Ageing and Gerontology - Flinders University

Ageing & Gerontology:
Help shape an ageing society

Be an active participant in promoting the health and wellbeing of an ageing society, advocate for change and contribute to enriching the lives of older adults.

What does a career in gerontology look like?

Ageing and gerontology are about so much more than aged care. Ageing affects us all. Gerontologists are multidisciplinary professionals who work in a range of employment settings including aged care homes, community care and acute hospitals as well as local, state and federal government departments, policy and advocacy organisations, universities and the private sector.

Demand for qualified professionals to work across a range of employment settings is growing as governments, industry, and the not-for-profit and private sectors are evolving in line with the benefits, demands and issues associated with an ageing population.

Potential employment opportunities can be found in policy, local, state and federal governments, education, research, service provision, consulting, and the private sector.

Gerontologist insights can provide companies in various fields with a competitive edge and specialised knowledge can help to better identify and respond to the needs of older adults, and address ageing stereotypes and misrepresentations.

Entrepreneurial gerontology is an exceptionally prosperous part of the sector, with opportunities to assess, identify, develop and offer programs, products and services to meet the unique and varied needs of older adults.

Employment growth

Study options

Bachelor of Healthy Ageing

Postgraduate Applied Gerontology

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Why Flinders?

Teaching staff

Potential occupations

Community program developer
Ageing policy/project officer
Elder advocacy or advisor
Gerontological entrepreneur
Ageing services manager (postgraduate)
Researcher or management consultant
Service planner, navigator or coordinator
Community participation, active ageing or healthy ageing officer
Information and referral specialist.

Potential employers

Residential and/or community aged care providers
Local council and government departments
Advocacy and peak body organisations
Local, national, or international non-government organisations
Community care and acute hospitals
Universities and training organisations
Private businesses.

Natalie Yee, Graduate, Master of Applied Gerontology (Online)

“
The teachers are very experienced in their fields, and that helps to build up our knowledge with practical experience rather than just looking at theories and textbooks. Studying at Flinders was the best decision I’ve ever made – Flinders met and exceeded my expectations.”

Why study Ageing and Gerontology at Flinders?

Connect with industry leaders

Flinders are leaders in health and care, and we have strong connections to the health industry.
Studying online with Flinders still gives you access to world-class researchers and academics with long-standing connections to industry.

Become a sought-after, multi-skilled and career-ready graduate

You’ll be provided with the latest knowledge and essential skills that will prepare you to work with our ageing population, aged care providers, industry organisations and relevant departments in all tiers of government.
We provide you with assessment activities designed to stimulate authentic workplace scenarios, allowing you to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the demands of ageing societies.

Enjoy a supportive, student-centred learning environment

We provide you with greater flexibility than ever before. You can build an online study program that suits you and fits around your lifestyle.
We bring the classroom to you. Both the Bachelor of Healthy Ageing and post graduate applied gerontology programs are offered 100% online. Study wherever you are in Australia, with no travel required.
You will exchange ideas and complete learning activities in discussion forums, reading and responding when it suits you. We also allow you to engage with staff and students in real-time online tutorials with flexible scheduling.
With the Bachelor of Healthy Ageing, you can focus on one topic at a time, hit the ground running with a full-time study load or fast track your studies with intensive summer sessions. The choice is yours.
We’re always here to help. We provide IT support for technical issues and easy access to academic tutors to support your learning throughout the course of your studies.

Be equipped with knowledge of the latest evidence-based practice

Many of our teaching staff are also active researchers and we ensure our programs always have the latest evidence-based learning outcomes.
We equip you with the latest research and contemporary knowledge on issues affecting older people, including mental health and wellbeing, person centred care and leadership, productive ageing, elder abuse and neglect, popular culture, ageism, and dementia.

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Learn about Health at Flinders with Professor Chris Brebner

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Teaching staff

Our incredible teaching and research staff are experts in their professions and well-connected to industry.

Academic Lead – Associate Professor Kim Devery

Kim has worked as a nurse in Africa, USA, UK and Australia across a wide variety of clinical practice settings. Leading the strategic development of the palliative care postgraduate courses, through her teaching Kim guides doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to strengthen their capacity in delivering health care services to patients.

Undergraduate Course Coordinator and Postgraduate Course Coordinator – Justine Irving

Justine has an interesting and diverse professional background in government, university, and the private sector (management consulting). She discovered her interest in gerontology through the later stages of her Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and has continued to pursue professional and research opportunities in ageing. Justine completed the Master of Applied Gerontology. Through her current PhD project, she is seeking to understand how and why sense of purpose changes with age.

Student Experience Coordinator/Lecturer – Dr Maayken van den Berg

Maayken holds a research Master of Science in Movement Sciences and a degree in physiotherapy, both obtained in the Netherlands. In 2008 she obtained her PhD in rehabilitation at the University of Birmingham in the UK. She has conducted research studies and taught in undergraduate and postgraduate programs at Brookes University Oxford (UK), University of Birmingham (UK) and Health Institute Carlos III Madrid (Spain). In 2012 Maayken moved to Australia and joined Flinders.

Lecturer – in Ageing and End of Life Care – Alison Campbell

Alison is a social gerontologist with 25 years’ experience in the aged care sector, within community and residential aged care, before coming to Flinders University. During this time Alison worked with elders including carers, and people living with dementia, different levels of government and local organisations to develop respite houses and day programs, and build bridges between community and residential aged care, and people living with dementia and the broader community. Alison has completed a Masters by Research.