Media releases

The life-changing impact of Dementia Australia’s award-winning Dementia-Friendly Communities program was highlighted today with the release of a discussion paper, Support. Encourage. Empower. Leading the way towards a Dementia-Friendly Community.

Dementia Australia congratulates Dementia Advocate Anne Tudor OAM on receiving the Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year for an outstanding contribution by an individual to their local community and Victoria.

Dementia Australia has welcomed the COVID-19 vaccination booster program to commence in residential aged care homes this week. Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe AM said people living with dementia are some of the most vulnerable people in our community who have been at heightened risk of COVID-19 throughout the pandemic.

This week in the 2021 Future of Ageing Awards, Dementia Australia’s Communities of Practice and Dementia-Friendly Communities programs received top prizes along with the Exploring Dementia and Dementia Australia Advisory Committee programs receiving high commendations.

To mark National Carers Week, from 10-16 October, Dementia Australia is encouraging people to contact a carer from their network of family, friends and community to thank and acknowledge the difference they make to the lives of people living with dementia.

Dementia Australia supports mandatory vaccinations across the aged care sector and urges people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment, and their loved ones, to receive a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.

Dementia Australia today acknowledged Brisbane City Council; Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art; University of Queensland’s Healthy Living Centre, and Art Museum; along with Iona College for their combined commitment to creating a dementia-friendly Brisbane as a strategic element of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  These organisations were officially recognised by Dementia Australia’s Dementia-Friendly Communities program at an event hosted by the Brisbane South-East Dementia Alliance Dementia-Friendly Communities Forum and supported by QLD Parliamentary Friends of Dementia Co-convenor Joan Pease MP, Member for Lytton. 

This Dementia Action Week – from 20-26 September – Dementia Australia is encouraging people to show their support and celebrate a carer by sending a personalised, digital card to let them know they are appreciated. The Dementia Action Week Report Discrimination and dementia - enough is enough, released this week, shows that people living with dementia and carers experience discrimination that can lead to social isolation, loneliness and poor mental health. And COVID-19 has intensified these experiences.

A new report has found that an estimated 41 million cases of dementia across the globe are undiagnosed.  This, combined with new treatment breakthroughs could result in an oncoming ‘tsunami of demand’ for diagnosis, which could overwhelm unprepared healthcare systems in Australia, say Dementia Australia and Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), the global federation for over 100 Alzheimer’s and dementia associations across the world.  

Recent research conducted by Dementia Australia has identified that discrimination against people living with dementia is real and so entrenched that even those at risk expect to experience some form of discrimination.

The theme for this year’s Dementia Action Week – to be held from Monday 20 September - Sunday 26 September, is ‘A little support makes a big difference’.

On Aged Care Employee Day, Dementia Australia acknowledges the hundreds of thousands of people working in the industry across Australia.  Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said the day is an opportunity to acknowledge, honour and celebrate aged care employees.