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Australian projects and initiatives

The projects and initiatives listed here were identified through an environmental scan focusing on dementia care in aged care settings and are current as of May 2023. This list is not likely to be comprehensive. Please contact us if you would like us to consider an Australian study, project, or initiative for inclusion on this page.

For a complete overview of projects funded by ARIIA to address important gaps in the aged care workforce’s capability and knowledge, please refer to ARIIA Projects.

Research studies

The findings of these research projects may not yet be available. However, awareness of work in progress can inform other projects in the planning phase and facilitate connections between researchers and potential participants or collaborators. To see all registered clinical trials on dementia care topics, try searching the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry

Barriers and enablers to delivering optimal dementia care: Perceptions of community nurses
Lead organisation: Bolton Clarke 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: University of Newcastle 
This project aims to identify whether, and to what degree, community nurses agree with the recommendations of the guidelines and the barriers and enablers of implementing the recommendations in practice. 

‘Enabling Choices’: Enabling wellbeing by providing choices for people with dementia and memory loss 
Lead organisation: Bolton Clarke 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: State Trustees Australia Foundation 
This project focuses on assessing an electronic format of a conversation tool ‘Enabling Choices’ to assist health professionals to negotiate risk the person with dementia may be experiencing, in areas such as self-care, mobility and driving. 

Is there a role for gait aids to improve stability and reduce falls risk for older people with dementia?
Lead organisation: Bolton Clarke 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital, Curtin University, Peninsula Health, Monash University 
Funding organisation: Australian Dementia Research Foundation 
The rationale for the study is to understand current practice and factors influencing community care staff and informal carers’ approaches to gait aid use by older people with dementia and to improve practice in mobility care of older people with dementia.   

Mind the Gap! Respite care and transition to permanent residential care for people living with dementia and informal carers 
Lead organisation: Bolton Clarke 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration 
This project will co-design a new and novel approach to day respite services, temporary residential care and transition into permanent care if required in conjunction with people living with dementia and their carers, and residential care staff and their management. 

WEAVE: Weaving Evidence into Action for Veterans with dementia
Lead organisation: Bolton Clarke 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: RSL Queensland 
The project will co-design the delivery and implementation of a suite of individual and group-based interventions to improve outcomes for veterans living with dementia. 

Evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel discourse intervention on everyday communication in people with dementia
Lead organisation: Curtin University 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: Dementia Australia Research Foundation 
This study aims to modify and evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a highly novel therapy approach that has been trialled with other neurological populations (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury). 

Forget-me-not: evaluating the effect of an interdisciplinary, patient, carer and General Practitioner-inclusive interventions on antipsychotic de-prescription after discharge from hospital in patients with delirium, acute behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, and other related conditions
Lead organisation: Eastern Health Foundation 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: Eastern Health Foundation 
This project aims to evaluate the impact of changes to hospital standard care, including increased GP and specific patient/carer engagement on the use of antipsychotics after hospital discharge. We predict it will have an impact of reducing antipsychotics prescribed (either dose or complete deprescribing) at 12 weeks after hospital discharge 

A multicenter randomised controlled trial on effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Chinese iSupport for dementia program in Australia and Greater China for caregivers in Australia and Greater China
Lead organisation: Flinders University 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: National Foundation for Australia-China Relations 2020-21 Competitive Grants Program 
The research project aims to conduct a multicentre trial with 204 caregivers (34 in each of the six study sites) in a 9-month period to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Chinese version of WHO iSupport program. 

Creating partnership in iSupport program to optimise carers' impact on dementia care (2021-2025)
Lead organisation: Flinders University  
Status: In progress 
Funding organisation: Medical Research Future Fund, 2020 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission  
The aims of this study are to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an innovative patient-centred dementia care approach, ‘Partnership in iSupport program’. The program is designed to enhance support for carers and improve their ability to manage dementia at home. The expected outcomes are improved quality of life and health for carers and care recipients and reduced hospital admission, emergency department use and premature admission to aged care homes of care recipients. 

Harmony in the Bush
Lead organisation: Flinders University 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): Flinders Rural and Remote Health SA, Country Arts SA 
Funding organisation: The Australian Government Department of Health 
Harmony in the Bush is an ambitious national dementia research project that seeks to identify key drivers of a personalised care, and use co-design principles to implement and evaluate a personalised model of care incorporating music/art and movement interventions for residents with dementia. 

iSupport for Dementia program
Lead organisation: Flinders University 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: National Foundation for Australia-China Relations 
This program will assess the effectiveness of the iSupport for Dementia program, an online knowledge and skills training program developed by the World Health Organization for informal carers of people living with dementia. 

‘Partnerships in iSupport program’ to optimise carers’ impact on dementia care: A randomised controlled trial
Lead organisation: Flinders University 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): National Health and Medical Research Council (Medical Research Future Fund 2020 Dementia Ageing and Aged Care grant), Dementia Collaborative Research Centre (2020 DCRC World Class Research Project Grants) 
Funding organisation: Resthaven Inc. SA, Bolton Clarke Victoria, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Canberra Health Services, University of South Australia 

We propose an innovative patient-centred approach, ‘Partnership in iSupport program’, in hospitals and community aged care settings to enhance support for carers. 

‘Taking charge’ after a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia: does early intervention change quality of life?
Lead organisation: Flinders University 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: Flinders Foundation, Hospital Research Foundation, Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration 
The ‘Take Charge’ intervention is a short (2 session) therapeutic intervention which encourages people with chronic health conditions to consider their values and what is important to them and how they will maximise their quality of life in the coming months. We are proposing to adapt the ‘Take Charge’ intervention with minor modifications and test the intervention with people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. 

Evaluating the effectiveness of a social robot intervention on pain management in people with dementia living in residential aged care facilities: A cluster randomised controlled trial
Lead organisation: Griffith University 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: Griffith University 
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and economic value of technologies (the PainChek app and PARO robotic seal) on pain management in residential aged care, particularly for people with dementia. 

Being Present 
Lead organisation: HammondCare 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): The Dementia Centre 
Funding organisation: Unknown 
This study is focused on care workers and their experiences in providing care to people living with dementia. 

Specialist Dementia Care Program Units
Lead organisation: HammondCare 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): The Dementia Centre 
Funding organisation: HammondCare 
This project focuses on understanding if care provided through Specialist Dementia Care Program Units can result in better outcomes for people living with dementia. 

The Advance Project
Lead organisation: HammondCare 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): Flinders University (CareSearch) 
Funding organisation: The Australian Government 
This project aims to develop a suite of practical and training resources to help community and residential care staff initiate conversations about advance care planning. staff to better support the families of people living with dementia. 

The Darlinghurst Study
Lead organisation: HammondCare 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: HammondCare 
The researchers hope to demonstrate the cost benefits of our model of care, examining housing and hospital, community, and emergency services. 

Testing a support package on wellbeing of carers of people with dementia: a randomised controlled trial
Lead organisation: Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): The University of Newcastle 
Funding organisation: National Health and Medical Research Council 
A randomised controlled trial will test the effectiveness of a support intervention in reducing symptoms of depression and burden of carers of people with dementia at 6-months. 

Feasibility and Acceptability of an Artificial Intelligence-Enhanced Virtual Reality Dementia Training Program for Physiotherapy Practitioners and Students
Lead organisation: Macquarie University 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): Prince of Wales Hospital 
Funding organisation: Macquarie University 
The aim of this project is to develop and pilot test an artificial intelligence-enhanced virtual reality dementia training program for physiotherapy practitioners and students. This training has the potential to enable an empathetic approach to care, and improved perceptions of people with dementia. 

Move Your Mind: Preliminary efficacy of a small group exercise intervention for older adults with dementia
Lead organisation: Macquarie University 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: Brellah Medical Centre 
The Move Your Mind study aims to investigate the efficacy of a small group exercise program, which consists of two 45-minute sessions twice per week for 12 weeks, for improving cognition in older adults with dementia. 

Move Your Mind: Preliminary efficacy of a small group exercise intervention for older adults with dementia
Lead organisation: Macquarie University 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: Macquarie University 
We aim to investigate the efficacy of a small group exercise program, which consists of two 45-minute sessions twice per week for 12 weeks, for improving cognition in older adults with dementia. 

