Why study gerontology?
With rapidly ageing populations, skilled gerontology specialists will remain in high demand. This area of study provides an interdisciplinary worldview of ageing societies by examining systems, policies and strategies that address ageing. Through conceptual and practical learning, students are encouraged to develop solutions to complex ageing issues and promote healthy and productive ageing.
Study options in gerontology
Why study gerontology at Melbourne?
- Benefit from the university’s longstanding relationship with the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), the nation’s leading health research institute improving the quality of health and life of aged populations.
- Leverage cross-disciplinary research information from the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Healthy Ageing Program. This initiative is understanding health across a lifespan to promote healthy ageing and aid the prevention of disease in Australians.
- The Nossal Institute for Global Health
- Dr. Ros McDougall
Diverse careers
We are a global institution, and our qualifications enable you to progress in your career. The range of roles you can expect after completing a public health education include, but are not limited to:
- Occupational Therapist - Senior (Gerontics)
- Aged Care/Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner
- Staff Specialist: Gerontology
- Health Care Workers – Home/Community Support
- Healthy Ageing Project Officer
- Wellbeing Team Leader
- Senior Implementation and Engagement Manager – Clinical Guidelines Development
- Patient Safety Coordinator
- Program Manager - Healthy Ageing at Home
Gerontology sectors
Graduates from this specialisation often find themselves in roles within organisations such as:
- Bolton Clarke
- Regional Health and aged care networks
- BUPA
- Arcare
- Agility
- Regis Aged Care
- UnitingCare Australia
- Angelicare
- Southern Cross Care
- Dementia Australia
- Local government and council agencies
- Department of Health Victoria
Hear from our alumni
Since doing the course, I have been able to implement some of the human centred design concepts to customise services for our elderly clients. I have also been able to use my learnings from the course to better evaluate the technology enabled solutions, like RPM and digital health solutions, that we are in the process of implementing for our elderly patients.
Karuna Vyas, Gerontology specialisation