Brisbane, Australia – The University of Queensland (UQ) has made history by becoming the first university to be formally recognized as a Dementia-Friendly Organization by Dementia Australia. This milestone highlights UQ’s commitment to improving the lives of people living with dementia and raising awareness of the condition across its campus.
As part of the Dementia-Friendly University Initiative, UQ will implement specialized training modules within its health and medicine courses, aimed at educating students and staff about dementia, reducing stigma, and fostering a supportive environment for individuals with dementia and their families. This initiative is part of a broader effort to inform research and improve outcomes for those affected by dementia.
UQ Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Terry, emphasized the importance of inclusivity in the fight against dementia, noting that it is one of the leading causes of death in Australia. “It is crucial for organizations to prioritize action on inclusivity. A UQ-wide approach will enhance the University’s existing dementia-friendly efforts, including at the UQ Centre for Clinical Research, UQ Art Museum, and UQ Healthy Living,” she stated.
There are currently 433,300 people living with dementia in Australia, a number expected to double to 812,500 within the next 30 years. In light of this, UQ’s initiative represents a significant step toward addressing the growing impact of dementia on individuals, families, and communities.
Professor Tanya Buchanan, CEO of Dementia Australia, praised UQ for its leadership in this area. “This sets a high bar for other educational institutions striving to become dementia-friendly,” she said. “I commend UQ for its dedication to involving individuals with lived experience of dementia in the development of this initiative. People living with dementia have the right to belong, to be part of their communities, and to feel valued—and dementia-friendly organizations help make this possible.”
At the core of the UQ initiative is a research advisory group composed of individuals with lived experience of dementia, providing valuable insights into research projects aimed at improving dementia prevention and treatment.
The first phase of the initiative will focus on staff training, including education on the Dementia Language Guidelines. This will be followed by the co-design of a dementia-friendly roadmap and guide for universities, with UQ at the forefront of its implementation.
Professor Nadeeka Dissanayaka, Director of the UQ Dementia-Friendly Initiative, explained that this effort aligns with the university’s existing Age-Friendly University Initiative and its Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, further reinforcing UQ’s commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all.
UQ’s recognition as a Dementia-Friendly University sets a precedent for other educational institutions, offering a model for how universities can create welcoming, inclusive spaces for people living with dementia.
You Might Be Interested In:
-
Feeding Infants Diverse Foods Early May Cut Allergy Risk, Study Reveals
-
Omalizumab Outperforms Oral Immunotherapy in Treating Multi-Food Allergy
-
New Consensus Report Aims to Improve Anaphylaxis Treatment Worldwide
