A researcher from the University of Queensland’s Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR) has been named one of fifteen researchers Australia-wide to receive a project grant from Dementia Australia.
Dr Deborah Brooks, a research fellow at the Dementia and Neuro Mental Health Unit led by Associate Professor Nadeeka Dissanayaka, is the latest recipient of the prestigious Hazel Hawke Research award in Dementia Care.
The grant was originally established to honour the late Hazel Hawke’s profound contributions towards dementia care advocacy and is awarded to researchers who have demonstrated excellence within the field of dementia management and care.
The grant will allow Dr Brooks to extend on her previous work and fund her latest research project, MHICare.
MHICare aims to pilot-test a newly developed Mental Health Care Indicator (MHICare) Tool within partnering residential aged care organisations. The MHICare Tool aims to provide meaningful information about current mental health care and practices and to identify opportunities to make improvements that benefit residents’ mental health.
The MHICare tool was co-designed with key stakeholders such as residential aged care staff, residents, family members, industry, consumer organisations, clinicians and academic experts.
Dr Brooks currently facilitates collaborations through her commitments to consumer and community involvement (CCI) in research – she is the Chairperson for the UQCCR Consumer and Community Involvement sub-committee. Dr Brooks is also an invited member of the Dementia Australia Researcher Training Working Group, developing online resources for research staff and people impacted by dementia on CCI.
If you would like to learn more about MHICare, please visit the study webpage, or contact the research team at MHICare@uq.edu.au or 07 3346 5577.