SENSEcog aged care: Hearing and vision support to improve quality of life for people living with dementia in residential aged care (2022-2024)
Lead organisation: Macquarie University
Status: In progress 
Funding organisation: Medical Research Future Fund, 2020 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission  
Hearing & vision problems are common in people living with dementia in residential aged care. But hearing/vision needs often go unsupported. Unsupported hearing/vision problems increase the impact of dementia, cause social isolation, reduce independence and worsen quality of life. This study aims to improve quality of life for people with dementia by working with people with dementia, aged care and hearing/vision professionals to enable better ways of identifying and supporting 

hearing/vision needs. 

An open pilot feasibility trial of a multimodal sleep intervention on sleep disturbance in community-dwelling people living with mild dementia and primary care partners
Lead organisation: Monash University 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration 
This pilot study aims to test the feasibility of a non-pharmacological intervention to improve sleep and mood in care partners and people living with dementia. 

Knowledge brokers for evidence translation to improve quality use of medicines in residential aged care (2021-2025)
Lead organisation: Monash University 
Status: In progress 
Funding organisation: Medical Research Future Fund, Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission 
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has highlighted over-reliance on psychotropic medications as needing immediate action. Psychotropic medications can be inappropriately prescribed to people living with dementia in aged care. This project aims to trial the use of a 'knowledge broker' to implement new evidence-based recommendations to improve the safe and effective use of psychotropic medications in people living with dementia and in aged care. 

Effect of personalised music listening on quality of life and cognitive abilities in persons with dementia
Lead organisation: Murdoch University 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): Rotary Club of Freshwater Bay 
Funding organisation: Lindsay & Heather Payne Medical Research Charitable Foundation - Perpetual Impact 
This project will address basic questions regarding the use of daily music listening to improve the quality of life for people with dementia (PWD). 

Draw-Care: A randomised controlled trial on the effect of using animation and digital technologies on care burden in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) family carers and people living with dementia
Lead organisation:  
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation:  
The Draw-Care study aims to improve the lives of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) family carers and people living with dementia using animations, digital fact sheets, and a multilingual chat-bot. 

Drawing out care: Using animation and digital technologies to support Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) family carers and people living with dementia
Lead organisation: National Ageing Research Institute 
Status: In progress 
Funding organisation: Medical Research Future Fund, 2020 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission 
This study aims to improve the lives of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) family carers and people living with dementia using animations, digital fact sheets, and a multilingual chat-bot – The Draw-Care Intervention. Using co-production and trial methods, we will evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of Draw-Care in reducing family carer's burden and improving their mood and quality of life, and the quality of life of the person living with dementia. 

Feasibility and Acceptability of e-DiVA (empowering Dementia Carers with an iSupport Virtual Assistant)
Lead organisation: National Ageing Research Institute 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): The University of Auckland, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Vietnam National Geriatric Hospital, World Health Organisation, Alzheimer's Disease Internationals (United Kingdom) 
Funding organisation: The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Ministry of Sciences and Technology (Indonesia), Ministry of Research and Technology (Indonesia), Health Research Council (New Zealand) 
This proposal will address these gaps in two ways, by: (1) developing and evaluating an iSupport Virtual Assistant (VA) to support dementia carers through a partnership of four APR countries: Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Vietnam; and (2) building capacity of researchers and Non-Government Organisation (NGO) partners to support this development and evaluation. Seven versions of iSupport VA will be evaluated in Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Vietnam using a pilot RCT. Feasibility, acceptability, intention to use, and preliminary impact on carer perceived stress of the iSupport VA intervention will be assessed. 

The impact of dementia training on interpreters' quality of communication during interpreter-mediated cognitive assessments: The MINDSET study
Lead organisation: National Ageing Research Institute 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: National Health and Medical Research Council, National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd, All Graduates Interpreting and Translation Services, Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT), The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National), Dementia Australia, Migrant and Refugee Health Partnership, Healthcare Interpreter Service (NSW). 

This project aims to develop online dementia assessment training for interpreters. We will co-design with interpreters, clinicians, people with dementia and their carers online training modules for interpreters. 

