Shah Associate Professor Shah has completed major economy-wide studies on the supply and demand for qualifications by occupation for various governments. These studies include demand for skills generated from the ageing of the population. His expertise can be applied to the education and training of older workers to combat skills shortages and improve economic outcomes.

TheCSIRO-Monash Superannuation Research Cluster will

Health economics
Professor Anthony Harris Professor Harris most recent work has focussed on the link between health, healthcare utilisation and labour outcomes with policy simulations on the mix of public and private finance, as well as the impact of epidemics on the economy and healthcare system.

accounting, economic modelling, finance, health economics andmarketing.

take advantage of Monashs strengths in

17

Centres of

research excellence
The Centre for Medicine Use and Safety
Based at our Parkville campus and the pharmacy department of The Alfred hospital, the Centre for Medicine Use and Safety integrates academic and applied research to address medicine use and safety issues in the home, community, hospitals, residential aged-care facilities and their interfaces.

Healthy Ageing Research Unit

This group conducts research that is designed to improve the quality of life for older people while recognising the dynamic and diverse nature of the ageing population in the community.

Monash Ageing Research Centre

The Monash Ageing Research Centre (MONARC) is based at the Kingston Centre in Melbourne and provides aged care, agedmental health services and highly regarded rehabilitation programs for adults of all ages. The research activities of MONARC are directed towards understanding the diseases associated with ageing and neurological disorders, and rapidly translating the research findings into clinical care to addresses gaps in health service delivery and to improve the quality of care.

Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health

This centre is one of Australias leading research and education groups in the field of occupational and environmental health. The centre has been funded by government to build capacity in workplace public health research and link research, policy and practice in occupational health and safety in Australia.

Monash Injury Research Institute

The Monash Injury Research Institute (MIRI) is Australias largest and most respected injury prevention research organisation. Its expertise includes safety in all modes of transport, in the workplace, in the community and in the home. The Falls Prevention Research Unit is a longstanding research activity in MIRI that has achieved international recognition for its leadership in preventing falls among older people. The Monash University Accident Research Centre, also part of MIRI, is working at an international level to understand how best to manage driving andlicensing among our senior citizens.

Australian Centre for Research in EmploymentandWork

This centre analyses contemporary employment and workplace issues by conducting collaborative research in a range of areas including human resource management, industrial and employee relations and organisational behaviour.

Centre for Health Economics

The Centre for Health Economics is one of the largest concentrations of senior health economists in Australia and has a strong track record of health economics research, teaching and community service. The centre has made significant contributions to public policy in the area of hospital funding, healthinsurance and health technology assessment. It has pioneered the measurement of social values through construction of the Assessment of Quality of Life instrument.

Monash Alliance
The Monash Alliance is a consortium comprising Monash University faculties and affiliated hospitals, the Division of GeneralPractice, government departments, and various research and health delivery organisations. The Monash Alliance is developing the technology and information systems fortelemedicine. Thiswill enable medical practitioners to consult directly with remote patients, and with healthcare workers for particular situations.

Centre for Population and Urban Research

This centre specialises in relating population and household projections to labour market issues particularly education andtraining needs, resource use issues including projected demand for land and water, and housing and urban planningoutcomes. The centre maintains a large customiseddatabase relevant to these issues.

18

for collaboration
Organisations can engage with Monash in a number of ways. Specific contract research
Our team of business development managers can assist organisations and businesses interested in arranging research contracts with Monash University including:

Opportunities

identification and development of research partnerships collaborative research contracts management of key accounts contract management research capability statements.

Consultancy
Monash Consulting Services (MCS) connects companies to internationally respected experts across a diverse range of fields including science, engineering, health sciences, economics, sustainability and education. MCS can also arrange access to an integrated network of world-class technology platforms suitable for a wide range of leading edge technologyapplications. MCS simplifies the process of companies engaging with Monash bylocating required expertise, managing all contractual negotiations and the administrativedetails relatedto consulting.

Collaboration through leveraging government funding

The Australian Government has a range of funding programs such as the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Projects and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Partnership Projects schemes to support collaborative research and developments between university researchers and external partner organisations. The ARC Linkage Projects scheme funds collaborative research projects between university researchers and public, private, community, government and not-for-profit organisations. Thescheme has been running for over 10 years. It was founded to give organisations a cost-effective way to use high-quality research to uncover answers to difficult issues. The NHMRC Partnership Projects scheme provides funding and support for researchers and policy makers to work together to answer a specific research question to influence health and wellbeing through changes in the delivery, organisation, funding and access to health services.

Licensing
Monash is recognised for its success in developing new products and services with our commercial partners including the commercialisation of inventions and the development ofintellectual property.

19

Further information Industry Engagement and Commercialisation Monash University Clayton campus Building 75 (G22 - 45) Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, Australia 3800

The information in this brochure was correct at the time of publication (November 2013). MonashUniversity reserves the right to alter thisinformation should the need arise. Youshould always check with the relevant Faculty office when considering a course.

monash.edu/industry

CRICOS provider: Monash University 00008C