More Govt dementia funding
Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, has announced $21.7 million in funding for Dementia Collaborative Research Centres and Dementia Study Training Centres across Australia.
The $21.7 million, three and a half year commitment will provide funding to five Dementia Training Study Centres and three Collaborative Research Centres.
The three Collaborative Research Centres to receive funding are the:
- Australian National University – $3.9 million for early diagnosis and prevention;
- University of New South Wales – $5.1 million for assessment and better care outcomes; and
- Queensland University of Technology – $4.1million for research focussing on carers and consumers.
The Rudd Government is also working to increase the capacity, skills and knowledge of health professionals who provide care for people living with dementia, their families and carers through the continued funding of the Dementia Training Study Centres.
These five training centres, located across Australia are:
- University of Wollongong – $2.2 million;
- La Trobe University – $2 million;
- Alzheimer’s Australia South Australia – $1.7 million;
- Curtin University of Technology – $1.2 million; and
- Queensland University of Technology – $1.3 million.
These centres promote dementia studies in Australian graduate and undergraduate curriculum and provide tertiary dementia career pathways and training for health professionals.
“In the last two years the Rudd Government has provided nearly $225 million to the Dementia Initiative and more than $384 million to the National Respite for Carers Program,” Minister Elliot said.
“This investment in research supplements the Rudd Government’s recent announcement making a further 955 Extended Aged Care at Home – Dementia packages available in the recently announced aged care approvals round.
“The Government’s approach to meeting the challenges associated with dementia includes expanding service provision for today, investment in workforce training and skills development to improve quality of care and research for the future,” she said.
