Aboriginal-Informed System Connector Model for Ageing Well

Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity aims to design, implement and evaluate an Aboriginal-informed System Connector Model for Ageing Well.

This research aims to increase timely access to appropriate aged care, health and/or social services and champion cultural wellbeing to support older Aboriginal people to age well.

We propose to deliver the Model through a 'System Connector' workforce that creates, strengthens, and formalises care pathways between aged care, health and social services.

This proposed model builds on eight years of significant foundational work of Wardliparingga that has explored individual and service provider understandings of healthy ageing, social and emotional wellbeing, and ageing well. Key attributes of the System Connector Model for Ageing Well include cultural needs, communication, choice-making, collaboration, and coordination.

Our Indigenous-led, multidisciplinary team of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous researchers, health, aged care, and community service providers will prepare, implement and evaluate the Model for sustainability and scalability. This research will generate much needed evidence on novel approaches to system integration to support ageing well for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

PARTNERING INSTITUTIONS

South Australian Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation, SA Health, Watto Parunna Aboriginal Primary Health Care Services, Flinders University, University of South Australia, Modbury Hospital, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Australian National University

This project is funded by the Medical Research Futures Fund