September 2023: Advocates in the media
Media
Dementia Advocate Val Fell OAM was interviewed on ABC Illawarra Wollongong and 2ST discussing the Illawarra Dementia Forum.
Healthcare Channel published a story featuring quotes from Dementia Advocate Anne Tudor about the Memory Lane Café – Victorian Pride Centre.
Dementia Advocate Scott Cooper was interviewed by Seven Afternoon News and Seven News (nights) about a new study calling for volunteers to assess various aspects of health and wellbeing and looking at risk factors for dementia.
Dementia Advocates were featured extensively in coverage for Dementia Action Week:
- A letter to the editor co-signed by Dementia Advocate and Chair of the Dementia Australia Advisory Council Bobby Redman with Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe calling for community awareness during Dementia Action Week was published in over 70 local newspapers across the country.
- Dementia Advocate Ann Pietsch was interviewed on Channel 9’s national The Today Show
- Dementia Advocate Phil Hazell was featured on Channel 7’s The Morning Show
- Dementia Advocate Joan Griffiths was interviewed by NBN TV News Tamworth
- ABC Adelaide interviewed Dementia Advocate Bruce Weber. The story also appeared on ABC News Online.
- Dementia Advocate Russell Martin was interviewed by Prime Seven TV NSW
- Dementia Advocate Janice Hodgson was interviewed by WIN TV News (syndicated across 15 regional locations)
- Dementia Advocate Natalie Ive was interviewed on air with ABC Radio Brisbane and by Maribyrnong & Hobsons Bay Star Weekly
- Dementia Advocate Dennis Frost was interviewed by Region Illawarra newspaper
- Dementia Advocate Donna Lee was featured in a story for That’s Life magazine
Social Media
We shared a post honouring Dementia Advocate Glenda Parkin who sadly passed away. Glenda was incredibly generous with her time and made a positive impact in raising awareness and shifting negative attitudes around living with dementia. (Facebook)
In celebration of the premiere of ABC’s TV series Mother and Son, we shared photos from the advanced screening where Dementia Advocates Ann and Timothy Pietsch were in attendance. Ann, along with fellow Dementia Advocates Claire Powell and Russell Martin, as well as Dementia Australia staff, were consulted during the development of Mother and Son. (Facebook)
Dementia Advocate Keith Davies shared why he joined the Advocates Program after caring for his wife Beverly, who lives with Alzheimer’s disease. (Facebook)
Dementia Advocate Brian Evans shared about the symptoms he first noticed in his wife Dianne, who was later diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. (Facebook)
We shared a video featuring Dementia Advocate Isabelle Burke, speaking about her mother’s experience getting a dementia diagnosis and the importance of brain health awareness in promotion of the BrainTrack app. (Facebook)
We shared behind-the-scenes photos of a video shoot with Dementia Advocate Phil Hazell and his assistance dog Margot as part of the Dementia Action Week campaign. (Facebook)
To celebrate Father’s Day, Dementia Advocate Dominique O’Leary shared some of the Father’s Day traditions she had with her dad who lived with vascular dementia. (Facebook)
To acknowledge Women’s Health Week, Dementia Advocate Natalie Ive shared how her local gym is working to become more dementia-friendly and the positive impact it has had for her. (Facebook)
Dementia Advocate Jakkie Talmage shared about the grief she experienced when her mother, who lived with dementia, passed away and how she navigated the healing process. (Facebook)
Dementia Advocate Donna Lee shared how her diagnosis of dementia changed her perception of grief and how she now tries to concentrate on the things she can do rather than what she can’t. (Facebook)
To acknowledge R U OK? Day, we shared the story of Dementia Advocate Doug Purser, who cared for his wife Merrelee who lived with dementia, on the support he received from Dementia Australia. (Facebook)
Dementia Advocate Jack Ellis was featured in our post with resources for people living with dementia, their families and carers for the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum. (Facebook)
During Dementia Action Week, we featured several stories from Dementia Advocates on the importance of dementia-friendly communities and the positive impact support from their community has had on them.
- Dementia Advocate and Chair of the Dementia Australia Advisory Council Bobby Redman shared about the importance of breaking down stereotypes that lead to stigma and discrimination for people living with dementia (Facebook)
- Dementia Advocate Natalie Ive was featured in a video along with the owner of her local gym on the changes the gym is making to improve the experience for Natalie and others living with dementia (Facebook)
- Dementia Advocate Juanita Hughes shared about the importance of dementia awareness for businesses and communities (Facebook)
- On World Alzheimer’s Day (21 September) we shared a story from Dementia Advocate Steve Rule, who lives with Alzheimer’s disease, on the work he is doing to raise awareness and make his community more dementia-friendly. (Facebook)
- Dementia Advocate Phil Hazell was featured in a video with his assistance dog Margot, sharing how businesses and communities can learn more about dementia and take small actions to help people living with dementia to live well in their communities. (Facebook)
- Dementia Advocate Jan Catlin shared about how she’s helping to make her community more dementia-friendly by speaking at workshops and encouraging local businesses to get involved (Facebook)
- Dementia Advocate Bruce Weber was featured in a video about the changes his local community centre has made to make the space more accessible and inclusive for people living with dementia (Facebook)
To acknowledge World Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week, we shared a post from Dementia Advocate Patrick Dare who shared the symptoms he first noticed and the process of getting a diagnosis. (Facebook)
Photo: Dementia Advocate Phil Hazell, his assistance dog Margot and Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe on The Morning Show