Successful bid for Australian ILC centre

Research and knowledge sharing are critical for the advancement of many industries, especially within the growing aged care sector.

That's why the International Longevity Centre Global Alliance (ILC) exists, with the primary goal of helping societies address population ageing in productive ways. This is accomplished through ongoing research and forums for discussion and debate.

Research focuses on topics such as greater life expectancy and how larger populations of elderly people have an impact on nations. It's easy to see why such centres are going to be essential in the near future.

Australia is now joining this comprehensive network, with Australian Ageing Agenda announcing on 28 October that 11 organisations made a successful bid for an Australian centre. These organisations explained that more than two years of work were required to follow through with the bid.

ILC-Australia is set to join with other nations, including the US, UK, Singapore and South Africa, in bettering aged care.

By joining the consortium, Australia has the opportunity to focus aged care efforts and resources, while collaborating with other countries, explained Professor Julie Byles from the University of Newcastle and now acting head of ILC-Australia.

"The consortium represents a range of interests including consumer peak bodies, aged care providers, academics, researchers and policy advisors. This gives the group great advantage in driving evidence-based change," she said.

"The aim is to support a better experience of ageing at a societal level, including better services, better community structures and better government policies."

This bid to join the consortium will certainly pay off in the near future, as the aged care industry within Australia will better be able to prepare for coming population changes and more effectively implement appropriate responses.