Larger percentages of people in Australia are living longer lives, significantly changing the demography of a country that was once perceived as a young country. Our national anthem says we are "young and free" but since the mid 1980's, Associate Professor Maree Bernoth has been working with older people. In her profession as a registered nurse, she became aware of the precarious nature of residential care for both the older person and the staff.
The vulnerability of older people and those struggling to care for them, were the impetus for Maree's work as an educator and a researcher. Teaching ageing in innovative and engaging ways that resonate with students, is an opportunity to confront ageist attitudes and demonstrate the professional satisfaction of working with older people.
Her research began by trying to keep the cohorts mentioned above "safe" but in giving voice to conditions of residential aged care, she became exposed and vulnerable. Subsequently, A/Prof Bernoth moved from the clinical to the academy where she has a strong voice and can be an advocate for teaching and policy related to older people and residential aged care.
A/Prof Bernoth has further broadened her research interests to older people living in rural and remote communities, the meaning of community to older people and a participatory model of working with older people.
Research Interests
Bachelor HealthScience (Nursing), Charles Sturt University
Masters Ed (Adult Ed &Training, Hons Class1), University of New England
PhD Monash, 2009.
External Appointments & Memberships
Chair of the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network Aged Care Consortium
Executive Committee of the NSW Division of the Australasian Association of Gerontology;
Scientific Committee of the 2019 AAG National Conference;
NSW Nurses Association Aged Care Advisory Board;
Selected Publications
Peer Reviewed Papers
Hughes, C., Bernoth, M. & Winkler, D. (2019) Increasing the social participation of older rural residents: Opportunities offered by “OPTEACH”. Australian Journal Rural Health. 27: 317– 321. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajr.12527
Tziros, G., Burmeister, O., & Bernoth, M. (2019) Respecting the meaning of culture and gender for older Greek women. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal, 26: 48
Gibson, C., Crockett, J., Dudgeon, P., Bernoth, M., & Lincoln, M. (2018) Sharing and valuing older Aboriginal people’s voices about social and emotional wellbeing services: a strength-based approach for service providers. Journal of ageing and mental health. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2018.1544220
Hughes, C., Winkler, D., & Bernoth, M. (2018) Promoting Health Across the lifespan: Involving older people as teachers. Australian Nursing & Midwifery Journal, 25: 40
Green, E., Jain, P. & Bernoth, M. (2017) Noninvasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of asthma: A systematic review of the literature. Australian Critical Care, 30: 289-287
Bailey, A., Bailey, S., & Bernoth, M. (2017) "I'd rather die happy": Residents' experiences with food regulations, risk and food choice in residential aged care. Contemporary Nurse,
DOI: 10.1080/10376178.2017.1361334
Green, E., Jain, P., & Bernoth, M. (2017) Non-invasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of asthma: A systematic review of the literature. Australian Critical Care,
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2017.01.003
Anderson, J., Bernoth, M., & Croxon, L. (2017) Partnerships for learning and mentoring in aged care. Australian nursing & midwifery journal, 24(7), p.36-36.
Cresp, S., & Bernoth, M. (2017). The experiences of residents and their relatives accessing oral hygiene in a residential care facility. Australian nursing & midwifery journal. 24(11), p. 26-26.
Book
Bernoth, M., & Winkler, D. (2017) Healthy ageing and aged care. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Current Projects