A research career that's going places

Awards. A promotion. International collaborations. A few million dollars in research funding. 

These are just a few things Dr Miia Rahja has been up to since finishing her Foundation project grant, which investigated the translation of reablement for people living with dementia from community to residential aged care.

That project brought together researchers, aged care providers and people with living experience to explore how residents could be better supported to maintain their independence and participate in everyday activities.

It also gave Miia an opportunity to lead a major collaborative project and build her credentials as an independent researcher.

Since then, Miia has been working with an aged care provider to develop a practical resource to help other organisations introduce reablement programs in residential care.

But wait, there’s more. 

Miia has since been promoted to senior research fellow at Flinders University, won multiple research awards and helped secure more than $3 million in subsequent research funding.

She was the only Australian occupational therapist in the EU-funded ReableDem expert group, a European research network investigating reablement for people living with dementia. Through the network, she collaborated on publications and was invited to lead an international book chapter.

But wait, there's even more.

This year, Miia received a Foundation post-doctoral fellowship to investigate inequalities in access to rehabilitation for people living with dementia. She'll compare national health data, health and aged care policies from Australia and Sweden to understand where people may be missing out on rehabilitation and what needs to change.

Reflecting on her original grant, Miia told us:

“I don't think any of it would have happened if I didn't have the funding and I wouldn't have progressed in my career the way that I have.”

What a few years, Miia. Congratulations on everything you've achieved. You’re an awesome example of how an early research grant can help open doors to bigger things.