Communities in action

Around Australia, individuals, groups, businesses and alliances are making their communities more dementia-friendly. By working with people living with dementia, their families and carers, we can all create a more inclusive community.

See how community action can help people living with dementia stay connected.

Using art and conversation to become more dementia-friendly in Darwin

In Darwin a local group have provided the community with some food for thought through morning teas, lunches and a dinner.

Festival fever helps Byron Bay become more dementia-friendly

Byron Bay and the surrounding shire are renowned for their festivals, and a local health provider has used this as an opportunity to spread the word about dementia.

‘I Am Here’ - Alchemy Chorus sings for inclusiveness and acceptance

Where would you have found 80 excited singers, a cheery conductor, an audience of 300, a bunch of friendly politicians (put on the spot with toy trombones), two very accomplished musicians on keyboard, a super-cool bass player, and a member of the Dementia Australia Board on a chilly Saturday morning?

Creating an 'any-time' dementia-friendly café in Forest Hill in Melbourne

The Forest Hill Dementia-Friendly Community Group has connected people and resources across the Forest Hill suburb in Melbourne to work towards an ‘any-time’ dementia-friendly café.

Dementia Australia grant helps Shoalhaven region become dementia-friendly

The Shoalhaven region, south of Sydney, has become an example of how communities can become more inclusive.

Port Macquarie gets artistic with a Dementia-Friendly Communities boost

Last financial year, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council received a $15,000 Community Engagement Program grant from Dementia Australia to create a year-long series of dementia-friendly activities, themed around the change of seasons.

East Metropolitan Health Service dementia-friendly plans recognised by Dementia Australia

East Metropolitan Health Service (EMHS) has officially been recognised as a ‘Working Towards Dementia-Friendly Organisation’ by Dementia Australia. EMHS is the first metropolitan health service in Australia to be given this recognition.

A shopping experience to remember – Westfield Tuggerah implements ‘Quiet Hour’

Forty retailers at Westfield Tuggerah are now participating in Quiet Hour every week.

International recognition for dementia-friendly Kiama

Residents of Kiama, on the South Coast of New South Wales, have embraced the dementia-friendly concept, and their internationally-recognised model has recently been awarded a second Dementia Australia Community Engagement Program grant.

Creating dementia-friendly swimming experiences

Physical activity will become easier for people living with dementia, with access for tailored swimming classes in Adelaide.

Linked in businesses focus on being dementia-friendly

Businesses across the Adelaide Hills are involved in a project to find ways to become more dementia-friendly. Led by the Adelaide Hills Council, a project team is exploring how to foster and promote tourism, social and retail destinations that are dementia-friendly.

Narrabri embraces dementia-friendly actions

The community spirit is strong in the north-west NSW town of Narrabri, where multiple groups have worked together to make their community more accepting and inclusive of people living with dementia, their families and carers.