Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Polley, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) there are more than 436,000 Australians living with dementia, with around 244 diagnosed with dementia each day,

  (ii) without a medical breakthrough, the number of people living with dementia is projected to increase to 590,000 in just 10 years and almost 1 million by 2058, and

  (iii) dementia is the leading cause of death for Australian women, and within the next five years will be the leading cause of death for all Australians;

(b) acknowledges:

  (i) the estimated 1.5 million Australians involved in the care of someone living with dementia who are often unrecognised or acknowledged for their tireless work,

  (ii) that people living with dementia, their families and carers are significantly lonelier than the general public, and

  (iii) that while Christmas represents joy and happiness for many of us, it can also be a very lonely, confusing and stressful time for those living with dementia and their carers; and

(c) urges all levels of Government:

  (i) to remind those in their community to be mindful and patient if working in retail or other services, and

  (ii) to continue raising awareness of dementia so that people living with dementia and their families are better supported and included in their communities.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government is committed to improving the lives of people living with dementia, their families and carers. The Australian government provides in excess of $50 million every year for dementia-specific programs. Providers of dementia programs and support undertake deliberate outreach activities to regional and remote areas. In the 2018 budget a further $5.3 million has been committed to pilot innovative technologies to improve care for people living with dementia. In addition, specialist dementia care units will be established in each of the 31 primary health network regions by 2022-23. The Australian government is committed to 200,000 million over five years to 2019 to boost Australia's research into the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of dementia.

Question agreed to.