About

Dr Eddy Strivens is a practising clinician and national leader in geriatric medicine and dementia, working in Far North Queensland for over 20 years and Past-President of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine. He has held an academic appointment with James Cook University since the commencement of the Clinical School in Cairns and is an Adjunct Professor. His research interests are in Culturally Appropriate Assessment, Healthy Ageing, Integrated Care and Models of Service Delivery. He has worked extensively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in Far North Queensland and has validated the use of culturally appropriate cognitive assessment tools in this population. He is practised in linking research with clinical outcomes in these communities.

In 2015 Dr Strivens was awarded the Public Service Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for outstanding public service to Queensland Health in the field of aged care. He was also the winner of the biennial national Louis Ariotti Award 2015 for innovation and excellence in Australian rural and remote health. In 2019 he was awarded Pre-Eminent Status by Queensland Health.

Dr Strivens has a long history of combining collaborative research with effective clinical service delivery in the field of culturally appropriate assessment and models of service delivery. His research work has mainly been in trying to answer pressing clinical issues and has a proven track record in converting this research into enhanced local service delivery.

He has been the lead investigator in a series of research studies in Far North Queensland, with direct competitive grant funding of over $6 million and over 8 years of continuous direct NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) funding.

Research Disciplines
Socio-Economic Objectives
Honours
Awards
  • 2018 - Awarded Highly Commended in the Emerald Literati Awards for the publication: doi: 10.1108/JICA-11-2016-0044.
  • 2018 - Stroke Care Champion Award 2018
  • 2015 - Public Service Medal
  • 2015 - Louis Ariotti Award for innovation and excellence in Australian rural and remote health
Fellowships
  • 2005 - Fellowship of the Australasian College of Physicians
  • 2001 - Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles
More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 43+ research outputs authored by Prof Edward Strivens from 2011 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Commonwealth Department of Health - Medical Research Future Fund - Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care

METformin for treating peripheral artery disease Related walking Impairment Trial (MERIT)

Indicative Funding
$1,215,182 over 3 years
Summary
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a very common chronic cardiovascular disease of ageing affecting approximately 1 million older Australians and causing substantial leg pain on walking (intermittent claudication), marked functional impairment, reduced quality of life (QOL) and very high risk of major adverse cardiovascular and limb events. Vulnerable populations (e.g. regional or remote, lower income and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations) have much greater PAD-related burden. Our past consultations with patients indicate that improvements in walking is their number one priority. The only widely available PAD treatment in Australia is revascularisation but this does not improve walking distance and has substantial safety concerns. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that metformin safely improves leg blood supply. MERIT is a placebo-controlled randomised trial performed across 7 sites. The importance of the trial has been endorsed by patients, Heart Foundation, Queensland Health and Australian and New Zealand Society for Vascular Surgery and Alliance for Cardiovascular Trials. If positive, MERIT will identify a cheap, safe and widely available drug to improve the function and QOL of millions of older adults worldwide who have PAD.
Investigators
Jon Golledge, Clare Arnott, Edward Strivens, Belinda Parmenter, Clare Heal, Christopher Reid, Aaron Drovandi, Joseph Moxon, Jenna Pinchbeck, Richard Norman, Dylan Morris, Christopher Askew, Sarah Larkins, Rachel Quigley and Yvonne Cadet-James (College of Medicine & Dentistry, The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Curtin University, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, University of the Sunshine Coast and Indigenous Education & Research Centre)
Keywords
Prevention; Complications; Peripheral artery disease; Risk Factors

National Health & Medical Research Council - Centres of Research Excellence

Good Spirit Good Life: Better health and wellbeing for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians

Indicative Funding
$24,000 over 5 years (administered by University of Western Australia)
Summary
This world first Good Spirit Good Life (GSGL) Centre for Research Excellence, offers a collaboratirve and strategic approach to generating new knowledge and applying the evidence to improve health and wellbeing outcomes with older Indigenous people. Underpinned by an Elder informed wellbeing framework, the GSGL CRE brings together dedicated and experienced researchers in Indigenous ageing, service providers and policy makers in collaboration with older Indigenous Australians and communities to focus on improving health outcomes and wellbeing.
Investigators
Dina LoGiudice, Michael Wright, Kylie Radford, Julie Ratcliffe and Edward Strivens (University of Melbourne, Curtin University, University of New South Wales, Flinders University and College of Medicine & Dentistry)
Keywords
Indigenous Health; Healthy Ageing; Nutrition; Dietary Assessment

