Clinical Academic Groups Drive Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration at Ageing Research Forum

Hosted by Sydney Health Partners’ Geriatric Medicine Clinical Academic Group (CAG), the forum highlighted ageing as a shared challenge across the health system requiring a multidisciplinary approach to developing person-centred, frailty-informed models of care.

Bringing together representatives from ten Sydney Health Partners Clinical Academic Groups, the forum showcased the breadth of ageing-related research. In her opening address, Ellen Rawstron, Executive Director, Clinical Engagement and Operational Program, Agency for Clinical Innovation, emphasised the importance of building on successful models already operating within the health system rather than reinventing solutions.

Presentations demonstrated how ageing intersects with diverse areas of healthcare, exploring topics spanning genomics, mental health, diabetes, obesity, oral health, sleep, cardiovascular health, cancer, perioperative care and virtual care.

Despite the diversity of disciplines, several common priorities emerged, including meaningful consumer involvement, stronger support for primary care, and greater clinician engagement in research and implementation.

Panel discussions focused on the complexity of healthcare pathways for older people and the need for more coordinated care. Frailty emerged as a recurring theme across healthcare settings, reinforcing the importance of collaboration beyond traditional specialty boundaries and the need for prevention, early identification and intervention strategies.

Closing the forum, Professor Sarah Hilmer AM and Dr Lisa Kouladjian O’Donnell reflected on the opportunities that emerge when researchers, clinicians and consumers work towards shared goals. Professor Hilmer added, “Healthy ageing is not the responsibility of a single specialty. It requires coordinated action across the health system, and forums like this help build the partnerships needed to drive lasting change.”