Funding to update guidelines for dementia care

In a bid to remodel best-practice principles for dementia care, the Albanese government will inject $1.3 million into the development of updated Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care for People with Dementia.

The project will be led by Monash University's National Centre for Healthy Ageing and bring together a team of local and international academics, dementia experts and key organisations such as Dementia Australia, to develop "comprehensive and valuable guidance in caring for people living with dementia."

In 2024 dementia represents the greatest burden of disease for older Australians and is the second leading burden of disease overall. 'Burden of disease' is a way to measure the loss of years of healthy life due to illness or injury and premature death.

Professor Terence O’Brien, Chair of Medicine and Acting Dean, SubFaculty of Translational Medicine and Public Health at Monash University and Program Director and Neurologist for the Alfred Brain Program, expressed his enthusiasm for heading up the project.

“Monash University is delighted to work closely with the Department on this important program of work over the next two years, and to recognise the impact this will have on improved care for people living with dementia.”

The current guidelines were published by the University of Melbourne's Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre in 2016 and have been an integral resource for carers and aged care workers working with people living with dementia.

The updated guidelines will continue to support general practitioners, allied health and aged care workers in their provision of consistent quality care - "now and into the future."

Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said it is the government's priority that the Australian healthcare system remains at the forefront of dementia care and this funding will ensure clinical practice guidelines stay current and effective, reflecting best practice principles and the latest medical evidence.

“We want our health professionals to have access to up-to-date and research-informed clinical guidelines so they can continue to provide the highest standard of care to Australians living with dementia," she said.

“Updating these clinical guidelines will help improve the quality and consistency of care for people living with dementia and improve outcomes so they can live well with dementia.”

The updated guidelines are expected in mid-2026. Visit the National Health and Medical Research Council website for current Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care for People with Dementia.

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