FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVESTS $3 MILLION IN DEMENTIA RESEARCH FOR FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES
BY ASAD KHAN
The Australian Government has announced a $3 million investment to improve dementia outcomes for First Nations people through a new international research initiative in partnership with Canada.
Australia–Canada Partnership Targets Indigenous Health Gaps
Funded through the 2024 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)–Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA): Indigenous Health Research grant opportunity, the joint initiative aims to address dementia in Indigenous communities across both nations.
Rates Three to Five Times Higher: Urgent Need for Better Data
The Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, Rebecca White, said the project would help address the alarmingly high rates of dementia among First Nations Australians, which are three to five times higher than the general population.
“We need to make sure we can better understand how we diagnose and treat people living with dementia,”
“This investment of $3 million will allow us to do further research so we can better understand the impact of dementia on First Nations people, particularly here in Australia.”
Three Priorities: Prevention, Diagnosis, and Culturally Safe Care
The joint Australian–Canadian research effort will focus on three key areas: prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, improving diagnosis and treatment, and increasing access to culturally safe care for First Nations people and their carers.
Sharing Knowledge Across Continents for Culturally Led Solutions
She emphasised the importance of drawing on international Indigenous knowledge systems to inform a culturally grounded and collaborative approach.
“There are First Nations communities in Canada who we are working alongside… to understand how we can have an Indigenous-led, culturally appropriate approach to research,” she said.
Dementia Crisis Looms as National Numbers Set to Double by 2054
Dementia Australia estimates that 433,300 Australians are currently living with dementia, with that number projected to rise to more than 800,000 by 2054. First Nations people are disproportionately affected, but little is known about the underlying causes of the disparity.
“We don't have a very good understanding of what's driving that, and hence the investment in this research,” she said.
“We know we need better data.”
Community-Led Research Key to Closing the Gap
The Assistant Minister also reaffirmed the government's commitment to working closely with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations to close the gap in health outcomes more broadly.
“We know that we have more to do… and that’s not just in dementia care,” she said.
“This research funding is vital for us to better understand what we can do in this particular area of healthcare.”
Support for Carers and Families Front of Mind in New Initiative
Asked how communities can get involved, she encouraged local First Nations people to connect with the research teams, who are expected to co-design the work with communities across Australia.
For families and carers currently supporting someone living with dementia, White acknowledged the burden and reiterated the government’s goal of delivering more culturally appropriate care.
“Dementia is a debilitating disease. It steals people’s identities and their lives,” she said.
“We’re making sure we’re doing all we can to understand the high rates of dementia for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
Next Steps: Fieldwork and Consultation to Begin This Year
The Australian research team receiving the grant is expected to begin consultations and fieldwork in the coming months.
Listen to the Ngaarda Media’s Lead Journalist, Asad Kha,n speak with Rebecca White: