New co-chairs of dementia advisory group

The Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, has appointed author and dementia carer advocate, Sue Pieters-Hawke, and former Brisbane Lord Mayor, Sallyanne Atkinson, as the co-chairs of a high-level 16-member national advisory group on dementia.

“As well as having immense knowledge in this field, Sue Pieters-Hawke has personal experience as a carer for her mother, Hazel Hawke,” Mrs Elliot said.

“Ms Atkinson chaired the previous dementia taskforce and was Lord Mayor of Brisbane.

“In the spirit of bi-partisanship and continuity, I have appointed Ms Pieters-Hawke and Ms Atkinson to co-chair the group.

“For the first time, the re-vamped council will have a carer in a key role and providing expert advice.

“The new direction will build on the research and scientific advice from the previous taskforces.

“The new group will advise on Australia’s response to the challenge of its ageing population and the growing incidence of dementia,” Mrs Elliot said.

There are currently more than 200,000 Australians living with dementia. Most people with dementia are elderly, and the number of people it affects is expected to double within the next 20 years with our nation’s ageing population.

“Australians now have the world’s longest life expectancy and that means we have to have plans in place to deal with this challenge. That is why we have set up this ministerial advisory group to build on the work of the previous government,” Mrs Elliot said.

“We are bringing together the best knowledge and experience in the nation to advise on the challenge of dementia.”

The first meeting of the Minister’s Dementia Advisory Group was held in NSW today, 3 March.

The Dementia Advisory Group will provide both the Department of Health and Ageing and the Minister with expert advice on dementia, including the implementation and evaluation of the Australian Government’s Dementia Initiative.

The new advisory group has been established to streamline and build on the work done by the Dementia Taskforce and its three Working Groups set up in July 2005. The membership will be reduced from 31 to 16.

The national Dementia Initiative supports people with dementia and their carers through funding ongoing research and dementia prevention initiatives, early intervention and support programs, and dementia-specific training for our aged care workforce.

The other members of the advisory group consist of experts drawn from dementia peak
organisations, the aged care sector, nursing and medical professions, and from academia.

· Professor Henry Brodaty AO MB BS FRACP FRANZCP – Professor of Psychogeriatrics, University of New South Wales; Director, Aged Care Psychiatry and Head of the Memory Disorders Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital
· Dr Mark Yates MBBS FRACP – Geriatrician and Clinical Director Aged Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ballarat Health Services
· Mr Glenn Rees – National Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Australia
· Ms Sharon Davis – Northern Regional Manager, Uniting Church Australian Frontier Services
· Professor Jennifer Abbey – Professor of School of Nursing (Aged Care), Queensland University of Technology; Director, Queensland Dementia Collaborative Research Centre
· Mr Stephen Judd – Chief Executive, Hammond Care Group
· Ms Shirley Garnett – WA Dementia Consumer Advisory Group; Alzheimer’s Australia National Consumer Committee; Vice President, Dementia Advocacy Support Network International (WA)
· Ms Kaye Pritchard – Carer and former President of Alzheimer’s Australia (ACT)
· Ms Jakalina Pritchard – Cultural Liaison Coordinator, Royal District Nursing Service (VIC)
· Ms Lily Muthurajah – Aged Care Assessment and Liaison Unit, ACT Community Health (ACT)
· Mr Scott Wilson – Director, Aboriginal and Alcohol Council (SA)
· Ms Joan Hughes – Chief Executive Officer, Carers Australia
· Mr Greg Mundy – Chief Executive Officer, Aged and Community Services Australia
· Ms Wendy Venn – Aged Care Nurse Practitioner, Aged Care and Rehabilitation Service, ACT Health (ACT).