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Medical, Health & Aged Care

$300,000 awarded to promote dementia awareness in diverse communities

Dementia Australia

Dementia Australia has today announced the recipients of its 2026 Diversity Small Grant program with more than $300,000 going to 11 Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse community groups and organisation.

 

Each of the recipients were awarded up to $30,000 each to fund activities to build greater dementia awareness in their local communities

 

Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said it was exciting to see the incredible projects that will be funded through the program which is now in its third year.

 

“The standard of applications this year was extremely high,” Professor Buchanan said.

 

“Each of these groups or organisations have been selected because they are on the ground enmeshed in their communities. We look forward to seeing all the projects up and running and increasing dementia awareness in a way that is culturally sensitive and appropriate.”

 

Successful grant recipient Alice Springs based Tangentyere Aged & Community Services spokesperson Ben Poona said the grant would allow them to deliver the ‘Your Stories, Your Language, Your Way’ dementia awareness initiative.

 

“This initiative will communicate dementia information in ways that are accessible, meaningful and respectful of Aboriginal cultural knowledge and communication practices,” Mr Poona said.

 

“Co-designed using two-way learning approaches, the project celebrates the importance of our stories, our languages and our ways of knowing, empowering families and communities to recognise dementia, seek support and have informed conversations without fear or shame.

 

“At its heart, this project is about ensuring that Aboriginal people can understand dementia in their own language, through their own stories, and in ways that honour their culture, identity and lived experiences.”

 

Fellow grant recipient Illawarra Shoalhaven Tamil Mandram spokesperson, Dr Vani David, said the grant would enable them to deliver ‘Ninaivu Palam (Memory Bridge)’, a community-led dementia awareness initiative.

 

“The project aims to improve dementia knowledge, reduce stigma, and help Tamil and wider Indian communities access culturally appropriate information, support and services,” Dr David said.

 

The Diversity Small Grant program is a Dementia Australia initiative funded by the Australian Federal Government. 

 

The full list of recipients of the 2026 Diversity Small Grants program are:

 

Northern Territory

  • Tangentyere Aged & Community Services
  • Marngarr Resource Centre Aboriginal Corporation
  • Melaleuca Refugee Centre Torture and Trauma Survivor Services of the NT

 

Tasmania

  • Chinese Community Association of Tasmania

 

Queensland

  • Torres Strait Islanders Media Association

 

News South Wales

  • Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation
  • Illawarra Shoalhaven Tamil Mandram (IShTaM) Incorporated

 

Victoria

  • Lake Tyers Health and Children’s Service Association Inc.

 

Western Australia

  • Ngaarda Media Aboriginal Corporation

 

South Australia

  • Punya Foundation Inc.

 

Australian Capital Territory

  • SD Mission

 

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The Dementia Australia Research Foundation acknowledges the generosity of donors who support dementia research and the grants program. Since 2000, over $40 million in funding has supported more than 400 projects through the Dementia Grants Program.

Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education and services for the estimated more than 446,500 Australians living with dementia, and the more than 1.7 million people involved in their care. We advocate for positive change and support vital research. We are here to support people impacted by dementia, and to enable them to live as well as possible. No matter how you are impacted by dementia or who you are, we are here for you.

For support, please contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. An interpreter service is available. The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government. People looking for information can also visit dementia.org.au

Media contacts: Meida and Communications Advisor David Gear, 0435 515 221, [email protected]

When talking or writing about dementia please refer to Dementia-Friendly Language Guidelines.

Note to Editors:

We request, where possible, details for the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 appear alongside news stories about dementia, as these stories often prompt questions or concerns:

If this story has prompted any questions or concerns, please call the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 (24 hours, 7 days a week) or visit dementia.org.au.