Translating dignity principles into practice in aged care homes
Lead organisation: National Ageing Research Institute  
Status: In progress 
Funding organisation: Medical Research Future Fund, Next Generation Clinical Researchers Program 
Care-dependent older people in aged care homes are at risk of violations to their personal dignity during continence care interactions, especially if they have dementia. Educating aged care staff about managing incontinence may protect residents’ dignity and reduce conflicts in care. Informed by the Knowledge to Action Cycle, and different research methods will be used to implement a multifaceted, evidence-based, feasible and sustainable person-centred 'Dignity in Continence Care Program'. 

HABIT (Harnessing Automatic Behaviours Intervention Trial): A habits-based pilot behaviour change intervention to increase physical activity in people with mild cognitive impairment or subjective cognitive decline
Lead organisation: Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): University of New South Wales 
Funding organisation: Dementia Australia Research Foundation, Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration 
This project aims to investigate the feasibility of a habits based physical intervention (Harnessing Automatic Behaviours Intervention Trial (HABIT)) for elderly participants with mild cognitive impairment or subjective cognitive decline. 

Impact of virtual reality training on allied health professional’s knowledge and perception of dementia

Lead organisation: Prince of Wales Hospital 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation, Health Education and Training Institute, War Memorial Hospital 
This study will evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of the Virtual Reality workshop Enabling Educational Dementia Immersive Experience as a teaching resource for Allied Health Professionals, Allied Health Assistants and physiotherapy students working with people with dementia. 

Phase II trial to evaluate the safety, feasibility and efficacy of using therapeutic weighted blankets for agitation in patients with dementia in acute care settings

Lead organisation: Queensland University of Technology 
Funding organisation: Redcliffe Hospital (Redcliffe Hospital Private Practice Trust Fund) 
This research aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of using therapeutic weighted blankets to reduce agitation in patients with dementia in acute care settings. The objectives are:  

  • To report the safety of using weighted blankets for patients who have a dementia diagnosis in acute healthcare settings. 
  • To report the feasibility of using weighted blankets for patients who have a dementia diagnosis in acute healthcare settings. 
  • To report the efficacy of using weighted blankets for patients who have a dementia diagnosis in acute healthcare settings. 

A HOME-based family caregiver-delivered music Intervention to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Lead organisation: The University of Melbourne 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): Anglia Ruskin University (United Kingdom), Norwegian Academy of Music (Norway) The University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (Germany, The University School of Physical Education in Krakow (Poland) 
Funding organisation: National Health and Medical Research Council, Norwegian Research Council, Alzheimer’s Society, UK, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Germany) 
This project is investigating how a home-based family caregiver directed music intervention impacts the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, the levels of depression in person living with dementia and their family caregiver, and their quality of life 

Music Attuned Technology for Care via eHealth – MATCH: Proof-of-Concept (Study 2)

Lead organisation: The University of Melbourne 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: Medical Research Future Fund (National Health and Medical Research Council) 
An eHealth solution – Music Attuned Technology for Care via eHealth (MATCH) – was developed to support family carers of people living with dementia to use music intentionally to support care 

Music And Psychology & Social connections (MAPS): A randomised controlled trial investigating the effect of combined music therapy/therapeutic songwriting, cognitive behavioural therapy and social media on depressive, anxiety and stress in care-partners and people with younger-onset dementia.

Lead organisation: University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital 
Music and Psychology & Social connections (MAPS) is an online program which combines music/song writing and psychological therapies with a closed social networking group, for people living with younger-onset dementia and their spousal care-partners. 

The effects of online music therapy on mental health and quality of life of people with dementia and their family care partners.
Lead organisation: University of Melbourne 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: University of Melbourne 
This project examines the feasibility and effects of a 10-week online music therapy program involving songwriting for people with dementia and their family care partners. 

