Australia must fundamentally rethink how it supports people living with dementia, with palliative care introduced earlier and more consistently, leading palliative care physician Dr Michael Chapman has told a National Palliative Care Week audience.
Speaking at Palliative Care Australia's National Palliative Care Week 2026 Special Guest Lecture, Rethinking Dementia and End-of-Life Care, at Parliament House today, Dr Chapman called for a shift in how dementia care is understood, planned and provided.
Dementia is now the leading cause of death among older Australians, but many people are still not recognised as needing palliative care until very late in their illness.
Dr Chapman said this means too many people with dementia, along with their families and carers, are missing out on support that could improve quality of life.
"We have accepted a view that nothing can be done when someone has dementia, and that is simply not true," Dr Chapman said.
"There are real opportunities to improve quality of life, support families, and provide care that reflects what matters most to the person."
Drawing on clinical experience and research, Dr Chapman challenged long-held assumptions about dementia, arguing that the way society talks about and responds to the condition directly shapes people's experience of it.
He highlighted a major gap in care, with aged care, dementia care and palliative care still too often operating in silos.
"We cannot keep treating these as separate systems," he said.
"If we want better outcomes, we need to bring them together and act earlier."
Palliative Care Australia Chairman Dr Peter Allcroft, who had a wide-ranging discussion with Dr Chapman as part of today's event, said the lecture highlights the urgent need to improve access to palliative care across Australia.
"Too many Australians are missing out on palliative care until very late, or not receiving it at all," Dr Allcroft said. "The situation is even worse for people with dementia."
"People deserve care that supports their quality of life and dignity, not just at the end, but throughout the course of serious illness. That means making sure palliative care is available earlier, more consistently, and to everyone who needs it."
Dr Chapman also pointed to practical solutions, including earlier conversations, better support for families and carers, and models of care that bring palliative care expertise into aged care settings.
The lecture was the centrepiece of National Palliative Care Week, which runs from 10–16 May and is encouraging Australians to ask questions, seek answers and start conversations earlier through the theme Getting to the heart of it: Big Questions. Real Answers.
A recording of the lecture is now available online.
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