Developing guidelines and scalable exercise interventions for older women by older women in Aotearoa New Zealand
Lead researcher: Dr Rebecca Meiring, Senior Lecturer and researcher in exercise physiology, physical activity and health, Department of Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Science
This RDG will look at effective interventions for older women to build resilience and maintain independence in social activities. Improved physical function also addresses the possibility of being able to maintain a garden, earn income through work, and, because physical activity is associated with improved cognitive function, the work of the RDG also aligns with preventing memory loss. This RDG has the potential to counter ageist stereotypes by empowering women to actively participate in life.
The RDG will involve older women as co-creators, ensuring that their preferences, needs, and values are accounted for in the development and implementation of physical activity interventions.
Ageing Proud: Planning Ahead with LGBTIQ+ communities and their carers in Auckland
Lead researchers: Dr Carl Webber, Postdoctoral fellow, Social and Community Health and Dr Claire Gooder, Research Fellow, Te Kupenga Hauora Māori, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
The project builds on Ageing Proud’s previous 2024 RDG’s research agenda by identifying key areas of research needed for LGBTIQ+ ageing well, including planning for better ageing. This includes work income and retirement, Rainbow older people, maintaining independence in social activities, housing, and resilience.
RDG members will collaborate with other community members and domain-specific experts to identify planning needs, facilitators, barriers, and research and funding pathways to empower their communities to effectively plan for better ageing, promoting better health outcomes and reducing inequities.
Measurement of realised benefits, and estimate of potential unrealised benefits of Mens Sheds in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland
Lead applicant: Terry Moore, Co-founder and life member of Mens Shed Auckland East
The purpose of this RDG is to provide measurement of the realised benefits (mental health, physical health, social health, community service, and community connection density) of Mens Sheds in Auckland to its members, their whanau/families, and their communities.
Findings from the RDG may support decision-makers to reduce barriers to expanding the number and capacity of Mens Sheds in Auckland, help Shed leaders improve benefits for their inactive members, and help those leaders take steps to widen the range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds of men choosing to become Shed members.
Applications for 2025 are now closed. Deadline for 2026 applications: to be advised
To support CCREATE-AGE in its vision to stimulate co-created ageing research, we will support a transdisciplinary group of people who are interested in co-creating a research proposal (Research Development Groups (RDGs)).
Research proposals should be submitted on the attached form and address research questions related to one or more priorities identified by communities through our 2023 and 2024 listening events. The priorities are:
- Work income and retirement
- Ageism
- Health care access
- Community transport
- Maintaining independence in social activities
- Housing: alternative models, overcrowding or substandard
- Indigenous communities’ connections: language, wider community, whānau and whenua
- Importance of Aged Care Facility – healthcare
- Connecting with education & creativity – purpose
- Amenities and facilities
- Safety concerns (including of kaumātua and tāmariki)
- Intergenerational relationships: support and strain
- Resilience
- Food & exercise
- Preventing memory loss
- Maintaining garden
- Addressing social isolation and loneliness
- Rainbow older people and safe meaningful community connections
- Ageing and migration experiences: language barriers, culturally appropriate services, belonging, losses, financial, transport, autonomy, intergenerational living
As a result of the award, the RDGs are expected to apply for at least one substantial research grant or funding opportunity.
The RDG should
- Include at least two experienced researchers at the University of Auckland.
- Have a chair who will convene the RDG meetings, report progress and maintain communication with CCREATE-AGE project manager.
- Be transdisciplinary, which means:
- Cover at least two academic disciplines
- Involve older people
- Involve collaborators from at least one sector other than academia i.e., private, public or civic society. For example, practitioners, local council, and voluntary sector representatives and community groups with an interest in the research topic may be useful partners.
The expected outputs of the RDG will be:
- At least one co-created research proposal with an outcome that will benefit older people in Aotearoa.
- A public seminar at a CCREATE-AGE forum to describe the work of the RDG.
- Progress report to CCREATE-AGE.
Celebrating CCREATE-AGE Research Development Groups 2024, Dianna Albarran Gonzalez (Programme Director PhD in Design. Senior Lecturer. CCREATE-AGE Research Theme Lead. Co-creating Buen Vivir RDG member) and Tamika Simpson (CCREATE-AGE Research Operations Manager. Master Home Food Producers gardeners project 2025).
An introduction to CCREATE-AGE Research Development Groups (RDGs) was given at the Co-Creators Forum in 2023. The recording of the session is below:
An introduction to CCREATE-AGE Research Development Groups (RDGs) was given at the Co-Creators Forum in 2023. The recording of the session is below:
For further information please contact: CCREATEAGE@auckland.ac.nz