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PDF printable version of Queensland has Fastest Increase in Rate of Dementia in Australia: Minister Visits Queensland Dementia Research Centre (PDF 30 KB)

28 April 2009

The Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot today visited the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Dementia Collaborative Research Centre (DCRC) to see first-hand the benefits of research on people living with dementia and their carers.

Currently, there are more than 29,000 people in Queensland living with dementia and more than 200,000 nationally .

Queensland is experiencing a faster increase in the rate of dementia than other parts of Australia and it is expected to increase by six-fold by 2050. That means that there would be more than 170,000 Queenslanders living with dementia within 40 years. Nationally, the increase is expected to be four-fold .

Queensland is home to some of the highest life expectancies in Australia – which has the longest life expectancy in the English speaking world. The Sunshine Coast and parts of Perth have the longest life expectancies in the world.

With longevity comes the greater possibility of dementia and related illnesses.

“This is about looking at new ways to respond to the challenges of our nation’s ageing population. We must look outside the square and at new techniques and approaches,” Mrs Elliot said.

The Australian Government has committed $2.42 million over three years to the QUT centre based at Kelvin Grove in Brisbane.

Examples of practical research initiatives being conducted include:

• $123,000 to investigate the experience of loneliness associated with dementia
• $56,000 for a study into the stigma associated with the diagnosis of dementia – both for the people with dementia and their carers; and
• A collaborative project looks at music therapy for people with dementia. This aims to improve quality of life and reducing disruptive behaviours.

The Australian Government is committed to research that will help better understand the causes of dementia and support people living with dementia.

Mrs Elliot said: “This centre is benefiting people Australia-wide through its research into ways to improve the lives of both people living with dementia and for those who care for them.

“The DCRC’s focus is to help improve the quality of life of people with dementia and their carers by looking at innovative ways to reduce physical and emotional discomfort and to help people with dementia stay in their homes longer,” Mrs Elliot said.

“Research is essential if we are going to be able to provide evidence-based programs and provide effective care and support to our ageing population.

“It is wonderful to see that this Collaborative Research Centre has been able to look at new ways to improve our ability to help people impacted by dementia,” Mrs Elliot said.

The QUT DCRC’s three key areas of research focus on:

• Quality of care;
• How technology can improve care; and
• A different way to provide care.

Nationally, more than $120 million a year is provided by the Australian Government through the Dementia Initiative.

This includes:

• $90 million a year for Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia Packages that provide services to people with dementia in their own homes;
• $24 million a year for dementia research, prevention, early intervention and improved care initiatives, including research grants offered through the National Health and Medical Research Council and funding for three Dementia Collaborative Research Centres. This funding also includes the Government’s National Dementia Support Program which will receive more than $18 million nationally for the period April 2007 to 30 June 2009; and
• $7 million for training for aged and community care staff, carers and community workers including police.

The QUT DCRC is one of three specialist research centres created by the Australian Government in 2006 as part of its National Dementia Initiative.

The centre works with key dementia organisations across Australia, including Alzheimer’s Australia; the Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care, La Trobe University; the Centre for Research on Ageing at Curtin University of Technology; the Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation at Griffith University; and Dementia Services Development Centre at Hammond Care.

For more information, contact Mrs Elliot's office on 02 6277 7280