Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Associate Professor Darshini Ayton is a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) emerging leader fellow (2021-2025). Darsh leads the Ageing and Health Services Research Team at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. She is a Chief investigator on an NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence and is the Primary Investigator on an ARC Discovery Project, Medical Research Future Fund and National Centre for Healthy Ageing grants and a Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Tender. Darsh also has multiple industry, health service and aged care provider partnerships.
Her program of research links acute care to community and residential aged care and encompasses dementia prevention, innovative diagnostics for dementia and sector-spanning models of care to improve quality of care and quality of life.
Darshini has a strong track record in health and social care research, with expertise in qualitative methods, consumer and community involvement, clinical registries, randomised controlled trials, and implementation science. Her work is grounded in co-design principles and participatory action research approaches, ensuring that interventions are not only evidence-based but also meaningful to those who use and deliver care.
Currently, Darshini is exploring the potential of medical technologies and artificial intelligence to transform aged care and health service delivery. Her research focuses on how these innovations can be ethically and effectively integrated to enhance person-centered care, improve workforce support, and drive system-wide improvements.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, MONASH UNIVERSITY
Award Date: 24 Sept 2013
Master of Public Health, MONASH UNIVERSITY
Award Date: 21 Dec 2009
Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Hons), MONASH UNIVERSITY
Award Date: 1 Dec 2005
Research area keywords
- Dementia
- Chronic disease
- Health services
- Patient experience
- Consumer and Community Involvement
- Implementation Science
- Program planning and evaluation
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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CROSS – Link – Clinical Registries: Optimised and Streamlined Solution for Data Linkage
Ayton, D. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Gabbe, B. (Chief Investigator (CI))
8/07/25 → 30/06/26
Project: Research
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Structural, behavioural and motivational barriers impacting vaccine consent and uptake, with a focus on COVID-19 vaccinations in residential aged care settings.
Ayton, D. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Doyle, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Peel, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Anderson, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Long, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Storey, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Watson, E. (Chief Investigator (CI))
12/05/25 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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Feasibility, Acceptability and Utility of a Person-Centred Behaviour Change Program to Slow Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
Lim, Y. Y. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Cook, A. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Ayton, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Robb, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Little, K. (Project Manager)
31/03/25 → 30/03/28
Project: Research
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Optimised Infection Prevention and Control Study in Residential Aged Care Homes (OPTICS)
Peleg, A. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Stewardson, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Stuart, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Peel, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Jokanovic, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bucknall, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ayton, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Haines, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Rawson, H. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/02/25 → 31/01/29
Project: Research
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Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) to improve perioperative care for Older PeoplE (COPE)
Anderson, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Srikanth, V. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Harris, I. A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Myles, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bucknall, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Brusco, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Forbes, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ludbrook, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lodge, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ayton, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Moran, C. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Dhesi, J. K. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Partridge, J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Brown, W. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Liew, S. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Chroinin, D. N. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Adie, S. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Karayiannis, C. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Gonski, P. (Associate Investigator (AI))
1/09/24 → 31/08/29
Project: Research
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A Scoping Review of the Barriers and Facilitators to Clinician Engagement in Hospital-Based Palliative Care in Australian Hospitals
Meehan, E., Parker, C., Ayton, D., Katz, N., Gold, M., Wang, Y., Ralapanawa, D., Kwok, X. & Banaszak-Holl, J., Aug 2025, In: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. 42, 8, p. 814-825 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Beyond the incident: examining criminal and coronial court documents to explore the impact of workplace fatalities on coworkers
Rawlings, J., Muir, C. & Ayton, D., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Illness Crisis and Loss. 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Consensus recommendations on multiple sclerosis management in Australia and New Zealand: part 1
Shipley, J., Beharry, J., Yeh, W., Seery, N., Foong, Y. C., Ayton, D., Siriratnam, P., Tan, T., Beadnall, H., Barton, J., Bridge, F., Wesselingh, R., Taylor, L., Rath, L., Haartsen, J., Gadi, M., Nesbitt, C., Zhong, M., Cushing, V. & McKay, F. & 31 others, , Apr 2025, In: The Medical Journal of Australia. 222, 7, p. 356-364 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
3 Citations (Scopus) -
Consensus recommendations on multiple sclerosis management in Australia and New Zealand: part 2
Shipley, J., Beharry, J., Yeh, W., Seery, N., Foong, Y. C., Ayton, D., Siriratnam, P., Tan, T., Beadnall, H., Barton, J., Bridge, F., Wesselingh, R., Taylor, L., Rath, L., Haartsen, J., Gadi, M., Nesbitt, C., Zhong, M., Cushing, V. & McKay, F. & 31 others, , Apr 2025, In: The Medical Journal of Australia. 222, 7, p. 365-371 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Domains for inclusion in a novel Treatment Response Measure for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (TRM-SLE): results of a modified Delphi study
Connelly, K., Koelmeyer, R., Ayton, D., May, J., Gregory, K., Eades, L. E., Barallon, R., Kandane-Rathnayake, R., Golder, V., Anzum, A., Mydin, M., Akther, M., Friedman, A., Askanase, A. D., Aranow, C., Vital, E., Pons-Estel, G., Brunner, H., Kalunian, K. & Dantata, K. & 33 others, , 6 May 2025, In: Lupus Science and Medicine. 12, 1, 14 p., e001484.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus)
Prizes
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Henry Krum Award for Mid Career Research Excellence
Ayton, D. (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Teaching Excellence Award – Lecturer of the Year
Ayton, D. (Recipient), 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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The Sir Richard Peto Prize for Best Conference Abstract - International Health Congress, Oxford, United Kingdom
Ayton, D. (Recipient), 2015
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)