Dementia in Australia

The Australian Government provides funding for multiple dementia-related services and initiatives, which aim to improve awareness and understanding of dementia and support people experiencing changed behaviours due to their dementia, and support carers. These include:

• National Dementia Support Program – the Australian Government’s principal community-focused dementia support program, is delivered by Dementia Australia. The program provides counselling, information, education programs, group and carer support, and resources that improve awareness and understanding about dementia. It aims to empower all people living with dementia and their carers, families and representatives to make informed decisions about the support services they access. There are no age or diagnosis requirements for accessing the National Dementia Support Program.
• Improving respite care for people with dementia and their carers Program – delivered by a range of organisations, this program provides respite care that focuses on carer education and wellbeing, planning for future respite stays, and capability development for aged care providers to deliver quality dementia respite care and services.
• Dementia-Friendly Communities – a program delivered by Dementia Australia that encourages and supports people, communities and organisations to collaborate with people living with dementia to build understanding, awareness and acceptance of dementia within their community.
• Dementia Training Program – a national approach to accredited education, upskilling and professional development in dementia care delivered by Dementia Training Australia.
• Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service – helps staff and carers to support people living with dementia experiencing changes to their behaviour by providing assessment, clinical support, care planning, mentoring, linking to current research and a 24-hour help line, provided by Dementia Support Australia (led by HammondCare).
• Severe Behaviour Response Teams – provide specialist clinical support and advice to organisations and aged care staff caring for people living with severe behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia, provided by Dementia Support Australia (led by HammondCare).
• Specialist Dementia Care Program – funds specialist dementia care units in residential aged care homes for people with very severe behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia to reduce or stabilise symptoms so that people can transition into less intensive care settings.
• Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Support and Prevention Program – a program being developed and delivered by Dementia Australia including a community awareness and education campaign on concussion and brain health, and a national support program pilot for people living with probable CTE and their carers and families.
• Hospital to Aged Care Dementia Support Program – supports older people living with dementia to move from hospital into residential aged care, or back to their home, with aged care support.