Alzheimer’s Australia’s Federal Budget Submission 2011

This increase in funding is urgently needed because:

• The number of people with dementia is increasing every year (there are currently over 250,000 people with dementia).
• There was no increase in funding for dementia in the 2010 budget.
• No action has been taken on dementia in the health and hospital reforms or the reform of primary care.

The Budget Submission puts forward a ten point plan. Immediate and important priorities identified by people living with dementia are:

• Achieving the timely diagnosis of dementia and referral to appropriate services by GPs.
• Making hospitals safer places for people with dementia.
• Promoting awareness that Australians may be able to reduce their risk of dementia through the National rollout of Alzheimer's Australia’s Mind Your Mind ® Program.
• Increased access to dementia support and care for people from culturally and linguistically distinct communities, Indigenous people and for gays and lesbians.

To read about the ten point plan and the action proposed download a copy of the full Federal Budget Submission 2011. You can also download a copy of Alzheimer's Australia's letter to The Hon Mark Butler, MP.