New kit to combat dementia among Indigenous Australians

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18 September 2007
CP 103/07

A dementia learning resource kit launched today will help to combat dementia in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The kit, Dementia Learning Resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, was launched at Parliament House, Canberra, by the Minister for Ageing, Christopher Pyne, to mark the start of Dementia Awareness Month.

“A recent study in the Kimberley region indicates that dementia is more prevalent among Indigenous Australians than among their peers in the wider Australian population,” Mr Pyne said.

“The provision of appropriate dementia resources and aged-care services for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders is a high priority for the Australian Government, particularly in recognition of the impact of dementia on Indigenous Australians.

“This kit of resources and materials is designed to be used for the preparation and delivery of awareness-raising and information sessions, and in educational and training programs for aged and community care workers and clinicians. It will make an important contribution to supporting people who are at risk of dementia, or who have the condition.”

The kit was produced by Alzheimer’s Australia, which received Australian Government funding to update a dementia training resource for Indigenous communities. It is one of the activities being developed under the 2005 Australian Government’s Budget Initiative, Helping Australians with dementia, and their carers – making dementia a National Health Priority (the Dementia Initiative) which is providing $320.6 million over five years.

Media contact: Adam Howard 0400 414 833