National Centre for Healthy Ageing - NCHA

National Centre for Healthy Ageing - NCHA Transforming the health and care for our ageing population is at the heart of what we do.

As Australia’s leading healthy ageing research centre, we are linking with communities to drive innovation and new solutions to the most pressing issues to age well.

01/09/2026

When you're focused on survival, every bit of support matters.

Stable housing is the goal – but it isn't the only way to help.

Compassion, practical support and listening to people's needs can improve lives long before permanent housing is found.

🎙️ On the pod, our expert guest Nilakshi Gunatillaka from Monash University explores how compassionate, practical support can improve health and wellbeing for people facing homelessness and housing instability.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts:
→ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2jYCCaD6kD22kq5F3sbrWp?si=1e731496d3df40a6
→ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-you-age-well-without-a-stable-home/id1896945961?i=1000785593272

→ Visit our podcast website: ncha.org.au/community/podcasts

🏠 When we think about homelessness, what do we picture? For many of us, we might imagine someone sleeping rough. But hom...
28/08/2026

🏠 When we think about homelessness, what do we picture?

For many of us, we might imagine someone sleeping rough. But homelessness and housing instability can look very different – especially for older Australians.

An estimated 270,000 older Australians don’t have stable housing, and many are living in temporary, insecure or uncertain situations.

That can make everyday life incredibly difficult.
👉 Where will the next meal come from?
👉 Where can they shower or wash their clothes?
👉 How will they get to a doctor?
👉 Who can they talk to?
👉 And perhaps most importantly – where can they turn for help?

🎯 The good news is that the earlier we recognise that someone’s housing situation is becoming unstable, the better chance we have of supporting them before they reach a crisis.

🎙️ In our latest podcast episode, “Can You Age Well Without a Stable Home?”, we’re joined by researcher Nilakshi Gunatillaka, who is exploring how health services can better support people experiencing homelessness and housing instability.

We talk about:
🧩 What housing instability really means
🧩 Why homelessness isn’t always visible
🧩 How insecure housing can affect someone’s ability to manage their health
🧩 Why hospitals don’t always ask about housing
🧩 What NCHA research is doing to help change this
🧩 And how we can have more open conversations and reduce the stigma around homelessness

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts:

→ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/2jYCCaD6kD22kq5F3sbrWp
→ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-you-age-well-without-a-stable-home/id1896945961?i=1000785593272

Visit our podcast website: www.ncha.org.au/community/podcasts

25/08/2026

Imagine trying to manage a chronic disease or age well if you are experiencing unstable housing or homelessness.

This is why housing instability belongs in the health conversation.

The challenge isn’t just about finding a roof at night but getting through each day — finding a meal, having a shower, washing clothes, accessing healthcare, feeling connected, or knowing where to turn for help.

🎙️On our podcast, Help! I'm Ageing, this week’s expert researcher Nilakshi Gunatillaka explores how research is helping health services better support people facing disadvantage.

👉🏽 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or visit our podcast hub at https://www.monash.edu/medicine/news/latest/2026-articles/help!-im-ageing-podcast-explores-can-you-age-well-without-a-stable-home

24/08/2026

🧠 DEMENTIA – BEYOND THE DIAGNOSIS

Join us at Belvedere Community Centre for an informative and practical session exploring dementia — what we need to know and how we can help.

We’re delighted to welcome Professor Srikanth, Director of the National Centre for Healthy Ageing, who will share valuable insights on:

• Understanding dementia and the different types
• Early signs and when to seek help
• The difference between normal ageing and dementia
• How dementia can affect communication and behaviour
• Practical ways to communicate with and support someone living with dementia

📅 Tuesday 15 September
⏰ 10:00am – 11:30am
📍 Healthy Futures Hub, 151 East Road, Seaford

This is a great opportunity for community members, families, carers and anyone interested in learning more about dementia.

📞 Register: 9776 8922
📧 Email: [email protected]

We’d love to see you there. 💙

National Centre for Healthy Ageing - NCHA

🎉 🎉 Podcast Ep 5 drops 25 AUGUST ... Can You Age Well Without a Stable Home? An estimated 270,000 older Australians don...
21/08/2026

🎉 🎉 Podcast Ep 5 drops 25 AUGUST ... Can You Age Well Without a Stable Home?

An estimated 270,000 older Australians don't have stable housing, and most of them aren't sleeping rough.

