UQ is the first Age Friendly University in the Southern Hemisphere, joining the AFU global network in mid-2020. Our Research and Education Coordinator Andrea Petriwskyj is part of the Age-Friendly UQ reference group and has been contributing this month to the development of the plan for age-friendly initiatives at UQ.
Becoming an AFU requires an institution to embed AFU principles in a way that makes sense for that institution, but all AFU institutions are required to have strong senior executive support for the program. Professor Nancy Pachana of the UQ School of Psychology is the Program Lead for UQ’s Age Friendly University initiatives and UQ’s Vice Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry is pleased to support the initiatives.
Being a member of the AFU global network
- supports UQ’s long-term goal of creating game-changing graduates who make impactful contributions in society
- enhances UQ’s research efforts to realise globally significant solutions to wicked problems; a focus on healthy ageing and well-being in later life is a key component of several major research initiatives at UQ
- embodies UQ’s mission to be inclusive in all its processes and engagement with stakeholders, and to enrich the communities of which it is a part
There are several key tasks that are beginning at the University this year:
- Institution-wide scoping and consultation exercise to understand range of stakeholders impacted by the AFU principles, identifying current models of best practice in relation to AFU activities at UQ and conducting a gap analysis for different stakeholder groups.
- UQ Healthy Living and the UQ Art Museum will undergo an environmental audit to become “Dementia Friendly”, as first steps in making UQ a “Dementia Friendly” campus
- Celebrating the International Day of the Older Person (1 October) and Queensland Seniors Month (October) with events on campus open to the community
Finally, a systemic approach within UQ is being established for envisioning and implementing projects which embed AFU principles and best practices in Teaching and Learning, Research, and Community Engagement.
We are excited to continue working with UQ to on their journey.
