We plan to record this event and make that recording
available to all registrants subsequently
If you can't make it on the day we encourage you to register
anyway so that you receive that link
Access to the recording in our video library will be
restricted to AAG members and webinar registrants
AAG SECG June 2025 Webinar
Engaging Consumers and Communities in Ageing and Aged Care Research
Meaningful research in ageing and aged care starts with the people it is meant to serve. Engaging consumers and community organisations is not just a box to tick - it is a powerful way to ground your work in lived experience, drive innovation, and deliver research that truly makes a difference. When researchers collaborate with older people and advocacy groups or organisations, outcomes become more relevant, inclusive, and impactful.
In this webinar, you will hear from experts on how to build meaningful partnerships with aged care consumers and community organisations. Through real-world examples and practical strategies, we will explore ethical engagement, co-design, and how to make consumer voices central to your research - right from the start.
Attendees of this webinar will:
- Understand key ethical considerations in consumer collaboration.
- Learn how to build meaningful partnerships with aged care consumers.
- Explore real-world examples of effective community engagement.
- Consider strategies to enhance relevance and maximise research impact through consumer insights at every stage of research process.
- Develop skills to integrate consumer voices into research projects.
Hear from our speakers:
Sophia Petrov
National Manager, Policy and Engagement
COTA
Sophia is a seasoned leader with a career spanning news media, teaching, aged care, and senior local government roles. Now National Manager of Policy and Engagement at COTA Australia, she champions older Australians’ voices across sectors. Known for her inclusive, strengths-based approach, Sophia brings compassion, collaboration and authenticity to everything she does. Her expertise in community consultation, coaching and appreciative enquiry delivers real impact—shaping policies and services that reflect and respond to what communities need.
Dr Kasia Bail
Centre for Ageing Research and Translation
University of Canberra
Dr Kasia Bail is Professor of Nursing at the University of Canberra, with a focus on improving healthcare delivery for older people with complex needs. Her research spans dementia care, nurse-sensitive outcomes, prognosis communication, and digital health systems. Combining clinical and academic expertise, she continues to work in hospital settings while contributing to policy and education. Dr Bail is committed to advancing nursing scholarship and education, sharing her expertise with students, industry networks, and professional groups.
Facilitated by:
Dr Najwan El-Saifi
Research Fellow, Centre for Hearing Research, University of Queensland
Dr Najwan El-Saifi is a pharmacist by training and a Research Fellow at the University of Queensland Centre for Hearing Research. Her research focuses on the co-design, implementation, and evaluation of interventions to support older adults and their carers.
Dr Aung Zaw Zaw Phyo
Research Fellow
School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine
Monash University, Melbourne
Dr Aung Zaw Zaw Phyo is a Research Fellow at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. He has held the Early Career Postdoctoral Fellowship (Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University). His postdoctoral research mainly focuses on frailty, cardiovascular disease (CVD), dementia and biological ageing.
Dr Yaping Zhong
Research Fellow
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Monash University, Melbourne
Dr Yaping Zhong is a Research Fellow at the Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University. Her current research focuses on co-designing multimedia resources with informal carers from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds to support the transitional care of older adults.