Media releases

Dementia Australia has welcomed the announcement this week by the Australian Government of a commitment to extend essential funding for national dementia program delivery until the end of June 2022. Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said the additional funding of $44 million is important to provide stability of service delivery for people living with dementia, families and carers, as well as staff in the sector, particularly during these challenging times.

Neil Samuel has been recognised as the first recipient of a Dementia Australia Honour, a new award acknowledging those who have made significant contributions to Dementia Australia. Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe congratulated Mr Samuel, expressing gratitude for his years of commitment to people living with dementia, their families and carers. 

Dementia Australia welcomes changes to the federal government’s Ministry that sees the aged care portfolio elevated as a cabinet priority.  Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said she looked forward to continuing to work with the Hon Greg Hunt MP as Minister for Health and Aged Care and Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, responsible for aged care services.   

Dementia Australia has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of a further 10,000 new home care packages at a cost of $850 million, as another important step towards supporting more senior Australians, including those with dementia, to remain living independently at home. Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said as the prevalence of dementia continues to increase so do the waiting lists for high-level home care packages and there appears little understanding around the speed of package approval and the priority lists applied by the government to these approvals.

Professor Amy Brodtmann has further committed to raising awareness and educating about dementia through her newest role as Dementia Australia Honorary Medical Advisor. Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe officially welcomed Prof Brodtmann to the position, saying she has long been involved in Dementia Australia, and had made an enormous contribution both to the organisation and, more broadly, to dementia treatment, care and research both in Australia and internationally.

Dementia Australia has welcomed the federal government’s announcement of $17.5 million to fund research into dementia and aged care. 

More than 20 communities across Australia will benefit from Dementia Australia grants to support efforts to become more dementia-friendly. Each community will focus on different activities that suit the issues and opportunities in their local area and all communities will work closely with local people living with dementia.

Dementia Australia has welcomed the announcement this week by the Australian Government of an additional $132.2 million investment in its response to the Aged Care Royal Commission’s recommendations on COVID-19.

Dementia Australia has found people living with dementia and their carers can benefit from technology when it is customised to meet their unique needs and goals.  Maree McCabe, CEO Dementia Australia said the finding came from a Dementia Australia two-year study into how technology can be tailored to support people living with dementia. 

Dementia Australia welcomes the Victorian Government’s budget announcement of $40 million to help cover the cost of introducing minimum staff-to-resident ratios in private aged care. Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said the focus on staff-to-resident ratios is welcome, and the solution to improve the care of older Australians must also include increased staff and skills mix through education and training for the workforce. 

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.