VA Hospital Counter
Pro-Vice-Chancellor's Welcome
Welcome to our redesigned website on Health and Ageing!
In the first issue of each year it has been our tradition to review again the central mission of this Newsletter. The annual review helps to inform readership interest and participation in this multimedia interactive website.
Since its inception in March 2003 the topics of this newsletter have expanded at a rapid rate covering a variety of themes on Ageing Research and Education from healthy ageing to lifestyle development issues to community engagement and related aspects of quality living. In addition, reader's queries are answered through the People's Forum and relevant data is collated on the Opinion Board.
Our readership includes emerging researchers in health-related subjects (in particular, gerontology), service providers in community settings, carers at home, and interested laypersons. Some people, and especially the new readers, may be curious about the orientation guiding the selection of content.
In September 2006, we instituted a digital poll to survey the number of hits on this Health and Ageing website. I am pleased that a three-month survey indicates an encouraging response, as evidenced by the online statistics below:
- Thought for the Day --- 3645 hits
- Research Reviews --- 1056
- Book Reviews --- 3626
- News Alerts --- 3638
- Funding Opportunities --- 3634
- Employment Board --- 1059
- Conference Highlights --- 3630
- Opinion Board --- 3633
- Nikki Brake's Health Column --- 460 (new initiative)
Our primary aim is to inform readers about resources --- from research, practice and daily life --- that contribute to an appreciation of the ageing process. Challenging the longstanding view of ageing as decline, we strive to create a vision of life in which age has no barriers and that ageing is an unprecedented period of human enrichment.
Such a revolution vitally depends on the communities of research and professional practices that focus on adult populations, especially people over 50. It is within these communities that new ideas, insights, factual support, and practices of growth enhancement can congenially emerge. By focusing on the developmental aspects of ageing, and the availability of relevant resources, skills and resiliencies, research not only brings useful insights into the realm of practice but also helps to empower our growing population of older people. By moving beyond practices of repair and prevention, to emphasize growth-enhancing activities, practitioners also contribute to the societal reconstruction of ageing.
Reader contributions to the Newsletters are always welcome. If you have writings or practices that you feel would be especially interesting to our readership we invite you to share them in future issues.
We also review selected books and films, and carry announcements of relevant conferences, workshops and vacancies in aged care services and ageing research..
Please send your suggestions to Monika Bhatia at m.bhatia@mary.acu.edu.au.
Peter H Wilson
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research & International)
24 January 2007