Help Shape a World-First Dementia-Friendly Eyecare Pathway
Up to 1 in 3 people living with dementia may have undetected sight loss. Australian researchers at Monash University's National Centre for Healthy Ageing are creating the first dementia-friendly eyecare pathway for residential aged care — and want input from family carers, aged care workers, health professionals, and anyone with a connection to dementia. Anyone in Australia can take part.
Learn More & Get InvolvedFunded by the Dementia Australia Research Foundation, through Professor Henry Brodaty AO's Mid-Career Research Fellowship — led by Dr Marianne Coleman, National Centre for Healthy Ageing (Monash University)
Cassandra's Compass
Australian Dementia Research Hub
Clinical trials, key researchers, institutions, funding, journals, and global breakthroughs — one trusted source for Australian dementia research.
Overview of Australian Dementia Research
Australia is a global leader in dementia research, aged care innovation, and translational neuroscience. From the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre at the University of Tasmania — which has enrolled over 750,000 people worldwide through its free MOOCs (Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, 2025) — to the Florey Institute's groundbreaking work on amyloid and tau pathology, Australian researchers are at the forefront of prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care. The Australian Government's National Dementia Strategy 2024–2028 establishes priority research areas including early diagnosis biomarkers, lived experience research, First Nations dementia, care workforce training, and post-diagnostic support. This is funded through the NHMRC and the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). Cassandra's Compass centralises this landscape in one trusted hub — connecting carers, families, students, and professionals to clinical trials, research institutions, funding bodies, peer-reviewed journals, and opportunities to get involved.
421,000+
Australians living with dementia
AIHW (2024)
812,500
Projected by 2058
AIHW (2024)
14
Modifiable risk factors
Lancet Commission (2024)
~45%
Dementia cases preventable
Lancet Commission (2024)
Clinical Trials & Participation Opportunities
Clinical trials and research studies are the engine of medical progress. Participation is always voluntary — you can withdraw at any time. All reputable trials operate under ethical approval and provide full informed consent.
Key Researchers & Scholars
Prominent Australian researchers leading dementia prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care — across neuroscience, primary care, aged care, and First Nations health.
Succeeds founding Director Distinguished Professor James Vickers, who retired December 2025. Professor King leads the Centre's dementia research, education, and MOOC programs (750,000+ global enrolments; Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, 2025). Research interests include neurodegeneration and dementia education translation.
Metal-based neurobiology, amyloid and tau pathology, and drug development for Alzheimer's disease. Leading Australian researcher in neurodegeneration therapeutics.
Dementia risk reduction, cognitive ageing, and the FINGER-Australia prevention trial. Contributing author to the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention (2020, 2024).
Prof. Elizabeth Beattie
Director, Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration
Queensland University of Technology
Dementia care in residential aged care, wandering, and person-centred interventions. Leading the DCRC's national research collaboration network.
Dementia in primary care, early diagnosis, and GP management. Lead researcher on dementia screening and referral pathways in Australian general practice.
Dementia care models, relational care, and quality of life in residential aged care. Contributor to Australian dementia care guidelines.
Brain imaging (PET amyloid/tau), early Alzheimer's diagnosis, and biomarker development. Principal investigator of AIBL study neuroimaging.
Celebrate the People
Leaders, honours and frontline champions shaping dementia care and aged care across Australia — with links to their official organisations.
Professor Tanya Buchanan
Chief Executive Officer, Dementia Australia
Sector leaderAndrew Thorburn
Chief Executive Officer, HammondCare
Sector leaderDr Anna Barker
Executive General Manager, Hammond Innovations, HammondCare
Innovation leadProfessor Ralph Martins AO
Director of Research, Alzheimer's Research Australia
Research directorProfessor Henry Brodaty AO
2026 Senior Australian of the Year — dementia research & advocacy
2026 Senior Australian of the YearMeet more everyday heroes
Ageing Australia's "You are ACE! Awards" celebrate frontline aged care workers across the country. Award winners change each year — visit the program page to meet the latest nominees and winners recognised for compassionate, everyday care.
Australian Research Hubs & Institutions
UTAS Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre
Key InstitutionUniversity of Tasmania, Hobart
Dementia research, education, and translation into practice. Leads Australia's only dementia-specific research and education centre.
Active Research & Projects
- →Understanding Dementia MOOC — free online course, 750,000+ enrolments globally (Wicking Centre, 2025)
- →Preventing Dementia MOOC — evidence-based dementia prevention strategies
- →ISLAND project — dementia risk reduction in older Tasmanians
- →Dementia education programs for aged care workers and families
NHMRC National Health and Medical Research Council
Key InstitutionAustralian Government — National
Australia's peak body for health and medical research funding, including dementia and aged care.
Active Research & Projects
- →Dementia Research Funding — priority area since 2014
- →National Dementia Research Action Plan
- →Funding for clinical trials and translational research in aged care
Dementia Australia Research Foundation (DARF)
Key InstitutionNational — Dementia Australia
Funds Australian dementia researchers and supports knowledge translation into care practice.
Active Research & Projects
- →Annual grants to Australian dementia researchers
- →Dementia Researcher Network — connecting Australian researchers
- →Consumer involvement in research — lived experience embedded in research design
Caring Futures Institute — Flinders University
Key InstitutionAdelaide, South Australia
Australia's only dedicated aged care research institute — workforce, quality, and innovation in aged care.
