In National Reconciliation Week: Be Brave Make Change, we wanted to reshare one of our episodes of ‘The Dementia Podcast’ from last year celebrating the history, culture and achievements of First Nations peoples.

Joining Colm in this episode, HammondCare CEO Mike Baird shares what reconciliation means to HammondCare and why it is important to embark on the journey of reconciliation, acknowledging their role in caring for all people, including First Nations people living with dementia, and the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan.

Colm then introduces an expert panel as they explore the care considerations for First Nations peoples with a particular focus on dementia care. Members of this panel include; Professor Dawn Bessarab, a Bard/Yindijibarndi woman, Director of the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health at the University of Western Australia, Stephanie Charlesworth, a Dementia Consultant from SA who has worked with First Nations communities and organisations in the NT, and Meghan Heatrick a Dementia Consultant who’s worked in greater Sydney, Alice Springs and other communities and is currently studying a master's in Indigenous Health.

Together this group, discusses the current environment of care of First Nations peoples, what quality of life and care means for First Nations peoples and how this can be different from the general Australian population.

DSA has free downloadable resources for use when caring for a First Nations person living with dementia. These resources have been co-designed in consultation with DSA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander expert review panel and champions group.

You can access here the ‘Good Sprit Good Life’ assessment tool developed by Dawn and the team at ‘Aboriginal Ageing Well Research’ as well as information on how to be involved in their research and further validation of this tool.

The 'Little Red Yellow Black Book' is a suggested resource by the panel as a guide to the rich cultures and histories of Australia’s First Peoples.

For all feedback please email hello@dementiacentre.com.au