Corryong on its way to becoming a dementia friendly community.

Photo: Carly Tapping

Article by : Tom Mitten, Program Leader, The Centre, your Community College

DFC Community Engagement Grant recipient, led by the Shire of Towong and The Centre for Continuing Education team, about to become dementia friendly.

Corryong is a north east Victorian town in the Towong shire, nestled between the Alpine and Kosciuszko National Parks. Whilst beautifully picturesque, it is quite isolated, being 90 minutes by mountainous road from Albury-Wodonga, the nearest regional centre. It is also about to become a dementia friendly community.

Led by the Shire of Towong and The Centre for Continuing Education, the steering group for this project is currently being assembled with community members living with dementia, carers, and representatives from the local health service, businesses and community groups.

The group will work together to develop a dementia services guide for the town, establish a support group for people living with dementia and their carers and organise dementia awareness and skill building workshops for the local community. This approach acknowledges the key role that sporting clubs, service organisations and local businesses in rural communities play in assisting people living with dementia continue to feel valued and part of their community. People living with dementia and their carers will play an integral role in all aspects of the project, being trained to assist the delivery of the community workshops to their fellow residents and identifying which services are relevant as well as participating in the steering group.

The project is being driven by local woman Carly Tapping. Carly brings a wealth of experience with a background that’s sure to see her make powerful changes in her beautiful home town. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work and Human Services and has many years of professional experience in the clinical health and mental health sectors under her belt. She is also Towong Shire Council’s Supported Playgroup Facilitator in Corryong. Carly has a strong commitment to helping small rural communities, is enjoying the challenge of changing the way dementia is approached in Corryong and supporting the Corryong community to become dementia friendly.

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