Investigating the effect of multi-component, community, health practitioner and system-level strategies on diagnosis of chronic conditions and provision of best-practice care for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people including dementia

Lead organisation: University of Newcastle 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): University of Newcastle's Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), Menzies School of Health Research, James Cook University, Northern Territory Department of Health, University of Sydney, University of Technology of Sydney, University of Melbourne, Maari Ma Health, Durri Aboriginal Corporation Medical Service 
Funding organisation: National Health and Medical Research Council 
This project will test the effectiveness of a community intervention designed to increase the proportion of Aboriginal people who receive a timely diagnosis of dementia and receive best practice care 

Alignment, harmonisation, and results: translating Core Outcome Measures to Improve Care (COM-IC) for people living with dementia into Australian practice (2021-2023)

Lead organisation: University of Queensland 
Status: In progress  
Funding organisation: Medical Research Future Fund, Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission 
We can't improve what we can't measure and improving quality of life and quality of care have been identified as key outcomes of programs designed for people living with dementia. In this project, we will bring together people living with dementia, caregivers, industry and funders to understand how to measure outcomes of care that matter to everyone. At the end of the project, we will have a list of agreed outcomes to measure and guidelines for implementing these. 

An innovative telehealth approach to supporting older adults with dementia with driving cessation and mobility: Cluster randomised controlled trial

Lead organisation: The University of Queensland 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: National Health & Medical Research Council 
This project investigates the effectiveness of a telehealth delivered, evidence-based driving cessation intervention for people with dementia and their family members who are retiring from driving, through a cluster randomised controlled trial. 

A multicentre pragmatic parallel-arm stratified randomised trial of the Interdisciplinary Home-bAsed Reablement Program (I-HARP) for improving functional independence of community dwelling older people with dementia
Lead organisation: The University of Sydney 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): Anglicare, BaptistCare, Canterbury Hospital, Royal North Shore Hospital, Ryde Hospital 
Funding organisation: National Health and Medical Research Council (Boosting Dementia Research Initiative) 
The pilot study of the Interdisciplinary Home-bAsed Reablement Program (I-HARP) points to the benefit of an interdisciplinary team as having the maximum impact. The proposed project will implement and evaluate this novel bio-behavioural-environmental I-HARP model, into existing health and aged care services. 

CELPI: a randomised trial evaluating the effect of a Carer End of Life Planning Intervention in people dying with dementia

Lead organisation: University of Western Australia 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 
This randomised controlled trial will test a Carer End of Life Planning Intervention (CELPI) co-designed by clinicians, content specialists and consumers to improve access to end of life care for older people with severe dementia, using an ED visit as a catalyst for recognising unmet needs and specialist palliative care referral where indicated. 

A randomised trial of a Carer End of Life Planning Intervention (CELPI) and its effect on the proportion of people with dementia dying in hospital

Lead organisation: University of Western Australia 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: Research Translation Project Round 12 of WA Health 
Whist palliative care is highly effective for patients with dementia and their carers it is rarely accessed. We hypothesize that the provision of education, advance care planning and better referral to palliative care for carers will reduce the number of people with dementia that die in hospital and result in improvements in systems and patients centered outcomes. 

The Sustainable Personalised Interventions for Cognition, Care, and Engagement (SPICE) Program (2022-2024)
Lead organisation: University of Canberra 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): Canberra Health Services, University of Canberra Hospital Specialist Centre for Rehabilitation, Recovery & Research 
Funding organisation: Dementia Australia Research Foundation, ACT Health Directorate 
This trial is a 12-week evidence-based multi-component program designed for people with dementia and carers. The SPICE program includes small group and dyadic components including physical activity, cognitive stimulation therapy, nutrition assessment, the COPE program, and social, emotional, resilience education and capacity building for carers. 

Evaluation of the effect of a multi-component post-diagnostic support program on quality of life in people living with dementia and their carers 
Lead organisation: University of Canberra 
The research study will assess the value of a pilot version of this multi-component dementia support program, measure impact and effectiveness for people with dementia and their carers. If shown to be successful, the multi-component program could become part of standard care in the ACT region and provide a replicable model of comprehensive post-diagnostic services for dementia care Australia-wide. 

Investigating the impact of a community pharmacy-based service on medication management amongst home-dwelling people living with dementia: A pilot study 
Lead organisation: University of New South Wales 
The project will first develop a model for MedsCheck Plus (an in-pharmacy service to meet the specific needs of people living with dementia), then train community pharmacists to do them. Finally, twenty people living with dementia will be provided with MedsCheck Plus, and the experiences of the consumers and pharmacists will be studied. 