National Health & Medical Research Council - Boosting Dementia Research Grant

Reducing Dementia Risk in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities

Indicative Funding
$1,515,145 over 6 years
Summary
The aim of the project is to address these issues through the development of a range of interventions to specifically target the high rates of dementia in Indigenous communities. This project will use a Participatory Action Research approach to enable communities to identify and prioritise dementia risk reduction strategies/potential risk and protective factors. Using a Continuous Quality Improvement Framework, primary health care centries will address modifiable dementia risk factors to change practice and systems through the development of culturally appropriate interventions. The outcome will be a culturally appropriate framework that incorporates evidence-based best-practice guidelines for delivering community specific interventions for risk reduction and prevention of dementia.
Investigators
Edward Strivens, Sarah G Russell, Rachel Quigley, Sarah Larkins, Robyn McDermott, Venessa Curnow, Kate Smith, Prabha Lakhan and Veronica Matthews in collaboration with Alan Cass, Yvonne Hornby-Turner, Desley Harvey, Leon Flicker, Dina LoGiudice, Frankie Clive, Gavin Miller, Dallas McKeown and Gail Garvey (College of Medicine & Dentistry, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, Queensland Health, University of Western Australia, The University of Sydney, Menzies School of Health Research, The University of Queensland, University of Melbourne and North Queensland Primary Health Network)
Keywords
Indgenous Health; Healthy Ageing; Dementia; Chronic Disease

National Health & Medical Research Council - Targeted Call for Research into Healthy Ageing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

A framework for healthy ageing in the Torres Strait

Indicative Funding
$1,100,540 over 6 years
Summary
The aim of this project is to develop a culturally appropriate framework of healthy ageing for Torres Strait Comjmunities to enable older persons to remain living well at hme and on Country for as long as possible. Participatory Action Research (PAR) within a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) framework will be the overarching lmethodology for this project. The scope of the framework will be guided by the World Health organisation Framework of Healthy Ageing encompassing both intrinsic capacity and environmental characteristics that influence health outcomes.
Investigators
Edward Strivens, Sarah G Russell, Leon Flicker, Dina LoGiudice, Kate Smith, Rachel Quigley, Robyn McDermott, Sean Taylor, Venessa Curnow and Sarah Larkins in collaboration with Betty Sagigi, Desley Harvey, Dympna Leonard, Elizabeth Beattie, Gavin Miller, Jennifer Mann, Nancy Pachana and Yvonne Hornby-Turner (College of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Australia, Melbourne Health, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, Queensland Health, Queensland University of Technology, Not in list?.. and The University of Queensland)
Keywords
Indigenous Health; Chronic Disease; healthy ageing; Dementia

Commonwealth Department of Health - Medical Research Futures Fund - Indigenous Health

Strong community, strong health: Exploring opportunities for chronic disease prevention in the Torres Strait

Indicative Funding
$473,642 over 2 years
Summary
Despite a decrease in mortality rates from chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease since 2006, they still represent significant risk to the health and wellbeing of Australia?s First Nations peoples. This project will partner with First Nations people living in the Torres Strait to support their chronic disease outcomes by: 1) co-developing diet and physical activity (PA) tools; and 2) mapping social and environmental impacts on health in each partner community. This project will provide essential information about dietary and PA practices of people living in the Torres Strait.
Investigators
Edward Strivens, Ray Mahoney, Karla Canuto, Sean Taylor, Valda Wallace, Gavin Miller, Betty Sagigi, Sarah G Russell, Rachel Quigley, Kathryn Meldrum, Yvonne Hornby-Turner, Torres Webb, Melissa Kilburn, Sarah Larkins and Dympna Leonard (College of Medicine & Dentistry, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, Flinders University, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, Queensland Health and Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords
Chronic Disease; Diet; Physical Activity; Torres Strait; Partnership

