Australia launches national dementia care standards guide

Dementia Training Australia has launched Australia's first free National Dementia Education and Training Standards Framework to improve outcomes for people with dementia.

This new framework was developed in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care, which identified significant gaps in dementia care training. The initiative is designed to ensure that aged-care services, healthcare workers, and first responders have access to high-quality, consistent training, regardless of their location, economic position or career stage.

The framework emerges as the new Aged Care Act is set to come into effect on 1 July 2025. Under the new act, care workers found negligent could face significant fines and penalties, increasing the demand for improved care and training for dementia patients.

The Standards Framework provides a structured approach for evaluating existing knowledge, identifying training gaps, and enhancing skills for anyone supporting a person living with dementia. It aims to set a consistent national standard, ensuring that individuals working with dementia patients have the necessary expertise to deliver informed care.

Described as a world first, the free framework addresses dementia training needs beyond the aged and healthcare workforce, extending to the broader community, including family members caring for dementia patients. Dementia Training Australia will engage with organisations to train them on these standards and ensure they are equipped to implement best practices.

Dr Isabelle Meyer, Executive Director of Dementia Training Australia, emphasised the critical importance of training for delivering quality care. "The Standards Framework articulates in clear detail the reason why training is critically important for the delivery of quality care and support," she stated.

She added, "Quality and consistency are key when it comes to training staff who care for people living with dementia. The Standards Framework not only sets clear expectations but also serves as a vital tool for recruiting the right people, maintaining high standards, and delivering quality dementia education and training."

Dr Meyer further highlighted the accessibility of the initiative, stating, "This initiative underscores our commitment to accessibility, offering comprehensive, high-quality training at no cost. It provides a benchmark for excellence, ensuring consistent standards for the best possible care."

The issue of service access in regional and remote areas was also addressed. Dr Meyer noted, "Access to services in regional and remote areas, where older people represent a larger proportion of the population, continues to pose a significant challenge. A standardised framework is a crucial step in ensuring a consistent approach to dementia care, so that someone in rural Queensland receives the same level of specialised care as a person in Sydney."

She described the initiative as a unique tool, saying, "This is a truly unique tool which will help anyone who comes into contact with people living with dementia. By mapping essential skills and knowledge required for quality dementia care, this critical self-assessment process will ultimately transform how we support people living with dementia, ensuring care that is both competent and compassionate."

The framework includes nationally standardised training, comprehensive user guides, and digital support tools like the Dementia Training Action Plan (DTAP), which allows for assessment and mapping of training progress.

Dementia Training Australia aims to make dementia care training accessible to all, ensuring that healthcare facilities and workers can provide the highest standard of care. The framework represents a significant step forward in enhancing dementia care on a national scale.