$44 million to extend dementia training, education and support

The Australian Government will extend grant agreements for programs providing support, training and education for services and individuals caring for people living with dementia.
An extra $44 million will be provided to Dementia Training Australia and Dementia Support Australia to extend the following national programs from July 2021 to June 2022:

• Dementia Training Program (DTP)
• Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS)
• Severe Behaviour Response Teams (SBRT)
• Needs Based Assessment (NBA), which is a component of the Specialist Dementia Care Program.

Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, said the programs improved care for people living with dementia.
“The programs deliver support and advice – including clinical support, assessments, recommendations for care interventions, mentoring and capacity building – to family and informal carers, primary and acute care staff and aged care service providers,” Minister Colbeck said.
“They also provide accredited education, upskilling and professional development in dementia care for health and care workers, GPs, nurses and allied health professionals.”
Funding for these programs is available beyond the life of the extended grant agreements.
The final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety will inform how the programs will be delivered beyond 30 June 2022.
This extension follows other recent investments by the Australian Government with an additional $11.3 million provided for the DBMAS and SBRT programs in the 2020-21 Budget which built on an additional $10 million invested in DBMAS, SBRT and DTP in 2019-20.
Dementia is one of Australia’s biggest health challenges. It is estimated that there are between 400,000 and 459,000 Australians living with the disease today, and that number grows each year.
“These programs have delivered great outcomes and significant clinical improvements in recent years,” Minister Colbeck said.
“They have improved the quality of care delivered by thousands of health professionals and care workers to people living with dementia. Dementia Support Australia alone has delivered services to nearly 80 per cent of aged care homes across Australia since 2016.”