Ross Vasta (Bonner, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise tonight to speak about one of the nation's greatest health challenges. Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia and the No. 1 cause of death for women. Almost half a million people are currently living with dementia in Australia, with this number expected to reach around 1.1 million in less than 30 years.

I'm proud of the funding our government is investing into dementia services to support those living with this condition and their carers. We have a range of government-funded dementia services, including Dementia Australia, which delivers the National Dementia Support Program and the National Dementia Helpline. These services offer life-changing support, most notably aiding carers when behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia are affecting a person's care or quality of life.

Carers can go through many emotions, from joy to grief, and financial pressure. It is of the utmost importance that our government know that these carers are not alone. The National Dementia Helpline provides free support and advice for carers on how they can look after themselves and on the services that are available to them. As part of this year's budget, we made an extraordinary commitment to dementia, investing over $229 million. Some of the key measures of this investment include enhanced support for people living with dementia, additional outreach capability for the National Dementia Helpline and dementia training throughout the sector.

In my electorate of Bonner, I am seeing the benefits of our ongoing investment firsthand. As part of our government's $185 million Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission from 2018 to 2029, the first recipient of this mission, with $10 million for dementia research, was the Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research at the Queensland Brain Institute. I had the privilege of being invited to the centre with the minister for health, Greg Hunt, to see the groundbreaking research being undertaken and I congratulated the team on being awarded the single largest boost in health and medical research funding in Australia's history. The researchers could not have been more grateful for our government's continued support and funding. I invited local dementia advocates from Bonner to join me on a tour of the research facility and attend a presentation at the QBI's world-class research facility. The tour examined the different technologies and the new methods being used and developed to ensure that all Australians have a better quality of life.

I also want to take this opportunity to shine a light on two amazing dementia advocates in my electorate, John Quinn and his partner Glenys Petrie. In 2014 John and Glenys started the Brisbane South-East Dementia Alliance. From this, their work has extended across our community and beyond. John lives with dementia and shares his personal testimony to raise awareness. To say that they have both been heavily involved in our community is an understatement. Glenys had a vision for John to live well and to be supported in the community, and she has dedicated her time to breaking the stigma and changing the mindset about people living with this condition. She has organised regular community forums and even an international dementia conference in Bonner. Glenys has also maintained the Remember Me friendship group which meets monthly to enable people with dementia, their carers and family members to get together socially. It goes to show that providing safe and inclusive spaces where connections can be made really does make all the difference.

Most recently, Glenys and John have been working with the year 12 students at Bonner's Iona College to deliver a dementia awareness program. Glenys and John refer to these students as 'the change agents of the future'. Iona College is the first school in Australia to work towards becoming a dementia-friendly school. This month the Brisbane South-East Dementia Alliance launched the Creating Change: Activating a Dementia-Friendly Brisbane forum, which took place at the college. It saw Brisbane residents and businesses come together to support and empower people with dementia to live well. Glenys is well and truly making strides towards her vision that, by the time Brisbane hosts the 2032 Olympics, we will be recognised as a dementia-inclusive city. Currently, Brisbane is the only capital city in Australia that has committed to this recognition, and it would not have been possible without the efforts of John and Glenys.

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