2009 is already shaping up to be a busy year for Peninsula Health’s Nikki Hale. The Project Officer has been offered a research fellowship from the Department of General Practice, Monash University.
The one year fellowship, funded by the Commonwealth Governments’ Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development (PHCRED) program offers health professionals the chance to increase their knowledge and skills in primary health care evaluation and research.
Nikki will work in partnership with Monash University NHMRC Research Fellow, Dr Natalie de Morton, to undertake research of the ‘Community’ and ‘Home-based’ Agestrong programs.
Agestrong is a specifically designed strength program for older people. The program can particularly be beneficial to those who are recovering from illness, have become inactive or suffer chronic health problems such as diabetes and arthritis. It also helps to increase bone density, muscle mass, strength, confidence and balance.
The program is currently conducted at 12 sites across the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston area; and provides over 700 community places each week.
Nikki’s research will:
- Examine the effectiveness of both the home-based and community Agestrong programs on mobility, community participation and quality of life for older people, and
- Identify the baseline characteristics of people who are most/least likely to respond and adhere to the program.
Following their evaluation of the program, Nikki and Dr de Morton’s results will be published locally and in national and international scientific journals.
“This is a great chance to not only develop my research skills but is an opportunity to publish the benefits of the Agestrong program at a national level,” said Nikki.
“I have always been interested in different research and evaluation methods,” said Nikki. “The Research Development Program is a fantastic point of entry for people just starting out in research.”
“Regular supervision, research meetings, workshops and training are all offered as part of the program which will help me develop the skills needed to pursue a career in research in the future,” she said.
For more information on the Agestrong Program, contact Ageing Well Peninsula Health (03) 9788 1289.
