Policy Challenge

The Policy Challenge is an education program run by AGE-WELL and the AGE-WELL National Innovation Hub – APPTA. It is a unique opportunity for AGE-WELL trainees to work closely with policy experts and learn first-hand how research ideas become policy options for implementation at a provincial, territorial, or national level.

Each year, policy priority questions are identified by government stakeholders from across Canadian jurisdictions. Applicants choose a policy priority and continue to spend the duration of the program working closely with APPTA’s team and the larger government stakeholder network for the development of their own policy report. Participants acquire policy writing skills, invaluable networking opportunities, as well as a relevant, impactful knowledge product to add to their portfolio upon program completion.

2023-2024 Policy Challenge Recipients

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We are very excited to announce our three policy challenge winners for 2023-2024. Bryan Hong (Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Toronto) who will be addressing the question: In what ways have rising housing ownership/rental costs affected older Canadians, and what programs/strategies are available to assist them in maintaining their owned/rental homes? Dorra Rakia Allegue (Postdoctoral Fellow, McGill University) will be pursuing the question: Which assistive or social technologies have demonstrated effectiveness in supporting unpaid/family/friend caregivers, and what is their impact? And Edith Munene (Ph.D. Student, University of Victoria) will be pursuing the question: What are the most beneficial support mechanisms that unpaid/family/friend caregivers have found effective in preventing burnout and enabling them to provide care?

We can’t wait to work with them on their policy reports and much more.

Previous participants

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 “The Visions for Change Policy Challenge Award provided me with an exciting opportunity to apply both my research and public policy skills, while working closely with policy experts at all three levels of government as well as staff at AGE-WELL and the APPTA national innovation hub. As a result of the mentorship and support that I received, I was able to successfully lead a policy report that will inform evidence-based decision making related to housing options for seniors with disabilities who wish to independently age in place. I would recommend this challenge to all AGE-WELL trainees as this educational experience is unparalleled!”

– Ann Marie Corrado