Dementia is Australia's second-leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability among older Australians. Nearly 500,000 Australians live with dementia — a figure expected to double by 2054 as the population ages. Dementia has no cure, but research is advancing, and improved care, support, and dementia-friendly communities can profoundly improve quality of life. Grant funding supports research into causes and treatments, carer support, dementia-friendly community initiatives, and the services that enable people with dementia to live well.
Scale
Types of dementia
Why dementia is a public health crisis
National Dementia Action Plan
Australia's 10-year dementia strategy:
- Research investment
- Quality care standards
- Carer support
- Dementia-friendly communities
NHMRC
Research grants — dementia neuroscience, clinical trials, and prevention.
Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
Significant dementia investment — including clinical trials of new treatments.
Department of Health
Aged Care
Home Care Packages and residential aged care for people with dementia.
Dementia Australia
Peak national dementia organisation:
- National Dementia Helpline
- Support groups and programmes
- Research advocacy
- Education for carers and health workers
- Community education
Alzheimer's Australia (now Dementia Australia)
The rebranded organisation reflects the broader dementia spectrum.
NHMRC
Some philanthropic partnerships.
Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre (University of Tasmania)
Research and education — significant philanthropy.
Dementia Momentum Fund
Research philanthropy.
The Yulgilbar Alzheimer's Research Program
Australian Alzheimer's research philanthropy (Yulgilbar Foundation).
NeuRA (Neuroscience Research Australia)
Dementia and neurological research.
Research
Diagnosis and early detection
Carer support
Dementia-friendly communities
Aged care quality
Younger onset dementia
Dementia before 65 is a distinct challenge — working age, with young families:
- Younger onset specific support groups
- Employment support (many still working at diagnosis)
- Children's support (when a parent has young-onset dementia)
- Financial and legal planning
Dementia and First Nations people
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have higher dementia rates and earlier onset:
- Culturally appropriate dementia care
- Indigenous carers support
- Community-based dementia management
End-of-life care
Advanced dementia requires specialist palliative care:
- Advance care planning (before person loses capacity)
- Comfort-focused care
- Family support in final stages
Recent advances in dementia treatment represent genuine hope:
- Lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab: anti-amyloid antibody therapies showing slowing of Alzheimer's progression in early-stage disease
- Not yet approved in Australia (TGA review)
- Access equity will be a significant issue when approved (infusion treatments, expensive)
- The research is accelerating
The ageing tsunami
The demographic reality — doubling of dementia cases by 2054 — is the central argument. Investment now (in research, care infrastructure, carer support) is essential ahead of this wave.
Carer support urgency
Most dementia care is provided by unpaid family carers — 1.3 million unpaid carers for people with dementia. Carer support, respite, and education are among the most impactful investments.
Dementia-friendly communities
Dementia-friendly community initiatives are relatively low-cost, high-visibility, and demonstrably improve quality of life for people with dementia in the community.
Young-onset dementia
People diagnosed under 65 are severely underserved — they often don't fit aged care systems and have distinct needs (employment, family, financial). Applications targeting this population address a genuine gap.
Tahua's grants management platform supports dementia funders and aged care organisations — with research grant tracking, programme participant data, carer support outcome measurement, and the reporting tools that help dementia funders demonstrate their investment in better outcomes for Australia's growing dementia population.