Active Research & Projects
- →Aged care workforce research — staffing models and wellbeing
- →Quality and safety in residential aged care
- →Person-centred care models and implementation science
- →End-of-life care in aged care settings
AIBL — Australian Imaging Biomarker and Lifestyle Study
Key InstitutionMelbourne, Victoria (Florey Institute, CSIRO, Austin Health)
One of Australia's largest longitudinal studies on ageing and Alzheimer's disease — tracking biomarkers and lifestyle factors over 15+ years.
Active Research & Projects
- →Brain amyloid imaging in preclinical Alzheimer's
- →Role of lifestyle factors (diet, exercise, sleep) in dementia prevention
- →Biomarker discovery for early Alzheimer's detection
UNSW Ageing Futures Institute
Sydney, New South Wales
Interdisciplinary research on ageing — policy, ethics, wellbeing, and workforce.
Active Research & Projects
- →Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety — research evidence
- →Ethical dimensions of dementia care
- →Ageing workforce policy in Australia
Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
Melbourne, Victoria
World-class neuroscience research including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and stroke.
Active Research & Projects
- →Alzheimer's disease — amyloid and tau pathology research
- →Parkinson's disease and related dementias
- →Neuroprotective strategies and drug development
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Brisbane, Queensland
Genetics of dementia and Alzheimer's disease — large-scale genome-wide association studies.
Active Research & Projects
- →Genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease
- →GWAS — genome-wide association studies in dementia
- →Biomarker and epidemiological studies in ageing
Monash University Aged Care Research
Melbourne, Victoria
Medication safety, prescribing in aged care, polypharmacy, and deprescribing.
Active Research & Projects
- →STOPP/START criteria implementation in Australian aged care
- →Deprescribing in older adults — polypharmacy management
- →Quality use of medicines in residential aged care
Fundraising, Grants & Support
Dementia Australia Research Foundation
DonateAustralia's largest non-government funder of dementia research. Donate to support early-career researchers pursuing breakthroughs in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care. Every dollar stays in Australia.
Visit →Alzheimer's Research Australia
DonateDonate to support Professor Ralph Martins AO and the Alzheimer's Research Australia team in preventing, diagnosing, and treating Alzheimer's disease — an Australian foundation dedicated to finding a cure.
Visit →NHMRC — Dementia Research Grants
GrantsAustralia's peak health research funding body. Information on open grant rounds, including the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) dementia priorities.
Visit →Alzheimer's Association — International Research Grants
International grantsThe Alzheimer's Association funds international research grants including Australian researchers. Apply for the next grant round.
Visit →Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
Government fundingThe Australian Government's $20 billion fund for medical research, including dementia and aged care research priorities.
Visit →Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration (DCRC) — Grants
Early-career grantsNational network offering seeding grants and research collaboration support for early-career dementia researchers.
Visit →Cassandra' Compass — Support Our Mission
Support CCSupport Cassandra' Compass through subscriptions and donations. Your contribution helps maintain free educational resources for Australian carers and professionals.
Learn more →Government-funded dementia programs — workforce training (DREAM), 24/7 behavioural support (DBMAS), and palliative care training (The Advance Project) — are listed in the Australian Government Dementia & Aged Care Programs Directory.
Related resources
References (APA 7th ed.)
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Dementia in Australia. AIHW. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dementia/dementia-in-australia
Department of Health and Aged Care. (2024). National Dementia Strategy 2024–2028. Australian Government. https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-dementia-strategy
Livingston, G., Huntley, J., Liu, K. Y., Costafreda, S. G., Selbæk, G., Alladi, S., et al. (2024). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. The Lancet, 404(10452), 572–628. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01296-0
Sims, J. R., Zimmer, J. A., Evans, C. D., Lu, M., Ardayfio, P., Sparks, J., et al. (2023). Donanemab in early symptomatic Alzheimer disease: TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2. JAMA, 330(6), 512–527. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.13239
van Dyck, C. H., Swanson, C. J., Aisen, P., Bateman, R. J., Chen, C., Gee, M., et al. (2023). Lecanemab in early Alzheimer's disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 388(1), 9–21. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2212948
Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre. (2024). Understanding Dementia MOOC. University of Tasmania. https://www.utas.edu.au/wicking
World Health Organization. (2023). Global status report on the public health response to dementia. WHO. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240033245
NHMRC. (2024). National Health and Medical Research Council — Dementia research funding priorities. Australian Government. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au
Rowe, C. C., et al. (2020). The Australian Imaging, Biomarker and Lifestyle (AIBL) study of aging. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 73(1), 271–282.
Masters, C. L., Bateman, R., Blennow, K., Rowe, C. C., Sperling, R. A., & Cummings, J. L. (2015). Alzheimer's disease. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 1, 15056.
Cassandra's Compass provides these links as a public resource directory. We do not endorse, run, or have any affiliation with any listed clinical trial or research organisation. Always consult your doctor or specialist before enrolling in any research study. Research information is updated periodically — verify with institution websites for the most current findings.
Knowledge is empowerment. The more you understand dementia, the more confidently — and compassionately — you can care.
— Cassandra's Compass, informed by UTAS Wicking Dementia Centre