ACcORD@newcastle.edu.au
1800 084 755 (free call)

Our Structure

Home Our Structure

The ACcORD is a collaboration of consumers, health care providers, researchers, and other relevant stakeholders in dementia care across Australia.

To ensure our research is of the highest quality and meets the complex needs associated with dementia we have established a structure for engaging a range of stakeholders in the development and governance of the research program.

ACcORD Executive
Working Groups
Pilot Grants Committee
ACcORD Executive

The ACcORD Executive is responsible for:

  1. Determining and overseeing the strategic direction of the program of research;
  2. Overseeing financial management including: allocation of funding to study Working Groups and core program activities (e.g. annual workshops), financial reporting, and monitoring budget;
  3. Developing guiding principles for engagement of stakeholders and facilitating multidisciplinary collaboration;
  4. Providing advice to the Working Groups and funded-PhD candidates on the direction of studies across all four themes of research to ensure they align with the broader objectives of the program;
  5. Monitoring progress of the research against milestones and research outputs; and
  6. Abiding by all reporting requirements from the National Health and Medical Research Council and University of Newcastle.

Membership of the Executive is flexible, multidisciplinary and transparent. Current members of the Executive include:

Prof Balakrishnan (Kichu) Nair (Chair)

Prof Leon Piterman

Prof Susan Koch

Dr Jamie Bryant

Ms Danijela Hlis

Working Groups

The study-specific Working Groups will:

  1. Develop detailed research protocols for the relevant studies, with input from the Advisory Panels;
  2. Organise and attend scheduled and ad hoc meetings (as needed) of the Advisory Panels to seek advice and approval of the proposed research methods;
  3. Develop all study materials, including participant information statements, consent forms, training manuals, surveys or outcome measures, and intervention components (where applicable);
  4. Obtain and abide by all required ethics, governance, and safety approvals;
  5. Pilot test the proposed research methods and interventions (where applicable) prior to commencing active recruitment and data collection for the study;
  6. Implement the approved research protocol within the allocated study budget, including data analysis and report writing; and
  7. Prepare and provide quarterly reports on the progress and expenditure of the study to the Executive (via the Program Manager).

The study-specific Working Groups are comprised of 4-6 members, including 2 co-leaders, and at least one consumer. Membership of the Working Groups is multidisciplinary and transparent.

Pilot Grants Committee

The Pilot Grants Committee is responsible for:

  1. Developing the conditions and responsibilities for pilot grant recipients;
  2. Circulating a call for new research proposals from ACcORD members;
  3. Reviewing and scoring applications for pilot grants;
  4. Notifying applicants of the outcome of the pilot grants round; and
  5. Monitoring progress of pilot grant projects via review and approval of annual reports.

The Pilot Grants Committee is comprised of 3 members in total including a researcher, clinician, and consumer.

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