The Department of Health Ageing consulted on the 10-year draft National Dementia Action Plan. LHA supports the Plan’s aim of putting people living with dementia, their families, and carers at the centre of all action on dementia.

In its submission, LHA called for:

• The explicit recognise the need for cultural safety for LGBTIQ+ people, given the history and ongoing experiences of exclusion and discrimination. This includes profound discrimination, harassment and violence, having lived through an era of criminalisation and a lack of recognition of LGBTI rights. These experiences, particularly trauma and medical violence, can significantly impact a person’s behaviour if they develop dementia.
• the special needs of LGBTI people – along with other priority populations – being specifically addressed under each of the 7 Objectives. This would provide a clearer mechanism for how the Plan is envisaged to address the particular needs of priority populations.
• for adequate funding and remuneration for LGBTIQ+ community-controlled organisations, so that they can contribute to discussions about the strategic framework, as well as support engagement with the Plan and its implementation, including directly with individual aged-care and dementia services.

The consultation on the draft National Dementia Action Plan closed on 31 January 2023.

For further information: National Dementia Action Plan consultation | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Download Submission