Planning for healthy ageing requires a multidisciplinary approach and the development of innovative retirement and aged-care models, health-care delivery, technologies, products, services, housing and financial supports which protect and promote the rights of older people and enable them to lead independent and fulfilling lives.
Our researchers are building on existing national and international collaborations both within QUT and other universities and industry, as well as fostering new collaborations. We are particularly interested in the real world application of our research.
The Planning for Healthy Ageing Research Program is a formal program of the Australian Centre for Health Law Research:
Books
The Human Rights of Older Persons: A Human Rights-Based Approach to Elder Law

Lewis, Bridget, Purser, Kelly, Mackie, Kirsty (2020) The Human Rights of Older Persons: A Human Rights-Based Approach to Elder Law
Capacity assessment and the law: Problems and solutions

Purser, Kelly (2017) Capacity assessment and the law: Problems and solutions
The National Disability Insurance Scheme Handbook

Madden, William, McIlwraith, Janine, Brell, Ruanne (2014) The National Disability Insurance Scheme Handbook
Select Projects
- Karen Sullivan and Kelly Purser, ‘Developing and Piloting the Consumer Experience of Capacity Assessment Tool (CECAT) Psychiatry, Psychology and Law: Volume 28, Issue 2 (2021)
- Bernadette Richards, (Chief Investigator) et al, NHMRC Partnership Grant: Investigating the inclusion of vulnerable populations in Advance Care Planning: Developing complex and sensitive public policy, APP1133407 Partnership Project (2017–2020) $379,367.60
- Bernadette Richards, (Chief Investigator) et al, South Australian Law Foundation Grant, A review of the role and operation of current South Australian law and practice regarding Powers of Attorney (with the South Australian Law Reform Institute, SALRI) (2020)
- Tina Cockburn, Kelly Purser and Sherrena Buckby, ‘The role of financial planners in preventing, recognising and responding to elder financial abuse’, The Financial Planning Education Council (FPEC) Research Grant Award (sponsored by NAB) (2019–2020)
- Tina Cockburn, Phillip Baker, Kelly Purser, Donna Cooper, Maree Petersen and Margaret Hall, ‘Understanding and improving family agreements: reducing the risk of failure, preventing elder abuse and facilitating access to justice’, QUT Faculty of Law Grant Seed Funding Scheme (2019–2020)
- Kelly Purser, Tina Cockburn and Elizabeth Ulrick, ‘Examining Access to Formal Justice Mechanisms for Vulnerable Older People in the context of Enduring Powers of Attorney’ 12(1) Elder Law Review 1-32 (2019)
- Cassandra Cross, Kelly Purser and Tina Cockburn, ‘Examining access to justice for those with an enduring power of attorney (EPOA) who are suffering financial abuse’, Queensland Aged and Disability Advocacy Inc (2017)
- Kelly Purser, Tina Cockburn, Cassandra Cross and Helene Jacmon, ‘Alleged financial abuse of those under an enduring power of attorney: An exploratory study’, British Journal of Social Work, 48(4), pp 887-905 (2018)
- Tina Cockburn, Kelly Purser and Cassandra Cross, ‘Research project: Examining access to justice for those with an enduring power of attorney (EPA) who are suffering financial abuse’ (2017)
- Philip RA Baker, Daniel P Francis, Sajaratulnisah Othman and Wan Yuen Choo, ‘Interventions for preventing abuse in the elderly’ Cochrane Systematic Review – Intervention Version’ (2016)
Select Reports
The role of financial planners in preventing, recognising and responding to elder financial abuse
Cockburn, Tina, Purser, Kelly, Buckby, Sherrena, Paynter, Kirsty (2021) The role of financial planners in preventing, recognising and responding to elder financial abuse
Valuable Instrument or the Single Most Abused Legal Document in our Judicial System?
Bernadette Richards et al (2020) Valuable Instrument or the Single Most Abused Legal Document in our Judicial System? A Review of the Role and Operation of Enduring Powers of Attorney in South Australia. South Australian Law Reform Institute (SALRI).
Select Research Summaries
Research project: Examining access to justice for those with an enduring power of attorney (EPA) who are suffering financial abuse
Tina Cockburn, Kelly Purser and Cassandra Cross (2017) Research project: Examining access to justice for those with an enduring power of attorney (EPA) who are suffering financial abuse. .
Interventions for preventing abuse in the elderly
Cochrane Feature Review: Baker et al (2016) Interventions for preventing abuse in the elderly. .
Select Submissions
Submission Responding to ALRC Discussion Paper 83, Elder Abuse
Purser, Kelly, Lewis, Bridget, Mackie, Kirsty, Sullivan, Karen A. (2017) Submission Responding to ALRC Discussion Paper 83, Elder Abuse
Submission Responding to the Law Council of Australia Justice Project Consultation Paper August 2017
Purser, Kelly, Lewis, Bridget, Cockburn, Tina, McDonald, Fiona (2017) Submission Responding to the Law Council of Australia Justice Project Consultation Paper August 2017
Submission Responding to ALRC Discussion Paper 83, Elder Abuse
Philip Baker et al (2017) Submission Responding to ALRC Discussion Paper 83, Elder Abuse. .
Submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission Human Rights and Technology Issues Paper
Lewis, Bridget, McDonald, Fiona, Purser, Kelly, Cockburn, Tina, Dallaston, Elizabeth (2018) Submission by the Australian Centre for Health Law Research to the Australian Human Rights Commission Human Rights and Technology Issues Paper
Submission to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety
Purser, Kelly, Lewis, Bridget, Kruck, Lisa, Trowse, Pip, Cockburn, Tina, Buys, Laurie (2019) Submission to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety
Enhancing Protections Relating to the Use of Enduring Power of Attorney Instruments
Kelly Purser, Bridget Lewis, Tina Cockburn and Sharon Christensen (2020) Submission: Enhancing Protections Relating to the Use of Enduring Power of Attorney Instruments – Consultation Regulation Impact Statement. .
Responses to COVID-19 and beyond, exploring the role technology should play
Wills formalities in a Post-Pandemic World: A Research Agenda
Bridget Crawford, Kelly Purser and Tina Cockburn (2020) Wills formalities in a Post-Pandemic World: A Research Agenda. UChicago Legal Forum.
Wills Formalities Beyond Covid-19: An Australian-United States Perspective
Kelly Purser, Tina Cockburn and Bridget Crawford (2020) Wills Formalities Beyond Covid-19: An Australian-United States Perspective. University of New South Wales Law Journal Forum.