Susan Emerson

Background

About Susan Emerson

I love working in the aged care and health care sectors and in palliative care and dementia care. I'm experienced at executive level and in operational management in residential aged care and care at home, and have been fortunate to lead organisational strategic thinking, including many capital projects and refurbishments. It's not only the indoor built environment, but the outdoor spaces and community connections that are so important for living well. Developing enhanced spaces, for use by older people and their families, has been incredibly rewarding. Good design is good design for all ages. I have an eye and a passion for beautiful, interesting, functional, livable and 'visitable' vibrant communities and individual living spaces for people. I have a long-standing interest in eHealth and technologies that improve independence and health and safety outcomes, reduce isolation and assist people to live at home as long as possible. I have a passion for intergenerational community engagement and have always integrated this into my practice. Contributing to policy development in the sector in leadership roles with the Australian College of Nursing, the Australian Association of Gerontology, Geriaction and the Nurses Memorial Foundation together with numerous advisory committees including the Aged Care Financing Authority (two terms), have been fulfilling and I hope I have made a difference. But there is still much to be done to enhance and improve the way we care for and include older people