Australia releases national action plan for dementia

The Australian government has released a historic document, the National Dementia Action Plan 2024-2034, marking commitment to the country being more dementia inclusive.
 
The Plan outlines eight high-level actions for implementation over the next decade. The focus is on increasing dementia awareness, reducing the population’s risk of dementia, and driving better coordinated dementia services.
 
Progress against the Plan will be tracked and reported annually through an online dashboard developed by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
 
The Plan was developed in partnership with state and territory governments and informed by people living with dementia, their carers and families, aged care providers and workers, advocates, health professionals, researchers and peak industry bodies and organisations.

The Albanese Government has already made significant investments to improve dementia care. The 2024/25 Budget invested $101.4 million in better care for people with complex care needs as well as readying the health system for new diagnosis and treatment advances.
 
The government is providing $7.7 million in 2025-26 to boost dementia training, following the Royal Commission’s recommendations and we are directing $1.7 million in 2025-26 to the Australian Dementia Network to continue preparing the healthcare system for new developments in the diagnosis and treatment of dementia.
 
As part of the government’s commitment to Strengthening Medicare, $56.8 million has been allocated to support older patients with dementia to transition out of hospital into aged care. The government has also invested an additional $8 million to expand the delivery of innovative respite programmes.