Curtin establishes new Dementia Centre of Excellence

Curtin University will establish a new research centre focused on improving the lives of people living with and at risk of dementia after being awarded $10 million in funding from the Federal Government.

Federal Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt, announced that Curtin would host the Dementia Centre of Excellence as a result of new funding allocated in the Federal Budget.

Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry welcomed the Federal Government’s investment in the new centre, which will consider the preventative, primary and chronic disease management needs of people living with dementia, as well as their mental health.

“This Federal Government funding will support the establishment of a new Dementia Centre of Excellence at Curtin, with a particular focus on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of Australia’s number one cause of disability in people aged 65 and over,” Professor Terry said.

“With more than 400,000 Australians living with dementia and 291,000 carers, the new Centre will aim to ensure better care by providing training opportunities for Curtin health sciences students to gain vital real-world experience in caring for people living with dementia.”

Professor Terry said the Centre would also provide targeted workforce training programs for community, hospital and residential care staff and implement important prevention initiatives through collaborative research.

“A key element of the new centre’s design will be making it a dementia-friendly environment to support a range of activities for people living with dementia, as well as their carers and health professionals,” Professor Terry said.

Curtin University will also be making a significant contribution towards the establishment of the new research centre at the University.

Planning for the new Dementia Centre of Excellence at the University’s Bentley Campus, located in Perth, Western Australia, will start immediately.

For more information about the Federal Government’s announcement, visit here.