Media releases

Dementia Australia National Ambassador Ita Buttrose AC OBE has called on the public to show their support for people living with dementia by signing up for one of the 16 events in the 2021 Memory Walk & Jog series. Ms Buttrose said Dementia Australia was excited to see the organisation’s largest fundraising initiative make a triumphant return, bigger and better than ever.

The need to address the loneliness and isolation experienced by people impacted by dementia has been brought in to sharp focus by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a discussion paper released by Dementia Australia today. Federal parliamentarians, government officials, key stakeholders and dementia advocates will today convene online with the Parliamentary Friends of Dementia to be presented with recommendations to specifically address the mental health impact of COVID-19 on people living with dementia, their families and carers. 

Dementia Australia welcomes the NSW Government’s budget announcement to increase support for palliative care services and invest in aged care training.  The funding of $55.9 million for palliative care services over four years includes an additional 5,000 End of Life support packages and access to specialist allied health professionals to provide better quality care and support. 

Dementia Australia has welcomed an announcement by the federal government of a $2.5 million investment to extend the Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line until 30 June 2021.  

Resources to support people living with dementia to stay connected by video conferencing are now available through Dementia Australia. Developed by people living with dementia, for people living with dementia, the resources are designed to support the use of video conferencing to stay in touch.

Dementia Australia has released seven tips to show how a little support can make a positive difference in the lives of people living with dementia. With dementia affecting close to half a million Australians, a number that is expected to double in the next 25 years, it is important to support people living with dementia to live well for as long as possible. 

Dementia Australia has welcomed the inclusion of dementia-specific recommendations by Counsel Assisting in the final submissions to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Dementia Australia has welcomed an announcement by the federal government to invest $12.4 million in a Grief and Trauma Response Package which will help to ensure support is available for those affected by COVID-19 across the aged care sector. 

On World Mental Health Day, Dementia Australia is calling on the federal government and the health and aged care sectors to ensure the mental health needs of people living with dementia, their families and carers are sufficiently met.

Dementia Australia and Deakin University’s Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute (A2I2) were yesterday jointly awarded the Victorian iAward in the Not-For-Profit and Community Solution of the Year category for, ‘Ted the AI Avatar Living with Dementia’.

A Joint Position Statement issued by Carers Australia and Dementia Australia during National Carers Week has spoken about the discrimination faced, not only by people living with dementia, but also by their family and friend carers. ‘It is vital that the unpaid carers of people living with dementia are able to live a life free from discrimination,’ said Carers Australia CEO, Ms Liz Callaghan and Dementia Australia CEO, Ms Maree McCabe.

Dementia Australia has welcomed the Western Australian Government’s investment of $9.6 billion for health and mental health services in the state. The budget includes $306 million towards mental health services, $18.8 million towards the new 38 bed residential aged and palliative care facility in Carnarvon and $20.1 million to strengthen end of life care and to support implementation of voluntary assisted dying reforms.