Congrats! ARC Discovery Project Awarded

Congratulations to Nola Ries, Phoebe Baily and Jacqueline Lorber Kasunic who have been awarded a four-year Australian Research Council Discovery Project grant to address a critical issue facing older Australians.

As our population changes, a growing number of Australians are aging

solo – without close family or friends to rely on. When solo agers face cognitive decline or serious illness, they often experience "decisional isolation" – having no one they trust to support or, if necessary, make financial, healthcare or lifestyle decisions.

Currently, the options are limited: family and friends (who may be absent or unavailable) or state-appointed guardians (a last resort that's costly and often doesn't align with individual preferences). There's a significant gap in between.

Their project will investigate expanded statutory decision roles that could fill this gap. Their team combines expertise in law and ageing, psychology of decision-making in older age, and service design for people with disability. Through this multidisciplinary approach, they will engage with stakeholders – including solo agers themselves – to understand their experiences, needs and preferences.

The goal? Evidence-based recommendations for legal, policy and practice reforms that give older Australians more choice and autonomy, while reducing strain on public guardianship systems.