Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Dementia Australia will hold their Parliamentary Friends of Dementia event tomorrow, 2 September, and I urge all members to attend and hear firsthand from people living with dementia. Dementia is a public health, disability and aged-care challenge facing Australia. This issue matters to Mayo. I have the oldest electorate by median age in South Australia. Dementia is already the leading cause of death for Australian women and will soon become the leading cause for all Australians. There are around 433,000 Australians living with dementia today, and around 1,500 children and many families and carers are affected. The figure is expected to double over the next 30 years in the absence of significant intervention and medical breakthroughs.

Dementia can be prevented. Evidence suggests that around 14 modifiable risk factors throughout life could prevent or delay up to 45 per cent of dementia cases. Dementia Australia is advocating for support in a number of ways. We need to lead a national conversation in this place on dementia to raise awareness and promote brain health for all Australians; establish a team of Dementia Australia specialist navigators to improve service, support and access; and, finally, build the capability of the workforce to provide care and support for people living with dementia. We can't afford to wait. This 48th Parliament must be the one to commit to taking action on dementia.