Turning Personal Loss Into Better Care for Older Australians
16 Dec 2025
Associate Professor Joel Rhee has created the Rhee Family Award, driven by his own experience of navigating the aged care system with his mother. His aim is clear: support research that helps improve care for older people across Australia.
"If this award can help even one researcher make a real difference in older Australians’ care, then my mum’s story will continue to have an impact," he says.
As Chair of RACGP Specific Interests in Cancer and Palliative Care, Associate Professor Rhee saw firsthand how his mother’s illness—multiple system atrophy—exposed both the strengths and challenges of aged care. Following her passing, he partnered with the RACGP Foundation to establish an award supporting practical, GP-led research focused on system-level improvements in care.
The Rhee Family Award celebrates his mother’s resilience and acknowledges the care she received, while encouraging research with tangible benefits for older adults. Funded projects explore areas such as frailty screening, innovative care models, improved communication, and enhanced GP involvement in residential aged care.
Reflecting on his mother’s final years, Associate Professor Rhee recalls the added difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic:
"Her last years were especially hard. Social contact was limited, and much of our support had to be virtual. It was a challenging time for her and for all of us," he says.
While the family initially considered focusing solely on research into multiple system atrophy, their experience navigating aged care revealed broader system-wide issues. Although his mother received excellent care from her GP and aged care staff, they also noticed gaps and inconsistencies that reflect the pressures on the system.
"Some care was outstanding, some less so. That’s the reality of a system under strain," he explains.
"It made us realise that research could strengthen overall care, not just treatment for one condition. We wanted to fund work that could benefit many older Australians, not only those with rare diseases."
Now in its third year, the award is presented annually at the RACGP conference. The 2025 recipient, Professor Claire Jackson, was recognised for her research on frailty screening and management in general practice. Previous awardees include Dr Jordan Crawford, who examined GP experiences providing end-of-life care in residential aged care, and Associate Professor Anthea Dallas, whose work connected healthcare students with aged care providers in Tasmania to improve care quality.
Through the Australian General Practice Research Foundation—the RACGP’s philanthropic arm—the award continues to back GP-led research that strengthens primary care and ensures that the legacy of the Rhee Family Award continues to benefit older Australians.
News Source: RACGP
