Flinders University is spearheading an initiative to foster collaboration in health and aged care innovations with Arab and Middle Eastern countries through a project aimed at strengthening ties with the MENA region.
Funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Council for Australian-Arab Relations (CAAR) grant, the program focuses on enhancing bilateral trade, investment, education, and knowledge transfer, particularly in digital health and aged care technologies.
The Australian-Arab Collaborative, led by Flinders University’s College of Business, Government, and Law, is driving this effort to facilitate the exchange of science, technology, and innovative solutions between Australia and Arab nations.
Building on previous CAAR-supported projects, this new initiative concentrates on advancements in the health and aged care sector, taking into account the unique regulatory and cultural aspects, including Islamic law and Arab customs.
Dr. Madhan Balasubramanian from Flinders University underscores the significance of exploring mutual interests between Australian healthcare industries and the Arab world to enhance the health and well-being of older individuals in the region.
The project aims to break down barriers, foster better business understanding, promote investment and collaboration in the health sector, and create new platforms for engagement among governments, institutions, research centers, universities, and businesses in Australia and Arab nations.
A key component of the project is the Flinders MENA symposium, focusing on Innovations in Health and Aged Care Knowledge Transfer: Australian and Middle Eastern North African (MENA) Perspectives.
The symposium featured a diverse panel of experts from various fields, including psychiatry, hospital management, architecture, artificial intelligence, and law, shedding light on overcoming barriers and future directions in health and aged care innovations.
Additionally, keynote addresses by prominent figures from the Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia, Australasian College of Health Service Management SA Branch, and experts from Cairo University provided valuable insights during the symposium.
The upcoming segment of the international symposium, scheduled for June, will continue the collaboration between Flinders University, King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia, and the American University in Cairo, under the Australian-Arab Relations Council.
The project outcomes will include academic publications, networking platforms, and policy perspectives, accessible through the MENA Hub for Business, Law, Regulation, Health, and Aged Care, further promoting knowledge transfer and collaboration in the health and aged care sector.
