Policy impact for aged care sector reforms

30 March 2026

The UTS Ageing Research Collaborative (UARC) is led by UTS academics from multiple faculties working in collaboration with aged-care providers, health services, government agencies, consumer groups and researchers from other universities. UARC’s researchers identify evidence-based solutions to the issues facing ageing and aged care. Louise Malady shared an update on the work of UARC, and her role as UARC’s Policy Advisor, at the Research Café.

UARC’s Policy Advisor, Louise Malady speaking at Research Cafe

Led by co-directors Prof David Brown from UTS Business School and Prof Deborah Parker from the UTS Faculty of Health, UARC spans five UTS faculties and has research themes focused on business, law, health, design and technology.

Lou said the term ‘collaborative’ is important as UARC is neither a centre nor an institute.

“Being a collaborative enables us to do translational research in a really different way and to have a transdisciplinary approach to our research,” she said.

UARC’s policy impact in recent years includes:

reduced waitlists for older people accessing support at home

improved design of regulatory prudential requirements for aged care providers

policy direction of the national registration system for Aged Care

pricing and funding arrangements for residential care and the new Support at Home program

resourcing of the aged care sector, particularly regarding the aged care workforce sustainability and funding for aged care providers in rural areas.

appointments of UARC senior members to Federal Government advisory boards and taskforces

invitations to speak at government sponsored conferences and to the media.

“The idea I want to convey to you is that to have policy impact you need strategy. The strategy sets the vision for UARC as it works on solving problems in relation to the current state of aged care and how we can support the ageing population in our society,” Lou explained.

Being a collaborative enables us to do translational research in a really different way and to have a transdisciplinary approach to our research.

In terms of UARC’s influence, Lou said UARC’s foundational researchers leveraged data coming out of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety around six years ago to derive data driven analysis and insights. From there, UARC intentionally established partnerships with industry partners to create deep sector engagement and continued to build on its data-driven insights with access to more industry expertise and wider data sets. This foundational work has enabled UARC to undertake research and knowledge translation activities such as making informed policy submissions, producing sector reports and publications.