Georgie Burgess
18 November 2025: The University of ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ has taken the next step in its world-leading work in dementia care, partnering with the (ADNeT) to help drive change in Australia’s dementia agenda and bring the latest innovation in diagnosis and treatment to people living with dementia and their loved ones.
ADNeT is one of the nation’s peak bodies for dementia research, diagnosis, treatment, and advocacy. Its initiatives include the establishment of Australia’s Clinical Quality Registry for dementia, which tracks, benchmarks, and reports on the clinical care of people with dementia.
They have also developed a consistent best practice guideline for Memory Clinics nationwide to diagnose and treat dementia, a disease which effects close to half a million Australians, with a further 1.7 million people involved in the care of someone living with the dementia.
Associate Professor Nathan D’Cunha from the University’s Centre for Ageing Research and Translation (CARAT) spearheaded the push to partner with ADNeT.
“Post diagnostic care is a particular focus for CARAT, so it makes sense that we now have a seat at the table in one of the biggest collaborative networks working to improve the clinical management of dementia in Australia.”
One of the University’s most impactful initiatives in post diagnostic care interventions is the Sustainable Personalised Interventions for Cognition, Care, and Engagement (SPICE) program – which has just entered its fourth year of operation.
The groundbreaking program has been successful in improving quality of life and providing strategies and support for care partners to enable people to be as independent as possible living at home.
The team at SPICE are now undertaking a new research project, with a focus on post diagnostic rehabilitation programs, and how these can be integrated into memory clinics after people receive a diagnosis, to ensure people with dementia have access to immediate support and education about dementia.
“We’ll be doing implementation research around this issue in partnership with the Uniting War Memorial Hospital in Sydney, who deliver the , which shares the same goals as SPICE. We will be looking at how the pair of programs can be implemented into new settings,” he said.
The partnership with ADNeT will bring the University closer together with 22 other tertiary and research institutions from across the country, who are all working to elevate and translate dementia research, and drive the creation of new treatments, prevention and diagnostic tools.
“A lot of us are connected regardless, but being under the ADNeT umbrella and working towards clear, strategic goals is something we are looking forward to being involved in,” Associate Professor D’Cunha said.
ADNeT’s Director, Professor Chris Rowe welcomed the University of ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ to the team, recognising the research strength the University brings.
“Connecting the University of ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ with ADNeT will catalyse collaboration across a truly national network of dementia researchers. Nathan and his SPICE program team are behind one of the world’s leading initiatives supporting patients after they’ve received a diagnosis of dementia,” he said.
“We look forward to further research partnerships to bring residents of the ACT the latest innovation in dementia prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care.”
Commenting on the impact of dementia as the number one killer of Australians, the University of ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥’s Vice-Chancellor and President, The Honourable Bill Shorten commended the University’s research predominantly focused on dementia care.
“Recent data indicates that half a million people are living with a dementia diagnosis, with the disease accounting for close to 10 per cent of deaths last year. We cannot underestimate the social, emotional and financial impact this has on the families, friends and the communities that support them.
"This further emphasises the need to push the boundaries of dementia research through collaborations and networks like ADNeT.”
The new partnership announcement comes on the eve of the sixth annual International Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Conference, which will be hosted in Australia for the very first time by Associate Professor D’Cunha and the team at CARAT on the University campus.
Allowing both the community and researchers to hear from experts in the field including Professor of Clinical Psychology of Ageing, Aimee Spector, who is being hosted by the University’s Distinguished Visiting Fellow program.
“Cognitive Simulation Therapy is an evidence-based treatment to help maintain cognition and prevent decline for people living with dementia. The conference will be an excellent opportunity for researchers, practitioners and health leaders alike to come together to learn more, we hope it will even help others build their own programmes” Associate Professor D’Cunha said.
“We’re already seeing a lot of momentum being led by UC in the CST space and this is only going to help contribute to growing the movement to make it accessible to people with dementia Australia-wide.”
In addition to this host of research activities, the team are still collecting responses for the 2025 Living with Dementia Survey – open to anyone who has received a dementia diagnosis, who can access the survey via the link: