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.

Blankets for people living with dementia

Small businesses and local organisations are the lifeblood of any community. They provide important services and products to their community members.

Art and conversation in Darwin

In Australia, almost half a million people now live with dementia. Without a medical breakthrough, this number is expected to increase to more than 1 million by 2058.

Debunking dementia myths in Corryong

Surrounded by rugged mountains and 90 minutes by road from the nearest regional centre, Corryong is a beautiful town but with the highest prevalence of dementia in Victoria.

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.