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant

ADAPTTS - App-Based Diet and Physical Activity Tools for the Torres Strait

Indicative Funding
$25,000 over 2 years
Summary
The aim of this project is to develop and validate dietary and physical activity assessment tools for use in the Torres Strait. Having culturally appropriate assessment tools embedded in primary health care services will facilitate appropriate identification and referral for at risk patients. This will promote best practice care in the region leading to better health outcomes and improved service delivery for the benefit of Torres Strait Islanders living in Far North Queensland. The project also is a collaboration between researchers at JCU Healthy Ageing Research Team (HART), clinical staff in TCHHS and local NGOs based in the Torres Strait.
Investigators
Melissa Kilburn, Sarah G Russell, Rachel Quigley, Edward Strivens, Kathryn Meldrum and Diane Cadet-James (College of Medicine & Dentistry)
Keywords
Torres Strait Islander; Nutrition; Diet; Screening and Assessment Tool; Physical Activity

Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre Limited - Research Seed Grants

Exploring the potential for dog assisted interventions in a FNQ hospital rehabilitation setting: a co-design study

Indicative Funding
$48,784 over 2 years
Summary
There is increasing interest in animal-assisted interventions (AAI) as a complementary, non-pharmacological intervention in health care settings. While biological, psychological and social benefits of human animal interactions have been demonstrated, the evidence base for AAI in health care settings is weak, partly due to low participant numbers. Our project involves two parts: 1. A scoping review to report on dog-assisted interventions (DAI) for people undergoing rehabilitation in hospitals. 2. An exploratory case study involving consumers, staff and key informants to identify the perceived benefits and challenges to implementation of DAI.
Investigators
Sandra Downing, Mary O'Loughlin, Sue Devine, Edward Strivens, Madeleine Downey and Em Bould (College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences and College of Medicine & Dentistry)
Keywords
Rehabilitation

Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre Limited - Research Seed Grants

Caregiver Burden in the Torres Strait - are we asking the right questions?

Indicative Funding
$38,000 over 2 years
Summary
The proposed project will investigate the best way to assess carer burden in the Torres Strait. Research suggests that current approaches to assessing carer burden may not accurately capture the Indigenous perspective of caregiver wellbeing. Yarning circles will be used to investigate carer experience in the Torres Strait. Yarning circles will focus on key issues such as the experience of burden, barriers to accessing support and providing care, and the health service response to carer issues. Findings will guide the development of a culturally appropriate framework for the assessment of carer burden, and provision of supports and tailored interventions.
Investigators
Diane Cadet-James, Sarah G Russell, Rachel Quigley and Edward Strivens (College of Medicine & Dentistry)
Keywords
Caregiver; Torres Strait Islander people; Indigenous Ageing

Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre Limited - Microfunding Scheme

Piloting a continuous quality improvement framework to strengthen quality of care in Aboriginal residential aged care

Indicative Funding
$20,000 over 3 years
Summary
This study responds to concerns raised in The Royal Commission report, 2021 that the Australian aged care system struggles to effectively manage people with complex care needs. Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is a method designed to improve the capacity and readiness of health services/staff to meet pre-determined goals/standards, and the quality of treatment and care, and implement health interventions. This project aims to assess the suitability of the CQI model for improving the quality of care in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) by developing and implementing a CQI framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander RACF.
Investigators
Yvonne Hornby-Turner, Edward Strivens, Sarah G Russell, Yvonne Cadet-James and Rachel Quigley (College of Medicine & Dentistry and Indigenous Education & Research Centre)
Keywords
Ageing; Aged Care; Health Services; Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islanders

National Health & Medical Research Council - Targeted Research

Defining and predicting Healthy Ageing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Populations (HATS)

