Rural Ageing Futures - Research, Practice, Policy and Community Forum

The Victorian Universities Regional Research Network (VURRN), in partnership with the John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research at La Trobe University, is convening a forum to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with ageing in place across rural and regional Victoria.

Victoria has more than 350 regional and rural towns with ageing populations. Older residents play vital roles in the social, cultural and economic life of their communities while also requiring a wide range of services, supports and enabling environments to remain healthy, connected and engaged.

This forum aims to bring together people who are working in or impacted by ageing in rural and regional communities to explore what contributes to ageing in place, and how place-based research can help inform policy, services and community responses across diverse regional settings.

The forum will focus on all aspects of ageing in regional and rural settings, including (but not limited to):

• ageing in place, including on farm

• economic and workforce issues

• environmental pressures including climate change

• health and community care

• housing, mobility and liveability

• place-based and community-led initiatives

• volunteering, community participation and wellbeing

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• share current research and community interests and projects

• identify common themes and priorities

• explore collaborative and comparative research opportunities

• contribute to the development of future cross-institutional partnerships and research initiatives

Directions:

The map of La Trobe University Bendigo campus is below, with the forum beginning in the Circular Lecture Theatre (CLT) and moving to building HHS2 Level 2 rooms 327, 328, 333 and 334.

Access to the Circular Lecture Theatre (CLT) can be gained via either Carpark 1 (Gate 4 entrance off Edwards Road) or Carpark 2 (Gate 6 off Sharon Street). Please note both carparks require payment using the onsite pay machines. If you prefer to park for free there is on street parking in both Edwards Road and Sharon Street.

The Circular Lecture Theatre is directly opposite the main Sports field and next to the Library Student Union (LSU) building where JD’s café is located on Level 1 for any refreshment purchases. There are also toilets located on the Ground floor of the LSU building next to the Gallery and lifts in addition to the HHS2 Level 2 hallway.

Wednesday 2 September 2026:

6.00 – 8.00pm Bendigo restaurant dinner (at own cost)

Forum Schedule

Thursday 3 September 2026:

08:30 – 09:00 | Arrival and registration

09:00 – 09:15 | Welcome and opening remarks

09:15 – 10:15 | Presentations:

• Prof Rachel Winterton (John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research, La Trobe University) - Putting the rural in rural ageing

• Nenad Petrovic (Informed Decisions) - It Depends where you look - ageing and change across regional Victoria

• Keir Reeves and Yvonne Wrigglesworth (Federation University and East Wimmera Health Service): Place based implications of rural ageing in Western Victoria:  Boundary crossers in regional and rural workforce, health and community care

• Prof John Martin (VURRN) - Researching rural communities: from the outside in

10:15 – 10:45 | Morning Tea & Networking

10:45 – 12:15 | World Café Workshop Session - Opportunities for Rural Ageing Research and Practice 

12:15 – 13:15 | Lunch & Networking

13:15 – 14:45 | Collaborative Discussion and Action Mapping 

14:45 – 15:15 | Closing Remarks