ARIIA receives $13 million funding boost

Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA) has received $13 million of funding from the Federal Government, spread over two years, to help the organisation begin a second stage of strategy focused on home care.

Key points

• ARIIA announced its first round of Grants Program recipients in November 2022, funding five projects focusing on the likes of dementia care and mental health and wellbeing
• In total, its initial funding allocation of $34 million saw just under $17 million spread awarded to 62 separate projects over the last two years
• 60% of ARIIA grants were offered to projects that have been developed through the Innovator Training Program and/or Aged Care Partnering Program
• The latest injection of Government funding provides certainty for ARIIA as it looks to encourage the development of innovative care models using technology and evidence-based practices, with an added focus on home care

According to ARIIA, alongside the 62 funded projects, more than 600 individual participants have joined their Innovator Training and Aged Care Partnering programs. Meanwhile, an online Knowledge and Implementation Hub is accessed globally.

ARIIA CEO Reuben Jacob said the organisation will continue to work closely with the Government, the aged care sector, peak bodies, tertiary research organisations, and elders to ensure the success of the aged care reform process.

He said they are proud to have launched several initiatives using translational research to enhance aged care’s workforce capacity. 

“The Australian Government’s initial $34 million investment to establish ARIIA marked the first dedicated, industry-led support for innovation in aged care and we are delighted this funding has been extended so we can continue to drive innovation across the aged care sector,” he said.

“The new round of funding will enable ARIIA to broaden our local and international partnerships and allow us to implement scalable, evidence-based solutions across the sector including a focus on emerging technologies such as AI and digital strategies.”

The Department of Health and Aged Care said the funding will allow ARIIA to establish an Aged Care Innovation Network and Community of Practice while advising the sector and Government on care models, workforce solutions and best practices. 

By funding 62 separate projects, the organisation has enabled aged care providers and researchers to take meaningful action in the research and development stage of new initiatives. 

A diverse range of providers have benefited from the funding, including Barossa Village, Bolton Clarke, RFBI, ACH Group and Anglicare Sydney. 

“Continued Federal support will enable Australia’s leading researchers to carry out projects transforming our approach to aged care and improving the quality of life of our ageing community through industry and government partnerships,” added Flinders University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Raymond Chan.

Just as aged care embarks on a new era with the Support at Home program replacing Home Care Packages, so too will ARIIA focus more on innovation for home care.

ARIIA Founding Research Director Professor Sue Gordon said the new generation of elders deserves a modern model of aged care and evidence-based innovation will help deliver it. 

“One of our priority areas will be the community care sector, with 80 per cent of older people indicating they wish to age in place. This means an urgent upskilling of aged care workers to broaden the range of physical, social and psychological support services that will enable elders to stay at home longer,” Professor Gordon said.

The organisation has not mentioned how the funding allocation will be made available to project leaders. 

However, it is working on a commercial funding strategy to establish additional industry research, consulting opportunities, international collaborations and philanthropic support to enable ongoing sustainability outside of its own Government funding. 

ARIIA is supported by both the Federal Government and South Australia’s Flinders University. 

“Since our university’s inception of ARIIA three years ago, alongside industry partners, it has consistently delivered transformative sector-wide changes, and we eagerly anticipate its ongoing success in shaping the future of aged care,” Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling said.

“As ARIIA continues its vital mission of developing solutions for aged care, continued federal funding will fuel further innovations to tackle our nation’s aged care challenges head-on.