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overview
Returning for the 17th year, the National Dementia Conference 2026 will continue to bring together many leading experts, people with lived experiences, carers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers to share insights and shape the future of dementia care, diagnosis and treatment.
Like the previous years, this event will continue to provide a unique opportunity to discuss best-practice strategies, challenges and initiatives for improving quality person-centered care for people living with dementia and their carers.
The event is a platform to exchange information, share knowledge, create relationships, and develop a common commitment to improve the lives of people living with dementia and their carers.
KEY TOPICS INCLUDE
- Latest Emerging Trends in Dementia Research
- Dementia Diagnosis and Early Intervention Strategies
- Innovations in Dementia Care and Support
- Person-Centered Approaches in Dementia Care
- Building Dementia-Friendly Communities
- Assistive Devices and Digital Solutions
- Dementia Caregiver Support and Resilience
- Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Interventions in Dementia
- Addressing Depression, Anxiety, and Behavioral Symptoms
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Dementia Care and Decision-Making
- Cultural and Diversity Perspectives in Dementia Care
- Nutrition and Lifestyle Interventions for Dementia Prevention and Management
- Managing Multiple Health Conditions
- Dementia in Indigenous Communities
- Policy and Advocacy for Dementia Awareness and Support
- Community Engagement and Education Initiatives
- How to Integrate Palliative Care with Dementia Care
Co-located with:
💡 Aged Care Reform Forum
One pass gives you access to two conferences!
You will have the flexibility to pick and choose your preferred sessions and tailor your experience to your needs. You’ll also have access to shared networking opportunities and the exhibition space, allowing you to connect with professionals from both the dementia and aged care sectors.
2026 Speakers
Sarah Yeates
Chief Executive Officer, Caladenia Dementia Care
Dr Desmond Graham
Chief Medical Officer, Geriatrician, Geriatric Care Australia
Jenny Puxley
Diversional Therapist, SereneCare
Dee-Anne Hull
Dementia Support Pharmacist, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
Nicola Sander
Dementia Support Pharmacist, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
Ben Gatehouse
Dementia Clinical Nurse Consultant, Mercy Health
Brenda McAuley‑Hines
Team Leader Advocacy, Elder Rights Australia
Dr Kathleen Doherty
Senior Lecturer, Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania
Cathy Roth OAM
National Chairman, PALZ – Professionals with Alzheimer’s & related diseases
Pricing
Aged Care Reform Forum
New in 2025 – Aged Care Reform Forum
Running concurrently with the National Dementia Conference at the Crown Promenade in Melbourne, the Aged Care Reform Forum will provide an opportunity for discussion, sharing of best practice and networking between stakeholders.
Topics to be Addressed Include:
- Workforce: recruitment and care minute requirements
- Transition of timeframes and overcoming strain
- Government funding and capabilities
- Organisational funding and priorities within
- The reform journey
- Case studies
- Support for smaller, medium, and larger providers
- Rural, regional, and remote providers
- Innovative ways to overcome increasing costs for delivering services
- Money, margins, and growth areas
- Investing in technology
- Sustainability and quality of care
Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
There are many opportunities for networking including social events such as networking drinks, refreshment breaks and lunches, making this not just a conference… but an all-encompassing industry “experience”.
Event sponsorship or exhibiting will allow your organisation to:
- Build relationships with potential and existing clients
- Generate leads from a high-level, targeted audience
- Close sales in a more personal manner than via phone
- Demonstrate your product in person
- Network with the industry
- Build brand awareness
To see what is on offer please contact:
Lily Doherty
Sponsorship Manager
E: [email protected]
T: +61 (2) 9080 4340
2025 Testimonials
“This was a great opportunity for experts, professionals, and people with lived experience to come together. There were many learnings and innovative ideas to bridge gaps in dementia care. I highly recommend attending this conference to anyone passionate in this space.”
2025 Delegate
“The National Dementia & Aged Care Reform 2025 conference in Melbourne was avital event. It connected like-minded individuals dedicated to delivering excellence in aged care and driving crucial reforms.”
