Dementia Australia is delighted the NSW Premier The Hon. Gladys Berejiklian MP, has signed up to become a Dementia Friend at www.dementiafriendly.org.au.
The Premier announced that she had become a Dementia Friend at a Parliamentary Friends of Dementia event at NSW Parliament House, this week, attended by Members of Parliament from all parties, people living with dementia and carers.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said the 142,000 people living with dementia in NSW, their families and carers will be heartened to hear that the Premier is showing her support.
"I thank Premier Berejiklian for her commitment and champion her call for all members of the NSW Parliament to sign-up to be a Dementia Friend," Ms McCabe said.
The Premier is one of several politicians to have joined the Dementia Friends social movement, including Parliamentary Friends of Dementia Co-convenors The Hon. Leslie Williams MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Health, Member for Port Macquarie and Kate Washington MP, Acting Shadow Minister for Ageing and Disabilities, Member for Port Stephens.
"We encourage all politicians, and business and community leaders to become a Dementia Friend, through which they will have increased their understanding of dementia, and be empowered to do small, everyday things that can make a difference to a person living with dementia," Ms McCabe said.
"We want them to join us in this social movement that aims to transform the way our nation thinks, acts and talks about dementia.
"With the prevalence of dementia in Australia projected to reach 1.1 million by 2056, there will be no one who will not be impacted by this condition.
"As a National Health Priority Area dementia is the biggest health challenge of the 21st century. Dementia is everybody’s business."
The Dementia Friends program, developed by Dementia Australia, is a free online learning tool which helps participants to increase their understanding of dementia and learn how they can better support the people around them in their community who are impacted.
To become a Dementia Friend visit dementiafriendly.org.au.
The Dementia Australia Dementia Friends program has been funded by the Federal Government.
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Dementia Australia is the national peak body and charity for people, of all ages, living with all forms of dementia, their families and carers. It provides advocacy, support services, education and information. An estimated 425,000 people have dementia in Australia. This number is projected to reach more than 1.1 million by 2056. Dementia Australia is the new voice of Alzheimer’s Australia. Dementia Australia’s services are supported by the Australian Government.
National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 Interpreter service available (The National Dementia Helpline is an Australian Government Initiative) Dementia is a National Health Priority Area www.dementia.org.au
When talking or writing about dementia please refer to Dementia Language Guidelines. ---
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