1 June 2026:
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- As more people choose to age at home, it’s vital that mental health and wellbeing are supported, not overlooked.
- A partnership led by the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), Flinders University, and leading aged care services provider Uniting AgeWell, has attained a $5 million Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant to strengthen its award‑winning Talking Mental Health initiative.
- The grant will allow the program to be scaled up, providing evidence-based mental health support for more people and upskilling the critical aged care workforce.
- The model will help inform policy, workforce development and service design across the aged care sector.
Award-winning mental health initiative Talking Mental Health will be scaled up thanks to a $5 million Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant recognising the strength, impact and significance of its potential health outcomes for older Australians.
Dr Jakqui Barnfield, Executive Director of International Programs, Quality and Research shared: “Mental Health First Aid International welcomes the funding for the expansion and growth of Talking Mental Health, which supports the delivery of MHFA for Older Persons course.
“We look forward to seeing the impact this important initiative will have for older Australians, their families and the aged care workforce.”
Aged care provider Uniting AgeWell, in partnership with the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), Flinders University and other eminent researchers, people with lived and living experience, universities and hospitals, has been selected for this highly competitive funding. This success reflects the project’s strong evidence base, deep sector partnerships and alignment with national aged care reform.
Through the MRFF grant, the team will implement the program at scale across metropolitan and regional services, strengthening workforce capability and resilience, embedding mental health into everyday care practice, and generating robust evidence on effectiveness, sustainability and cost benefit.
Its expansion offers a potential lifeline to thousands of older people and the aged care workforce caring for them, by providing evidence-based practice to support better mental health and wellbeing that is tailored to an in-home setting.
The original Talking Mental Health project—recipient of the 2024 Future of Ageing Research Award—demonstrated that when aged care staff are supported with targeted training, practical tools and embedded systems, there are measurable improvements. These include in older people’s quality of life, staff confidence and capability, and organisational responses to mental health and wellbeing needs.
Andrew Kinnersly, Uniting AgeWell Chief Executive Officer said: “Our selection for a Medical Research Future Fund grant is a strong endorsement of codesigning solutions with older people at the centre. As more older Australians choose to live at home, Talking Mental Health demonstrates our commitment to address emerging wellbeing challenges with a model that can inform and strengthen our entire sector.”
Nina Bowes, Uniting AgeWell Director Strategy and Innovation and NARI Honorary Fellow added: “This MRFF investment enables us to scale an award-winning model, building the evidence needed to strengthen practice, inform policy and drive lasting change across the aged care system.”
Anita Goh, The Chief Investigator of the study, Associate Professor said: “Older Australians want and deserve to stay connected, supported and well as they age at home. Ageing at home should strengthen wellbeing, including mental health. This program recognises mental health as a core component of quality aged care and equips the workforce to provide that support, while also acknowledging and supporting their own wellbeing.”
About Talking Mental Health
Led by the National Ageing Research Institute, Uniting AgeWell and Flinders University, the MRFF project brings together a nationally significant consortium including The University of Melbourne, Macquarie University, Austin Health, Mental Health First Aid International and Converge International, alongside community advisors with lived and living experience and leading independent experts in mental health, workforce and health systems research. This exceptional partnership reflects the depth, quality and collaborative strength of one of the most comprehensive research teams assembled in the aged care sector.
Further information about the Talking Mental Health project, including videos featuring older people and staff, is available at: www.unitingagewell.org/talking-mental-health.
All media enquiries can be directed to Juliette Wittich at Uniting AgeWell on 0400 746 527
or media@unitingagewell.org
