Dana Dermody

Dr Gordana Dermody is a Senior Lecturer in Nursing and an applied gerontology researcher at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC). Her program of research addresses national and global priorities in digital health, ageing-in-place, and aged care transformation, with a focus on the development, implementation, and evaluation of nurse-led health smart home (HSH) systems and other digital innovations. These initiatives are co-designed with older adults, caregivers, and service providers to ensure practical, scalable solutions that enhance safety, independence, and quality of life for older people with chronic conditions.

Her research incorporates human-centred design, implementation science, and translational frameworks to ensure that innovations are both clinically meaningful and contextually appropriate. She has contributed to national sector reform and policy through her work with the Australian College of Nursing, and projects like the Keyton Retirement Living Report.

Dr Dermody is also the founder of the Healthy Ageing Community Alliance (HACA), a initiative dedicated to improving access among community dwelling people to ageing-related research, innovation, and digital health literacy. HACA facilitates collaborative translation between researchers, communities, and individuals with a particular focus on rural, regional, and remote populations. For more, visit www.haca.au.

Dr Dermody is the Founder and Lead of the Homeara Research Collective, a multidisciplinary research program situated within UniSC’s Smart Computing Cluster (School of Science, Technology and Engineering). While anchored by the flagship Homeara smart home project supporting older adults to live independently at home, the Collective takes a broader approach to digital health innovation across the life course.

Distinct from vendor-led or infrastructure-heavy models, the Homeara Collective is researcher-led, translational, and outcomes-focused. It brings together researchers from nursing, creative industries, engineering, computer science, sport and exercise science, public health, policy, and health services to co-design digital systems that are usable, meaningful, and scalable. Key areas of focus include:

• Sensor-based monitoring, predictive analytics, and intelligent systems
• Development of digital biomarkers and decision-support tools
• Health system optimisation through remote monitoring and digital infrastructure
• Wearables and interactive technologies for prevention and performance monitoring

The Collective supports doctoral training, research translation, and interdisciplinary scholarship, contributing to emerging innovations in smart care environments, connected living, and digital prevention strategies.

For further information, or for prospective Higher Degree by Research students interested in joining the Homeara Research Collective, please contact me directly at: gdermody@usc.edu.au