Pursuing a vision for change in aged care: impacts and outcomes of the BSL–RMIT TRACS project

Responding to the changing needs of older adults in residential care is a challenge that requires a skilled, well-supported workforce. Their training should be based on research evidence and best practice in service development.

Teaching and Research Aged Care Services (TRACS) was a Commonwealth initiative to address this. One of 16 projects funded was a partnership between the Brotherhood of St. Laurence and RMIT University, designed with the ambitious goals of developing Sumner House (a 42-bed facility operated by BSL) as a Centre of Excellence, enhancing residents' wellbeing and improving support for aged care staff and students.

This research summary outlines how the BSL–RMIT TRACS project fostered collaboration and provides some lessons on why linking research and service development is so important in aged care and other sectors, and yet so challenging.