Major new dementia centre in WA will focus on disease management and workforce training

The centre will work on the preventative, primary and chronic disease management needs of people living with dementia, as well as their mental health.

"This Federal Government funding will support the establishment of a new Dementia Centre of Excellence at Curtin, with a particular focus on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of Australia's number one cause of disability in people aged 65 and over," Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said.

"With more than 400,000 Australians living with dementia and 291,000 carers, the new Centre will aim to ensure better care by providing training opportunities for Curtin health sciences students to gain vital real world experience in caring for people living with dementia."

Professor Terry said the Centre would also provide targeted workforce training programs for community, hospital and residential care staff and implement important prevention initiatives through collaborative research.

"A key element of the new centre's design will be making it a dementia-friendly environment to support a range of activities for people living with dementia, as well as their carers and health professionals."

Planning for the new Dementia Centre of Excellence at the University's Bentley Campus, will start immediately.