- Culturally and linguistically diverse West Australians with dementia to benefit from a new project developed by Alzheimer's Australia WA
- The State Government has provided a $24,000 discretionary grant
A new dementia project designed to help the State's diverse communities - the first of its kind in Western Australia - has been launched by the Liberal National Government today.
The Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Dementia Friendly Project, supported with a $24,000 grant from the Office of Multicultural Interests, will raise awareness and understanding of dementia among culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities.
The project will equip service providers with culturally appropriate information to develop the knowledge and skills of support staff and carers, in working with CaLD communities.
Speaking at the launch of the project, Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Mike Nahan said people affected by dementia from CaLD backgrounds needed a different kind of support.
"Dementia is a key issue and concern for the whole WA community, as it is the second leading cause of death in Australia and there is no cure," Dr Nahan said.
"For CaLD communities, it can be even more challenging due to cultural and linguistic barriers, a lack of information in appropriate languages, and difficulty in gaining the appropriate support.
"There is often a cultural stigma attached to dementia which can lead to denial of the condition or a delayed diagnosis, often leading to poor health outcomes.
"This project sets a clear path towards better support for CaLD people with dementia and assists their carers to facilitate access to vital resources."
The project builds on the Dementia CaLD Link Project, launched in March 2015, to build capacity within multicultural communities and organisations by engaging key individuals as dementia link co-ordinators to enhance their awareness and knowledge about dementia.
Fact File
- There are more than 353,800 Australians and 33,300 West Australians living with dementia
- Research shows that 12.4 per cent of Australians with dementia do not speak English at home. In WA, that proportion is estimated at 11.5 per cent and one in nine West Australians are from CaLD backgrounds
- This project complements the State Government's recent contribution of $451,782 to provide a new set of guidelines to create dementia-friendly communities in WA
Minister's office - 6552 5700
