Are you an Australian living with dementia? We’d like to hear from you
Guardian AU
•Tue, 18 Aug 2026 15:00:49 GMT
📰 What Happened
The Guardian is running a reader callout asking Australians living with dementia to share their experiences and what supports and awareness are needed, for a new series on the issue. It notes that dementia deaths more than doubled in Australia between 2009 and 2024, and that without significant intervention more than a million Australians will be living with dementia by 2065. An estimated 446,500 Australians are currently living with the condition.
🔍 The Backstory
Dementia is not a single illness but a group caused by more than 100 conditions, affecting anyone including children, though it is more common in those over 65. Ageing populations and improved screening only partly explain rising numbers. It is a major cause of disability and dependence in Australia.
🎯 Why It Matters
Dementia is one of the most urgent public-health issues in the country. Gathering direct lived experience informs journalism and awareness that can shape support services, public understanding and policy in the face of a projected surge in cases.
The Guardian is running a reader callout asking Australians living with dementia to share their experiences and what supports and awareness are needed, for a new series on the issue. It notes that dementia deaths more than doubled in Australia between 2009 and 2024, and that without significant intervention more than a million Australians will be living with dementia by 2065. An estimated 446,500 Australians are currently living with the condition.
Dementia is not a single illness but a group caused by more than 100 conditions, affecting anyone including children, though it is more common in those over 65. Ageing populations and improved screening only partly explain rising numbers. It is a major cause of disability and dependence in Australia.
Dementia is one of the most urgent public-health issues in the country. Gathering direct lived experience informs journalism and awareness that can shape support services, public understanding and policy in the face of a projected surge in cases.