2025 Delegate
“My colleague and I enjoyed having the opportunity to listen to quality speakers as well as access to an excellent trade display. We have returned to our facility confident in what we are doing but with new ideas and resources in mind for continuous improvement opportunities.”
2025 Sponsor
Insights
How to manage Down syndrome and dementia
People with Down syndrome are living longer, healthier lives. Since the 1940s, life expectancy for people with this chromosomal condition has increased fivefold from just 12 to 60 years; and today, babies born with Down syndrome may live up to 80. Read more >>
Why Australia needs dementia friendly ambulances
Transport by ambulance can be a distressing experience for people with dementia. Noisy, enclosed, and unfamiliar, the environment can exacerbate symptoms, destabilise a person’s psychological health and, in severe cases, cause delirium. Read more >>
Beyond the amyloid hypothesis – how small molecules are giving hope to Alzheimer’s research
Ever since it was discovered in 1906, scientists have been rushing to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease – a form of dementia that affects 1 in 10 Australians aged over 65. Read more >>
How to manage incontinence in dementia
Incontinence is one of the most common health complaints among people living with dementia, affecting around one third of sufferers.
Read more >>
Thriving with dementia – how this man reinvented himself after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis
Read more >>
How to better care for people living with dementia
Read more >>
Should you keep someone living with Dementia in an aged care facility during a pandemic?
Read more >>
Australian Journal of Dementia Care complimentary issue for delegates
Read more >>
Craig Gear OAM: “The New Human Rights-Based Aged Care Act Will Form the Bedrock of Change.”
The aged care sector is built for older people, so it should proactively take its direction from them. As my fellow panel members continue to tell me: “Nothing about us…without us!” Read more >>
The more we talk about the importance of quality aged care, the better
Read more >>
Co-design and person-centred care keep me, as a clinician researcher, accountable to those I am to serve
Read more >>
2020 Dementia Learning Guide
Read more >>
What does dementia feel like?
In Australia 342,000 people are living with Dementia – a pervasive collection of symptoms including memory loss, confusion and apathy. Read more >>
A new therapeutic for Alzheimer’s is imminent – what is it and what will it mean?
An ageing population could see global cases of dementia and its major form Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) almost double every twenty years. Read more >>
Event Highlights
ConnectMe + Streamly
ConnectMe • Networking enhanced
All of our events utilise a bespoke dynamic smartphone app, ConnectMe – which guarantees attendees a premium event experience. Logins are sent prior to the conference commencement allowing you to check who’s attending, schedule in meetings and catch ups, participate in live Q+A and interactive polls, and much more. ConnectMe ensures you never miss a beat prior, during and post event.
Streamly • On-Demand video vault
Streamly is a new video platform from Informa Connect – hosting hours of session recordings from our events and more. Select the Streamly add-on at the checkout to receive year round access to exclusive On-Demand session recordings from all of our related healthcare events*. Login information will be sent post event. For more information visit our Streamly page.
* Note: In a minority of cases, speakers may request their sessions to be excluded from Streamly access.
Event Code of Conduct
We want everyone who comes to our events to have a great experience. This code explains our expectations and rules, which includes general good practice behaviour, and how to report anything witnessed or experienced that goes against them. Read our Event Code of Conduct here.
Sustainability
Our Commitment to Sustainability
In Australia, we are committed to running our events in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Across Informa Connect we are focusing on the short and long-term sustainability impacts we have on customers and colleagues alongside the communities we work in.
We recognise that it’s not just about the way we produce our events and products but recognising that we have a role to play in providing a space to work in partnership together with our markets to inspire the sustainable development of the industries we serve.
To read more on our latest sustainability reports and Faster Forward initiatives – click here.
when & where
28 - 29 Apr 2026
Crown Conference Centre Melbourne
Crown Promenade, Crown Melbourne,
8 Whiteman Street, Southbank VIC 3006
contact
Still have a question?
General Information & Registration
Customer Service
+61 2 9080 4307
[email protected]
Speaking Enquiries
Irene Amo
Senior Conference Producer
+61 415038730
[email protected]
Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
Lily Doherty
Sponsorship Manager
+61 2 9080 4340
[email protected]
Marketing & Media Enquiries
Libbie Sinclair
Marketing Manager
[email protected]