Deborah Parker

Professor Deborah Parker is a leading academic in aged care nursing and dementia research at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where she holds the position of Professor of Nursing Aged Care (Dementia). She is the Co-Director of the UTS Ageing Research Collaborative (UARC) and leads End of Life Directions in Aged Care (ELDAC), a national palliative care program. With over $78 million in research funding across three primary areas—palliative care for older people, dementia care, and service evaluation—her work spans clinical practice, policy development, and international collaboration.

• Education: PhD (Flinders University, 2016), Master of Social Science (University of South Australia, 2011), BA (Flinders University, 2006)

Research interests focus on improving healthcare outcomes for aging populations through evidence-based practices, with an emphasis on person-centered palliative care and advance care planning (ACP) for dementia patients. Her work integrates technology and knowledge translation to address systemic challenges in aged care delivery.

Recent publications highlight innovative ACP frameworks, infection control protocols in residential care, and intergenerational care models. These works reflect interdisciplinary collaborations in Europe, Canada, and Australia, addressing global healthcare gaps.

Scientific awards include the 2024 Honorary Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her contributions to palliative and aged care research.

As a research leader, she directs large-scale projects like HIRAID® Aged Care and SPA-LTC, and serves on advisory boards for Palliative Care Australia and Australian Association of Gerontology. Her work has shaped clinical tools such as The Abbey Pain Scale and CarerHelp, an online resource for end-of-life caregivers.