Dementia Friendly University Initiative

This initiative aligns with key objectives under the existing UQ Age Friendly University Initiative and UQ Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

UQ has partnered with Dementia Australia and dementia advocates to develop our approach following Dementia Australia’s Dementia Friendly Roadmap and Guide for Universities which were co-designed with UQ.

Dementia is a growing health and aged care concern in Australia with far reaching impacts. It is a World Health Organization priority and is the leading cause of disease burden in older Australians. With an increasing ageing population, in 30 years, the number of Australians with dementia will reach 1 million, while annual costs will double (>$36 billion).

Our Vision

Create change to include and support people living with and impacted by dementia.

Our Mission

Our core purpose is to ensure appropriate systems are in place at UQ to include and support people living with and impacted by dementia, leading excellence in teaching and learning, research, community engagement and partnerships.

UQ Dementia Friendly University Initiative Working Group

A working group of staff across UQ, dementia advocates, and Dementia Australia delegates are driving the UQ Dementia-Friendly University Initiative. The working group is informed and supported by the UQ Age Friendly University Steering Committee, UQ Disability Inclusion Group, and the UQ Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Management Committee, and receive on-going assistance with respect to resource materials from Dementia Australia.

Framework Development

Five principals within the Dementia Australia Action Framework guide were addressed to develop the UQ Dementia-Friendly University Initiative Action Framework.

1. Involve people living with dementia and their care partners and families in the development of this action plan in a way that respects and values their contributions.
2. Make a commitment to foster sustainable, transparent, and accountable actions to improve the lives of people living with dementia and their care partners based on shared knowledge and experiences.
3. Raise awareness about dementia to reduce the stigma and discrimination impacting people living with dementia.
4. Provide a welcoming, socially inclusive, and socially engaging environment for people living with dementia and their care partners.
5. Create an accessible and safe physical environment that supports the independence and well-being of people living with dementia, considering their specific needs and challenges.

Anticipated outcomes of the UQ Dementia-Friendly University Initiative

• A living UQ guide for a dementia inclusive organisation, as part of the Age Friendly University initiative, ensuring continuity.
• Strategic implementation of principals of Dementia-Friendly organisations to support people living with dementia, their families and care supporters engaged with UQ, their professional development when involving in research activities and support UQ staff and students impacted by dementia (e.g., making Dementia Friendly Language Guidelines available to UQ organisational units).
• Staff training and appropriate environmental changes (e.g., continuing the on-going Dementia Friends training program begun by the Age Friendly University Initiative; making the Dementia-Friendly Environments guide available to Property & Facilities staff).
• Upskilling the next generation of appropriate workforce (e.g. medicine, allied health, information technology, design, architecture and engineering) by incorporating specific dementia training modules into teaching programs (with assistance from Dementia Australia’s resource library).

We look forward to enacting our plan, in cooperation with our consumer and community groups.

You can also be involved in this important initiative by becoming a Dementia Friend through online training at Dementia Australia.

Contact us:

Prof Nadeeka Dissanayaka

Director, UQ Dementia-Friendly University Initiative

Email: dfui@uq.edu.au