Dementia Advocates Program

The Dementia Advocates Program provides opportunities for people living with dementia, carers and former carers to share their stories, identify current issues and positively effect change.

Dementia Advocates are involved across all aspects of our operations, including client services, media, marketing, research, policy submissions and major initiatives such as Dementia-Friendly Communities, quality dementia care and learning and education products. 

Dementia Advocates are also involved in systemic advocacy aimed at raising awareness of dementia and tackling stigma and discrimination. Systemic advocacy is different from individual advocacy, where you may be seeking to convey the wishes or views of one individual.

If you need support for individual advocacy you can contact the Older Person’s Advocacy Network on 1800 700 600 or visit their request advocacy help or information page.

Become a Dementia Advocate

People living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment, as well as carers and former carers of people with dementia can become a Dementia Advocate.

All new advocates receive a welcome guide and are invited to participate in an online induction session about what's involved. There are opportunities to meet other advocates both locally and nationally. You will also be supported by your local Consumer Engagement Coordinator.

If you decide to become a Dementia Advocate you can be involved as much or as little as you like. Dementia Advocates are invited to participate in a range of activities which we promote under the broad banner of dementia advocacy, including:

• Sharing your knowledge, thoughts and experiences through surveys, workshops or interviews 
• Working with researchers and research funders to set research priorities
• Participating as a representative on advisory boards or committees 
• Raising awareness by sharing your story with the media, on social media, through campaigns, public speaking and more
• Providing feedback on policy, programs, services and new technology 
• Becoming a member of the Dementia Australia Advisory Committee (DAAC).

You can step down from the Dementia Advocates Program at any time. There is no minimum commitment and you can choose how and when you want to participate.

Interested? We would love to hear from you.

Complete an online application form.

The Dementia Advocates program is underpinned by five key principles that we call ALICE – Authentic, Living experience, Inclusive, Collaboration and Empowering.  You can find out more about ALICE by reading A Stronger Voice Together( 10 MB), Dementia Australia’s Consumer Engagement Framework.

Dementia Australia welcomes and encourages the involvement of people from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people in rural and remote areas, people at risk of homelessness and people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or intersex.

If you have any questions or would prefer to complete the online application form over the phone please email advocates@dementia.org.au or call the team member for the State or Territory you live in. 

Australian Capital Territory

Elena Sutcliffe, 0429 515 957

New South Wales

Lance Dale, 0409 063 877

Queensland

Kylie Johnson, 0482 183 169

South Australia 

Jackie Hayes, 0490 427 779

Northern Territory

Miriam Cleary, 0407 094 862

Victoria and Tasmania

Kerri-Ann Tipping, 0436 276 084

Western Australia

Renae Brennan, 0482 163 704

The Dementia Advocates Program provides people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment, carers and former carers with a meaningful way to share their stories, identify current issues and positively affect change at a system level. This kind of change is called systemic advocacy and is different from individual advocacy, where you may be seeking to convey the wishes or views of one individual.

If you need support for individual advocacy you can contact the Older Person’s Advocacy Network on 1800 700 600 or visit their request advocacy help or information page.

Work with a Dementia Advocate

People living with dementia, carers and former carers are experts by experience. They have a unique perspective on living with dementia and provide an essential balance to the views of service providers, government, industry and the community in general.

Wherever decisions are being made that impact people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment, and their carers, their voices must be heard.

Dementia Australia welcomes collaborative projects where organisations or individuals work together with people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment, carers and former carers.

To request to work with a Dementia Advocate, please complete this form.

If you have any questions or would like to chat about your project and how Advocates could be involved please email advocates@dementia.org.au and a member of the Consumer Engagement team will be in touch.