Media releases

Developing culturally appropriate assessments for people living with dementia in the Torres Strait is just one of 12 new projects that will share in nearly $1 million in grants to conduct ground-breaking dementia research.  Dr Leander Mitchell from The University of Queensland was awarded a $75,000 Dementia Australia Research Foundation Project Grant and will use the funding to develop tools to measure depression and anxiety in people living with dementia in the Torres Strait.  

Dementia Australia welcomes the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety’s Final Report: Care, Dignity and Respect. Since September 2018, people living with dementia, their families and carers have entrusted the Commissioners with their views, personal experiences and often traumatic stories.

Dementia Australia has a clear vision for quality dementia care in anticipation of the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety which has been handed to the Governor General today.  Maree McCabe, CEO Dementia Australia said all Australians need to have confidence and trust in our aged care system. 

The release of the final report by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety is due to be handed to the federal government on 26 February and will be a defining moment for all Australians.

Dementia Australia congratulates Neil Samuel OAM for his inclusion in the Australia Day Honours, receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division. Mr Samuel has been honoured for his service to people living with dementia, and to the community. 

Racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart OBE’s Race Against Dementia charity and the Dementia Australia Research Foundation have today announced the inaugural recipients of the ‘Race Against Dementia – Dementia Australia Research Foundation Post-doctoral Fellowship’ programme.

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.