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Dementia

I am having memory problems

Early diagnosis is important. It can help you and your carer to understand what is happening and why, and to get the support and services you need.

If you are concerned about yourself or someone you know experiencing symptoms of memory loss or confusion it is important to have a conversation with your GP. They may organise some tests and you may be referred to specialists such as a geriatrician, psychogeriatrician or neurologist for further assessment and diagnosis.

dementia choices poster may 2025

 

Dementia Apps

  • Forward with Dementiapractical information and tools for healthcare professionals and patients
  • My Dementia Companion practical dementia tool to guide professionals and carers through the dementia journey

Facing Dementia together patient resource to learn about the signs, recognise them in yourself or others, and start a conversation about visiting a GP to get help.

Dementia support and carer support

Dementia Australia Services

  • National Dementia Helpline – Free 24 hour telephone service providing information and advice to people with dementia and their friends and family and health and aged care workers. They can also connect to Dementia Australia and community support services and program and discuss government support, including My Aged Care, NDIS, Carer Gateway and DBMAS.
    Phone 1800 100500.Webchat: dementia.org.au/helpline/webchat. Operating hours Mon – Fri 8am-8pm.
  • Post diagnostic support program: 6 sessions over 12 months to enhance understanding, plan support and plan and prepare for changes
  • Individual and family based Counselling support – face to face, on the phone or via videoconferencing
  • Living with Dementia group program – Interactive program provides an overview of dementia and how to proceed after a diagnosis. It covers coping with change, relationships, and communication, planning for the future, and staying healthy.
  • Library of resources including factsheets, books, ebooks and video content
  • Nightingale Program – offered free of charge, this is a specialist nurse-led support and palliative care service promoting choice, wellbeing and forward planning for people living with dementia

Local Support Services

Supporting Carers

 

How do I reduce my risk?

          Dementia Australia: Reduce your risk

          Dementia Australia: Healthy Brain, Healthy Life Booklet

          SNHN Risk Reduction Factsheet 

 

Local Dementia-friendly Councils and Communities

Dementia-friendly cafes and support groups promote social inclusivity for those living with dementia, as well as their friends, relatives and carers. Those who live with dementia can often feel isolated and lonely so these spaces have been created to encourage people with shared experiences to meet.

Get in touch with your council or local Dementia Alliance to access a number of local resources for older people and those living with dementia and their carers.

Become a Dementia Friend

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Jacqui Emery

Jacqui is a passionate advocate for equity in healthcare and an accomplished leader with over 20 years of experience across the not-for-profit, corporate, and media sectors.

Most recently, she served as CEO of Royal Far West, where she championed access to developmental, mental health, and allied health services for children in rural and remote communities. Her work has driven early intervention, education, and advocacy initiatives that have influenced policy and funding outcomes nationwide.

Jacqui’s deep commitment to creating opportunities for those who need them most aligns perfectly with SNHN’s vision:continuing to work collaboratively to help our community live their best health.

Ramon del Carmen

Ramon is a senior organisational leader with extensive experience in highly competitive and heavily regulated environments including banking and telecommunications as well as the not-for-profit health sector with over 12 years of CEO experience and 9 years of CFO experience. He combines innovation and strategic thinking with strong leadership to deliver results in challenging environments that are undergoing significant and time-critical change.

Ramon is currently a non-executive director and Treasurer of Bobby Goldsmith Foundation and held previous non-executive director positions with Your Side Australia and Primary and Community Care Services (PCCS).

Ramon has a Bachelor of Economics from The University of Sydney, an MBA and MA (Business Research) from Macquarie Graduate School of Management. He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountant Australia and New Zealand, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Eugene McGarrell

Eugene has more than 45 years of experience in the health, social and wellbeing sectors across the UK and Australia, with roles in clinical, community development, management, and executive leadership. As CEO of Healthy Australia, he led initiatives like Safe, feedAustralia, and Thriving Together, which promoted children’s health and learning. He introduced innovative approaches in workers’ compensation, such as social prescribing, to prevent injuries and aid recovery.

A systems thinker, Eugene advocates for challenging convention and disrupting the status quo to address complex social problems. His career began as a mental health nurse, and he has worked across government and social services to tackle issues facing vulnerable communities. Notably, in 1998, he co-led a project in Kingston that reduced suicide rates by 40%.

Eugene co-designed The Collective NSW in 2013, bringing together community, government, and business to break the cycle of disadvantage, leading to successful initiatives like the Greenway Wellbeing Centre and SILC. He is dedicated to empowering communities to design their own solutions and improve health, social, and economic outcomes.

He holds a PG Dip in Care Policy and Management from London Guildhall University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sara Warburton

Sara is a skilled strategic leader with a wealth of experience in customer-centric leadership roles within the health and care sector. Her extensive career spans senior positions in business development, strategy, marketing communications, service innovation, and operational excellence across both the UK and Australia.

Sara has demonstrated her expertise in both for-profit and non-profit sectors, as well as within government contracts, where she has successfully driven organisational transformation programs and enhanced access and experience for patients and communities. Her dedication to excellence is further demonstrated by her volunteer roles, including serving as a Strategic Advisor to Frontline Yoga and most recently as Chief-of-Staff for a mental health startup.

Sara holds a Bachelor’s degree (Hons) in Business Management from Oxford Brookes University and has completed the MBA Essentials Course at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Additionally, she participated in the development of the McKinsey Not-For-Profit Executive Leadership Program and has informally studied behavioural economics and technology in healthcare.

Deb Pallavicini

Deborah’s general management responsibilities include teams working with and supporting primary healthcare providers across our region, including General Practitioners and Allied Health Professionals. Her strategic approach to role responsibilities provides solid direction for those teams engaged in quality improvement, chronic disease management, digital health, emergency response, improved service integration, corporate communications, and marketing. Deborah is also responsible for directing the Clinical Engagement team, ensuring our professional members’ capabilities are continually enhanced for delivering the right care to our local community at the right time and place.

With over 12 years of experience working as a Practice Manager in medium to large General Practices, Deborah has also worked with the Improvement Foundation (IF), taking part in the Australian Primary Care Collaboratives on two occasions. The experience she gained over this period has translated into a strong and practical understanding of the Primary Care environment and the importance of Quality Improvement for enhancing patient outcomes.

Deborah’s experience at SNHN is inclusive of involvement in the development and rollout of quality improvement programs inclusive of dementia management in general practice and broader chronic disease management programs; the COVID-19 response across the region’s primary care providers inclusive of RACFs, coupled with the later rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Deborah holds a Master’s in Health Management focusing on Quality and Safety in Healthcare and a Graduate Certificate in Health Science.