MELBOURNE AGEING RESEARCH COLLABORATION
About MARC
Established in 2014, the Melbourne Ageing Research Collaboration (MARC) is a consortium of 15 partner organisations, bringing together health services, universities, aged care providers, primary health networks, government and advocacy organisations across Victoria.
ESTABLISHED
2014
PARTNERS
15
RESEARCH THEMES
5
MARC improves the lives of older people through collaboration between organisations that support healthy ageing, using evidence-informed practices and policies. We work to build ageing-related knowledge, skills and understanding among researchers, the health and aged care workforce, policymakers and the general public, to create long-lasting, systemic change.
MARC’s research and advocacy focus on the issues that matter most to older people, their carers, health professionals and the wider community.
STRATEGIC PLAN
OUR RESEARCH THEMES
Falls prevention, dementia care, mental health and wellbeing, clinical frailty, and end-of-life care.
Our five key research themes are falls prevention, dementia care, mental health and wellbeing, clinical frailty, and end-of-life care.
MORE ABOUT MARC
How we work, in detail.
Our partners and supporters
By engaging key stakeholders across hospitals, universities, aged care services and community organisations, MARC reaches a diverse range of older people, carers, health and aged care staff, researchers, policymakers and government bodies working in ageing and aged care.
MARC is led by the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), the program’s backbone organisation.
Find out more about MARC’s 15 partner organisations, including Austin Health, Deakin University, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and the University of Melbourne.
Our ageing research is funded by financial contributions from partner organisations and other leveraged grants, including the Jo & JR Wicking Trust, other philanthropy, donations, and the Victorian Government.
Our approach
As a strategic partnership, MARC combines resources and expertise to influence ageing and aged care policy and practice in Victoria and beyond, for the benefit of older people, their families, and health and aged care providers.
Current systems are not always designed to provide optimal support for older people. MARC addresses this through collaborative ageing research, with every MARC research project involving multiple partners and representatives, including members of our Community Advisory Panel, using a co-design approach. MARC facilitates educational events and hosts regular public forums to discuss ageing-related issues and bridge the gap between research, policy and practice. We provide research opportunities to clinicians, practitioners, researchers and students working to improve outcomes for older people, and offer seed funding to staff at MARC partner organisations to build their capacity in ageing research.
Our achievements
Since 2014, MARC has hosted over 47 events, conducted 20 ageing research projects, and disseminated findings into more than 120 health and aged care settings.
Our research and advocacy have already led to wide-reaching, sustainable change in ageing and aged care practice, with more work underway.
MARC on the Record provides a full snapshot of our achievements in ageing research and collaboration.
Our impact
Hear directly from MARC members about the importance of MARC’s ageing research collaboration, and their experience of its impact and the power of working together across the health and aged care sector.
Our grants
MARC holds a regular research seed funding round to build ageing research capacity and support research translation across our partner organisations.
In 2026, the MARC seed funding program has three major aims: to provide seed funding to those working within a MARC partner organisation to commence or progress an ageing research idea or project; to build ageing research capacity and promote research translation within partner organisations; and to give those with limited or emerging research experience the opportunity to develop their skills and understanding of research processes, particularly in ageing research.
Applications for the 2026 round closed on 31 July 2026. Recipients will be notified in early October 2026.
Grants are awarded from a total pool of $40,000, with up to four grants available, each worth approximately $10,000. Funding covers a 12-month period, with projects expected to commence prior to 1 January 2027.
2026 MARC Seed Funding guidelines for applicants
2026 MARC Seed Funding application form – PDF
2026 MARC Seed Funding application form – Word
Find out about previous successful seed funding grants.
MARC has also provided four PhD Scholarships, enabling students at a MARC academic partner organisation to undertake their PhD in ageing research. Find out about the PhD Scholarships we have awarded.
OUR IMPACT
Hear from MARC members.
Hear directly from MARC members about the importance of MARC’s ageing research collaboration, and their experience of its impact and the power of working together across the health and aged care sector.
GET INVOLVED
Become a MARC partner or affiliate.
Join the MARC Matters mailing list for quarterly updates on ageing research, or contact us to become a MARC partner or affiliate: marc@nari.edu.au