By Yasmin Noone
Alzheimer’s Australia is on the hunt for 40 qualified individuals to become the faces of the new National Younger Onset Dementia Key Worker program, designed to give people living with younger onset dementia, their families and carers a primary point of contact.
The new positions, announced by the consumer peak organisation and the federal government late last week, will be helped along by $16.8 million of Commonwealth funding spread over more than three years.
The soon-to-be hired key worker staff will aim to help families of people with early onset dementia to develop strategies that will enhance their engagement with support and care options by providing direct services and linking them into relevant services.
Successful applicants will work with people with younger onset dementia using a person-centred approach, to help them access the care and support services they need.
“This new and innovative program will enable younger people with dementia to access better coordinated care and support,” CEO of Alzheimer’s Australia, Glenn Rees, said.
“Support will be individualised and person-centred, which will also help to improve the quality of life for people living with younger onset dementia, their families and carers.”
“They will also be an important point of contact during the roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, ensuring that people with younger onset dementia have access to the assistance they need.
“Alzheimer’s Australia is committed to working hard to ensure that many of the 24,000 people living with the condition will reap the benefits of this new program.”
The younger onset dementia key worker positions, advertised on AAA’s job site, are available in a number of metropolitan and regional areas across Australia in both full-time and part time capacities.
Minister for Ageing, Mark Butler, has thrown his weight behind the recruitment drive campaign, calling on “40 extraordinary Australians driven by a passion to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community,” to apply for the new positions.
“Many people with younger onset dementia and their families struggle to navigate a service system they hadn’t previously expected to need for decades,” Mr Butler said.
“This program will give people living with younger onset dementia, their families and carers a primary point of contact to help them find services like community based care and social support.”
The Younger Onset Dementia Key Worker Program is part of a $23.6 million investment by the Australian Government over five years to improve support for people with younger onset dementia.
There are about 24,400 people in Australia aged under 65 with younger onset dementia, out of a total 321,600 Australians of all ages estimated to be living with dementia.
About 1.2 million Australians are caring for someone with dementia.
Garry Lovell, a person living with younger onset dementia, said that the roll out of the program can not come fast enough.
“We often face very different challenges and have very different needs to those that develop dementia over the age of 65,” Mr Lovell said.
“I am hopeful that the Key Workers will provide some relief by helping us navigate our way through the health system.”
The younger onset dementia key worker positions are advertised on the organisation’s website. To view the positions, visit AAA’s job site. For more information, visit www.fightdementia.org.au.
The inaugral Younger onset dementia: a new horizon national summit, presented by Alzheimer’s Australia, will take place at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre tomorrow.
The event aims to bring consumers, service providers, policy makers and stakeholders from the aged care, disability and mental health sectors together to create solutions for improved access and choice for people with younger onset dementia.
Attendees will hear from people with younger onset dementia and their families, and a host of national and International speakers who are leading the way in best practice for younger onset service provision.
For more details, visit: www.fightdementia.org.au/whats-on/younger-onset-dementia-a-new-horizon—national-summit.aspx
