Dementia Australia has opened applications for a new round of Community Engagement grants for up to 12 dementia-friendly community initiatives.  

Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said community groups could apply for up to $10,000 for project ideas that supported their local community to become dementia-friendly.  

"For this year’s grants we have a special focus on people living with young onset dementia and young carers,” Professor Buchanan said. 

“We want to see projects that will engage them in the communities in which they live.  

“There are an estimated 29,000 people in Australia living with young onset dementia. This figure is expected to increase to an estimated 41,000 people by 2054. It is important we take action to ensure people living with dementia, no matter their age, feel included, respected and embraced by their communities.” 

Local community associations, businesses, organisations and groups are encouraged to apply to develop dementia-friendly communities projects that reflect the community need, create local partnerships and draw on in-kind contributions and existing resources.  

To date, Dementia Australia’s Community Engagement Program has funded more than 100 grassroots projects, bringing the total funding since 2018 to more than $1.16 million.  

Past grant recipient, Lisa Hendry from the Southern Yorke Peninsula Memory Lane Café, said anyone who has an idea to make their community more dementia-friendly should apply.  

“We initially piloted two Memory Lane Café sessions,” Ms Hendry said.  

“The program has since catered to over 300 participants across several towns, providing a rare and essential combination of social engagement, peer support, community connection, education and access to services,” she said.  

“It helps to reduce isolation and stress, it empowers communities with increased understanding , and we’ve had positive feedback on the effectiveness of the program. It is for this reason I encourage anyone else wanting to make their communities more dementia-friendly to apply.” 

Priority will be given to projects: 

• that directly support individuals with young onset dementia and/or younger carers 
• which meaningfully consult and collaborate with people impacted by dementia in the project design and delivery, bring together collaborative local partnerships and meet the needs of diverse communities 
• that work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse, and regional and remote communities. 

Applications close on 16 February 2026. Previously successful grant recipients of Dementia Australia’s Community Engagement Program are not eligible for a 2025/26 grant.  

For more information and to apply, visit dementia.org.au/get-involved/dementia-friendly-communities/community-engagement-program-grants.