Six keys to ageing in place

A University of Technology Sydney (UTS) research initiative is working with older residents in the Woolgoolga and Coffs Harbour Northern Beaches region to examine how communities can better support ageing in place through integrated service design.

Led by Dr Moira Scerri from UTS Business School, the Elder Persona Research investigates how transport, food access, home modification, digital inclusion, social connection and healthcare access intersect in the everyday lives of older Australians.

“Ageing in place is national policy, but in practice many services operate in isolation,” Dr Scerri said. “We’re examining what happens between those services; where friction occurs, where people fall through gaps, and how communities can design more connected systems.”

The research responds to national trends showing that:

• More than one in three Australians aged over 65 report low digital confidence
• Social isolation affects approximately one in four older adults
• Regional communities face thinner service markets, meaning fewer providers and greater travel distances.

Rather than focusing only on technology training, the project uses structured co-design workshops to map lived experience and translate it into practical planning tools for councils, service providers and policymakers.

From lived experience to system redesign

The Elder Persona framework is built around six integrated pillars of ageing in place:

• Transport and mobility
• Food and nutrition
• Home modification and maintenance
• Digital inclusion
• Social inclusion
• Access to health care.

Participants contribute to the development of evidence-based “persona” artefacts that help service providers understand diverse ageing experiences, including varying levels of digital literacy, health status, social connection and confidence navigating services.

“This is not about assuming all older people have the same needs,” Dr Scerri said. “It is about understanding diversity in ageing and designing systems that respond to that complexity.”

Why regional Australia matters

Regional communities like Woolgoolga and the Northern Beaches of Coffs Harbour present both challenges and opportunities. While service markets may be thinner, social capital is often strong. The research explores how local partnerships, including allied health providers, community groups and small businesses, can work collaboratively rather than in silos.

The project also examines digital confidence as a structural issue linked to health access, banking, government services and social participation.

“Digital inclusion is now a determinant of independence, without staged pathways and ongoing support, confidence can erode quickly,”  Dr Scerri said.

Informing future policy and planning

Findings from the project will inform:

• Regional ageing strategies
• Service integration approaches
• Digital inclusion programs
• Community-based ageing policy development.

The research aligns with broader national conversations about aged care reform, preventative health and the sustainability of home-based support models.