Good Spirit Good Life Centre of Research Excellence in Indigenous Ageing Well

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The Centre of Research Excellence is Indigenous led.  The Centre’s vision is to build the capability of services, systems and communities that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as they age.

  • ​This work is underpinned by the Aboriginal Elder co-developed Good Spirit Good Life framework, which outlines the interconnected elements that strengthen spirit to support ageing well.
  • We are focused on building the capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers in the field of ageing well.

Our Investigators

Chief investigators: 

  • Director, Professor Dawn Bessarab (Bard/ Yindijibarndi)aboriginal flag
  • Co-director, Dr Kate Smith
  • Professor Dina LoGiudice
  • Professor  Leon Flicker
  • Professor Michael Wright (Yuat Nyoongar)
  • Dr Kylie Radford
  • Professor Julie Ratcliffe
  • Ms Roslyn Malay (Yurriyangem Taam Kija)
  • Dr Chontel Gibson (Kamilaroi)
  • Professor Sandra Thompson.

Associate investigators

  • Associate Professor Boe Rambaldini (Bundjalung)
  • Professor David Atkinson
  • Professor Edward Strivens
  • Dr Graham Gee 
  • Associate Professor Jennifer Walker (Haudenosaunee First Nations people of the Grand River)
  • Associate Professor Jeromey Temple
  • Associate Professor Lyn Goldberg
  • Ms Tamasin Tunny
  • Mr Warwick Padgham (Taungurung)

Centre Manager

  • Ms Christianne White

    The Centre of Research Excellence's Objectives

    Objective 1: Establish an Indigenous ageing data library by combining a number of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ageing studies.

    Objective 2: Establish an Indigenous Data Governance Group and a data advisory group to direct and guide the data library.

    Objective 3: Adapt the Good Spirit Good Life Quality of Life tool for use in remote areas of Australia and in the Torres Strait.

    Objective 4: Explore the culturally acceptable methods to developing a preference-based scoring system for the Good Spirit Good Life Quality of Life tool.

    Objective 5: Outline models of best practice in Indigenous aged care by conducting a systematic review underpinned by the Good Spirit Good Life Quality of Life framework.

    Objective 6: Develop the Good Spirit Good Life aged care services guidelines and training resources.