Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

  (i) September is Dementia Awareness Month,

  (ii) the theme for 2017 is 'You are not alone', which aims to raise awareness of the support and services available for people with dementia and their families and carers, and

  (iii) that dementia is not a future issue – it is the second leading cause of death in Australia – there are over 350,000 Australians living with dementia now and more than 1800 new cases each week; and

(b) urges all levels of government to work together to:

  (i) make dementia a priority and help raise awareness in their communities to break down the stigmas, social isolation and exclusion that often comes with the diagnosis of dementia, and

  (ii) help build a dementia-friendly nation where people living with dementia and their carers are supported to continue to live active, engaged and meaningful lives for as long as possible.

Question agreed to.