If you're worried about your own housing situation, or someone in your life who's struggling to find a secure home, this episode will equip you with the skills to take action.

🎙️ Ep 5 – Can You Age Well Without a Stable Home? features Nilakshi Gunatillaka, a Monash University and NCHA Living Lab project lead researcher.

Listen and you'll learn:
🧩 Homelessness is not what you think! What is housing instability?
🧩 Why insecure housing makes managing your health so challenging
🧩 Why hospitals often don't ask about it and how NCHA research is changing that
🧩 How to start a conversation to help address stigma

🎤 Discover more about the series hosted by Dr Taya Collyer and Tracy Parish, for the National Centre for Healthy Ageing (NCHA) wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit our podcast website: www.ncha.org.au/community/podcasts

18/08/2026

🧠 After a dementia diagnosis, what’s next?

It doesn’t mean you can’t do things anymore.

Yes, you will need support to live your best life. But arming yourself with information is the first vital step.

🎙️This week’s expert guest: Professor Velandai Srikanth – one of Australia’s leading dementia experts, who gives patients hope so they can lead their best lives!

Being diagnosed with dementia is never easy.💬 “It doesn’t change the person at the core,” says Professor Velandai Srikan...
13/08/2026

Being diagnosed with dementia is never easy.
💬 “It doesn’t change the person at the core,” says Professor Velandai Srikanth. “Giving people hope and knowing they can live a life that’s strong and fruitful – that’s important.”

🎙️Meet Professor Velandai Srikanth, one of Australia’s leading dementia experts, a geriatrician at Bayside Health and Director of NCHA. Srikanth has experienced first-hand loved ones with dementia – parents, grandparents and in-laws.

LISTEN to our latest podcast episode "Unpacking Dementia. Can We Prevent it?" to discover more about:
→ What dementia is and what it isn't, like forgetting where you put your keys
→ Why prevention starts at midlife, not old age
→ Myth-busting dementia prevention: what's the impact of things like turmeric, Sudoku, alcohol and video games?
→ What to do when a loved one with dementia ends up in hospital
→ Why giving hope to people diagnosed with dementia is so important.

***

🌐 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2IOJib5hEO49wtWTL4k40e
🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unpacking-dementia-can-we-prevent-it/id1896945961?i=1000779748267
🔗 Visit our podcast website: ncha.org.au/community/podcasts

10/08/2026

❓What is dementia? 🧠

It’s more than memory loss.

Dementia is a progressive condition that gradually changes the way a person thinks, behaves and experiences the world.

Understanding it is the first step towards recognising the signs and supporting those affected.

🎙️This week’s expert guest: Professor Velandai Srikanth – one of Australia’s leading dementia experts, explains the facts.

04/08/2026

Growing older does not inevitably lead to dementia.

Is it preventable? Yes.

Prevention starts at midlife, not old age.

So, what are the risk factors we can tackle right now?

🎙️This week’s expert guest:
Professor Velandai Srikanth – Demystifying dementia, one myth at a time!

🎉🎉 Podcast Ep 4 drops 4 AUGUST … Unpacking all things dementia!It’s no secret, we are all getting older, but how do we a...
31/07/2026

🎉🎉 Podcast Ep 4 drops 4 AUGUST … Unpacking all things dementia!

It’s no secret, we are all getting older, but how do we age well and live well?

More than 450,000 Australians live with dementia and many more are undiagnosed. Maybe you are concerned a loved one is showing early signs of cognitive decline.

Is dementia preventable and if you do get a diagnosis, what’s next?

🎙️ Ep 4 - Unpacking Dementia. Can we prevent it? features Professor Velandai Srikanth, one of Australia’s leading dementia experts, a geriatrician and Director of the National Centre for Healthy Ageing (NCHA)

Listen and learn more about:
🧩 What dementia is and why forgetting where you put your keys is probably not it
🧩 Why prevention starts at midlife, not old age
🧩 Myth-busting dementia prevention: does turmeric, Sudoku, alcohol and video games help?
🧩 What to do when a loved one with dementia ends up in hospital
🧩 Why giving hope to people diagnosed with dementia is so important.

🎤 Discover more about the series hosted by Dr Taya Collyer and Tracy Parish, for the National Centre for Healthy Ageing (NCHA), or wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit our PODCAST WEBSITE: www.ncha.org.au/community/podcasts

Address

Ngarnga Centre, 2 Hastings Road, Frankston Hospital
Frankston, VIC
3199

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61397881722

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