Indicative Funding
$159,942 over 5 years (administered by University of Western Australia)
Summary
There is no current model of healthy ageing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island populations. Although there are many similarities to health related quality of life, there remain fundamental differences to the domains and uses for a model of healthy ageing. In response to worldwide population ageing, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently released a blueprint for Ageing and Health (2015). This document has produced a framework that may be applied to all populations. This blueprint has adopted a life course approach to health determinants and proposed a broad based intrinsic capacity of individuals that interactions with the environment and society. This framework will need to be strengthened with specific cultural and aspects for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island populations. We will apply this approach to our previously studied populations for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples to define healthy ageing. These studeis include both longitudinal and cross-sectional studies. Using our previously studied cohorts from the last 15 years, we will then deer
Investigators
Leon Flicker, Dawn Bessarab, Venessa Curnow, Dina LoGiudice, Roslyn Malay, Kate Smith, David Atkinson, Edward Strivens, Briony Dow and Jeremey Temple in collaboration with Sarah G Russell and Rachel Quigley (University of Western Australia, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, Melbourne Health, College of Medicine & Dentistry, National Ageing Research Institute and University of Melbourne)
Keywords
Healthy Ageing; Indigenous Health; Dementia

National Health & Medical Research Council - TCR into Dementia in Indigenous Australians

Let's CHAT (Community Health Approaches To) Dementia in Indigenous Communities

Indicative Funding
$292,714 over 4 years (administered by University of Melbourne)
Summary
This is an extension to an existing 3-year NHMRC funded Dementia Boosting Grant (APP1137425 - Improving Detection and management of dementia in older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders attending Primary Care [IDEA-PC]) stud which now received two more years funding extending the project beyond 2020 to 2021-2022 (APP1150337 - Let's CHAT). wwwww The aim of the study is to work with 12 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) co-researching agencies (3 in each of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia). We will work collaboratively with staff at the ACCHSs and with the community to build skills in assessing and looking after older people.
Investigators
Dina LoGiudice, Leon Flicker, Dawn Bessarab, Mark Wenitong, David Atkinson, Kate Smith, Edward Strivens, Kylie Radford and Sandra Thompson in collaboration with Andrew Stafford, Gail Daylight, Irene Blackberry, Julie Ratcliffe, Kristen Jacklin, Marianne Wood, Noeleen Tunny, Pauline Mackell, Sarah G Russell and Venessa Curnow (Melbourne Health, University of Western Australia, Apunipima Cape York Health Council, College of Medicine & Dentistry, Neuroscience Research Australia, Dementia Training Australia, Jimmy Little Foundation, La Trobe University, Flinders University, University of Minnesota, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, National Ageing Research Institute and Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service)
Keywords
Indigenous Health; Assessment; Dementia

National Health & Medical Research Council - Centres of Research Excellence

Strengthening the Quality of Dementia Care in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Residential Aged Care

Indicative Funding
$9,989 (administered by The University of Sydney)
Summary
Aim: Develop and field-test an audit tool for assessing the standard of dementia care in Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander residential aged care (RAC), against Quality Standards and Best Practice guidelines for dementia care. Method: - Undertake scoping review on best practice dementia care; - Develop a standardised audit tool based on scoping review evidence; - Field-test tool to evaluate face and content validity and inter-rater reliability. Outcome: Best practice dementia care audit tool and accompanying manual. Significance: Groundwork for a larger funding application to Dementia Australia that will test the audit tool and inform the feasibility and acceptability of a continuous quality improvement approach for strengthening dementia care in Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander RAC.
Investigators
Yvonne Hornby-Turner, Diane Cadet-James, Edward Strivens, Patricia Lees, Veronica Matthews, Sarah G Russell and Rachel Quigley (College of Medicine & Dentistry, Injilinji Aged Care Unit and The University of Sydney)
Keywords
Ageing; Indigenous Health; Residential aged care facility; Dementia care
Supervision

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current
  • ADAPTTS ? App-based Diet And Physical Activity Tools for the Torres Strait (PhD , External Advisor)
  • Appropriate Use of Medications in Indigenous Patients in a Residential Care Facility: A patient?s, pharmacist?s and doctor?s perspective. (Masters , External Advisor)
Completed
  • Older Persons Enablement and Rehabilitation for Complex Health Conditions (OPEN ARCH): Evaluating the efficacy of an integrated model of care for community dwelling older Australians (2022, PhD , External Advisor)
  • Understandings and experiences of dementia in Fiji (2021, PhD , External Advisor)
Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.

  • 5+ collaborations
  • 4 collaborations
  • 3 collaborations
  • 2 collaborations
  • 1 collaboration
  • Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)

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