Dementia Australia has awarded over $160,000 in grants to 17 community groups across Australia to support local communities to become more dementia-friendly.
The grants were awarded to project ideas that supported local communities, with a special focus this year on people living with young onset dementia and young carers.
Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said with an estimated 29,000 people in Australia living with young onset dementia, it is important we take action so that people of all ages living with dementia feel supported and included in their communities.
“We were pleased to receive more than 117 high-quality applications this year, and the 17 successful applicants demonstrated outstanding dedication to inclusive, supportive environments,” Professor Buchanan said.
“We look forward to seeing and celebrating their community impact over the coming months.”
Motion By the Ocean Inc in Western Australia was one of the 17 recipients, awarded a grant for their Storytelling Through the Generations program. Designed with people living with young onset dementia in mind, (whilst also being accessible to anyone living with dementia) the program takes people on trishaws along the Sorrento coastline where trained volunteers guide and share stories of local heritage and offer an opportunity for reminiscence.
Motion By the Ocean Inc CEO/Founder Alanagh Godderidge said with many locals having lived within the community for decades the coastline is the perfect prompt for memories.
“Sharing stories of our local history often stirs deep nostalgia and encourages the retelling of stories from years gone by,” Ms Godderidge said.
“We all want to be heard, and we all have a story to tell. This grant from Dementia Australia allows us at Motion by the Ocean Inc to sustain these storytelling sessions every week across the entire year. We are very grateful to be valued and supported in this way.”
The Merri-bek City Salvation Army (Brunswick) was awarded a grant for their project Familiar Ground: Creative Story Telling and Photographic Exhibition. The exhibition will celebrate people living with young onset dementia and their care partners in the Brunswick community through photography and associated story telling.
Merri-bek City Salvation Army (Brunswick) Community Engagement Coordinator Jason Simmonds said that with the grant they can capture and celebrate the strengths, stories and experiences of people living with dementia in their community.
“Through the Familiar Ground creative storytelling and photographic exhibition, we’ll create a safe, dignified, dementia-friendly space where voices are heard and shared; strengthening connection, belonging and hope,” Mr Simmonds said.
Dementia Australia’s Community Engagement Program has funded more than 100 grassroots projects since its establishment, bringing the total funding awarded since 2018 to more than $1.21 million.
For a complete list of recipients of the 2026 Community Engagement Grant Program, please see below.
