Dr Apil Gurung is a Lecturer in the School of Health at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), based at the Moreton Bay campus. With a strong focus on aged care and the wellbeing of older adults, his research explores ways to enhance healthcare delivery for older adults.
Apil’s doctoral research examined aged care nurses' decision-making when transferring residents to emergency departments, highlighting his commitment to improving primary healthcare systems for older adults. His clinical background in health (Dentistry and Nursing), public health and graduate nurse assessor in aged care informs his research-driven advocacy for quality healthcare in later life. He is an active member of the Australian Association of Gerontology, furthering his engagement with contemporary issues in ageing. Through his role as Deputy Chair of Australian College of Nursing’s Street Health Faculty, Apil actively translates research into action, advocating for policy and practice reforms that prioritise health equity and social justice.
As a qualitative researcher Apil is passionate about using research to advance social justice, particularly for marginalised and culturally diverse populations, including Indigenous communities. He welcomes opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and is available to supervise Higher Degree Research students.
Professional Memberships
- Australian Association of Gerontology
- Member, Australian College of Nursing
Fellowships
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK)
Professional Social Media
Committed to fostering meaningful change, Apil aims to address systemic challenges faced by older adults and other marginalised people through collaborative, evidence-based research.
Research Grants
| Project name | Investigators | Funding Body | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-CHAt: an Intergenerational Community Homeshare Activity for Older Adults and University Students on the Sunshine Coast | Dr Daniel Wadsworth, Dr Kristina Tulloch, Dr Apil Gurung, A/Prof Alison Craswell, Sunshine Coast Council, Suncare Ltd | Sunshine Coast Council ($26,818) | 2023 |
| Intergenerational Living. The experiences of residents of aged care facilities, their families, carers, and nursing students. | Dr Apil Gurung, Prof Marianne Wallis, Dr Alison Craswell, Sam Edwards, Graham Young, Angeline Medland, Robyn Cross | NURTURE Seed Grant $ 4,106.08 |
2019-2020 |
| Understanding why aged care residents are transferred to the ED | Dr Sean Clark, A/Prof Marc Broadbent, Dr Apil Gurung, Shannon Bakon, Dr Julia Hocking, Chris Shaw, Sheryl Tweddell, Amanda Glenwright | Emergency Medicine Foundation $ 55,206 |
2019-2020 |
Research areas
- aged care and older adults
- primary health care and public health
- qualitative research
- phenomenography
- gerontology and aged care
- qualitative research approach
- health equity for marginalised populations
- culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities
Dr Apil Gurung’s specialist areas of knowledge include aged care, older adults, gerontology, qualitative research and phenomenography.
In the news
Federal Budget insights and analysis from UniSC experts
8 May 2023UniSC academics are available pre and post budget to offer insights on its impacts and implications for families, business, the economy, environment and global relations