Agile co-development and end-user testing of the usability, perceived helpfulness, and potential inter-system integration of a general well-being and coping App (Carers' CARE) for dementia carers
Lead organisation: University of Tasmania 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: Tasmanian Community Fund 
The current project seeks to work with people caring for a family member or friend with dementia, and a small number of representatives from dementia and carer organisations to undertake real world testing and co-development of an App, called Carers’ CARE, to assist dementia carers. 

Australian Government initiatives

Dementia-Friendly Communities
Lead organisation: Dementia Australia 
Status: In progress 
Supporting organisation(s): - 
Funding organisation: The Australian Government Department of Health (Dementia and Aged Care Services) 
Dementia-Friendly Communities is an Australian Government-funded program to build understanding, awareness and acceptance of dementia in the community. 

National Dementia Support Program 
Lead organisation: Dementia Australia 
Funding organisation: Department of Health and Aged Care 
The National Dementia Support Program helps people living with dementia, their families and carers to understand dementia, connect with others who are experiencing the same condition and enable the health and aged care sectors to respond to their needs. 

Dementia Training Program
Lead organisation: Dementia Training Australia 
Funding organisation: Department of Health and Aged Care 
The Dementia Training Program provides accredited training courses for care workers that are available online and onsite. This program aims to improve the care and wellbeing of people living with dementia and staff delivering the care. 

Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS)
Lead organisation: Dementia Support Australia 
Funding organisation: Department of Health and Aged Care, Dementia and Aged Care Services Fund 
The Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS) provides free support to service providers and carers of people living with dementia. DBMAS aims to understand the causes of changes in behaviour and provide personalised advice, strategies and recommendations to address the main problem. 

Dementia carer respite and wellbeing program
Lead organisation: Dementia Support Australia 
Funding organisation: Department of Health and Aged Care 
The Dementia Carer Respite and Wellbeing Program delivers innovative models of respite care for people living with dementia and their carers. The program aims to support the needs of both the persons with dementia and their carers in terms of quality of life, knowledge and capabilities. 

Severe Behaviour Response Teams (SBRT)
Lead organisation: Dementia Support Australia 
Funding organisation: Department of Health and Aged Care, Dementia and Aged Care Services Fund 
The Severe Behaviour Response Teams is a 24/7 mobile service that responds onsite within 48 hours. The SBRT offers free support and advice where there is a heightened risk to the person living with dementia, or their care network. 

Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP)
Lead organisation: Dementia Support Australia 
Funding organisation: Department of Health and Aged Care 
The Specialist Dementia Care Program supports people with very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia who cannot be cared for in a mainstream residential aged care facility. 

Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission
Lead organisation: National Health and Medical Research Council 
Funding organisation: Medical Research Future Fund 
The Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission is supporting research activities for older Australians to maintain health and quality of life as they age and that includes living independently as long as they can and access quality care when needed. 

Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission
Lead organisation: National Health and Medical Research Council 
Funding organisation: Medical Research Future Fund 
The Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission is supporting research activities for older Australians to maintain health and quality of life as they age and that includes living independently as long as they can and access quality care when needed. 

Interviews with stakeholders to improve quality use of medicines and medication management for community-dwelling people with dementia: Stage 2 of a co-design project (2023-2024)
Lead organisation: Centre for Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (IMPACCT), Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney 
Supporting organisation: HammondCare, IMPACCT Consumer Advisory Panel
Funding organisation: Maridulu Budyari Gumal SPHERE Implementation Science Strategic Platform – 2022 Translational Seed Funding Scheme
The purpose of this research, through co-design workshops and interviews, is to provide an avenue for clinicians and consumers to share their knowledge and experiences around medication management for people with dementia in the community setting, to understand the medication-related challenges faced, and together determine support services, strategies, resources and information that may be useful to support medication management.
This research will inform the development of an evidence-based framework, and strategies and resources to support medication management for community-dwelling people with dementia and their family or informal carers.