Personal profile
Research Interests
Rachel’s research interests include the interplay between older people’s psychosocial and physical health and how older people interact with health systems.
Research Profile
Rachel is a Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Health at Torrens University. She has more than 20 years’ experience working in the health field, as a researcher, planner and consultant to all levels of government and the private and not-for-profit sectors. She leads the IMPAACT Project, a three-year funded MRFF project seeking to improve the involvement of older people in policy discussions about screening for common health conditions. As a former member of the NHMRC CRE for Frailty and Healthy Ageing, Rachel co-authored several publications on frailty, including one of the largest diagnostic test accuracy studies conducted within general practice to date. She is also a Committee Member for the Australian Association of Gerontology’s South Australian Division, and has been awarded Distinguished Membership of the Association.
URL
Two frailty awareness videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41cMkvsaOOM&t=7s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is6JPNUHG4k&t=11s
Researcher profile on the TUA channel:
Education/Academic qualification
Public Health, PhD
Arts (Honours), Bachelor
Information Studies (Librarianship), Master
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Ageism & Health Care Workers
Ambagtsheer, R. (Chief Investigator)
21/05/26 → 31/12/26
Project: Competitive Research Grant
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Optimising the Detection and Multidisciplinary Management of Multimorbid Heart Failure in Primary Care
Stewart, S. (Principal Chief Investigator), Beilby, P. J. (Chief Investigator), Hills, D. (Chief Investigator), Scuffham, P. A. (Chief Investigator), Ambagtsheer, R. (Chief Investigator) & Wechkunanukul, H. (Chief Investigator)
1/03/24 → 28/02/28
Project: Competitive Research Grant
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Feasibility and Acceptability of a Tailored Model of Care to Address Frailty among Older Residents of Retirement Villages: A Pilot Study
Ambagtsheer, R. (Principal Chief Investigator), Beilby, J. (Chief Investigator), Cook, N. (Chief Investigator), Smith, C. (Chief Investigator), Wardle, J. (Chief Investigator), Leach, M. J. (Chief Investigator) & Lauche, R. (Chief Investigator)
31/05/21 → 31/12/26
Project: Contract Research
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The IMPAACT Framework: IMproving the PArticipation of older Australians in policy decision-making on Ageing-related CondiTions
Ambagtsheer, R. (Principal Chief Investigator), Lawless, M. T. (Chief Investigator), Braunack-Mayer, A. J. (Chief Investigator), Visvanathan, R. (Chief Investigator), Beilby, J. (Chief Investigator), Stewart, S. (Chief Investigator), Cornell, V. (Chief Investigator), Leach, M. J. (Chief Investigator), Taylor, D. (Chief Investigator), Thompson, M. (Chief Investigator), Whiteway, L. (Associate Investigator), Archibald, M. (Associate Investigator), O'Rourke, H. (Associate Investigator), Williams, K. (Associate Investigator) & Chudecka, A. (Associate Investigator)
1/06/22 → 31/05/26
Project: Competitive Research Grant
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Effectiveness of an education intervention in reducing self- and other-directed ageism: a pre-/post- pilot study
O’Brien, L. M., Mundy, M., Cook, N., Sabatini, S. & Ambagtsheer, R. C., Dec 2026, In: BMC psychology. 14, 1, 762.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Frailty Among Older African Migrants in Australia: Validation, Item and Domain-Level Analysis of a Culturally Adapted Instrument
Dzando, G., Ward, P. R., Mwanri, L., Agbadi, P. & Ambagtsheer, R. C., Jun 2026, In: Geriatrics and Gerontology International. 26, 6, e70564.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Health Literacy-Focused Communication Training for Primary Healthcare Providers Working With Older Adults: A Co-Designed Prototype
O'Brien, L., Lawless, M., Townsin, L., Mills, P., Ta, D., Beilby, J., Errington, G. & Ambagtsheer, R., Feb 2026, In: Health Expectations. 29, 1, e70590.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Self-Care Experiences and Support Needs of Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Multimorbidity: A Qualitative Study Informed by the Caring Life-Course Theory
Lawless, M. T., Wyman, C., Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Block, H., George, S., Ambagtsheer, R., Battersby, M. & Kitson, A., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of Clinical Nursing.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
The mediating role of social networks and safety perceptions in the frailty-quality of life relationship among older people in rural and urban regions of Ghana
Dzando, G., Ward, P. R., Mwanri, L., Yabila, S. A., Aheto, J. M. K. & Ambagtsheer, R. C., 2026, In: BMC Public Health. 26, 1Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review