Australian Young Onset Dementia Special Interest Group (YOD-SIG)
About YOD-SIG
The Australian Young Onset Dementia Special Interest Group (YOD-SIG) is a national network committed to research, policy, and clinical care to improve outcomes for people with young onset dementia and their families.
Our group includes nearly 100 people living with young onset dementia, care partners, researchers, clinicians and service providers, and is working to foster and improve collaboration and information sharing across sectors.
Our principal activities include:
- Developing resources
- Delivering education activities
- Conducting collaborative research
- Advocating for improved care and support
- Providing expert advice on topics of importance for people with young onset dementia and their families
Executive Committee
A/Prof Jade Cartwright (Co-Chair)
Associate Professor, Speech Pathology, University of Tasmania
A/Prof Samantha Loi (Immediate Past Chair)
Associate Professor, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre
Neuropsychiatrist, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Dr Monica Cations (Past Chair)
MRFF / NHMRC Senior Research Fellow, Flinders University
View Biography
Nathan D’Cunha
Associate Professor, Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra
Kelly Atkins (Communications Chair)
Neuropsychologist, St Vincent’s Hospital
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr Andrew Gleason
Senior Staff Specialist and Clinical Lead, Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Concord Hospital
Honorary Principal Research Fellow, Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, the University of Melbourne
Michelle Chiu
PhD Candidate, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne & Neuropsychiatry Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital. Research Assistant, Aged Care Division, National Ageing Research Institute.
View biography
Our Webinars
Watch our latest webinar: Supporting children with parents with Young Onset Dementia
For more YOD-SIG webinars, please visit the ADNeT YouTube Channel or view our webinar resources page.
Our Newsletters
You can read the YOD-SIG newsletters here.
Our Research
The YOD-SIG is a member of the Joint Solutions Project Consortium, led by the Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance, and further including The Eastern Cognitive Disorders Clinic (ECDC), and Dementia Australia. The Joint Solutions project is funded by the Australian Department of Social Services (DSS) and will map the services required by people living with young onset dementia (YOD) and their families from diagnosis to end of life care, and identify the programs best placed to provide support.
The YOD-SIG was engaged to conduct research to understand the experiences and needs of people with YOD, their families, and the people who work with them. The data will be used by the Joint Solutions Consortium to inform development of a fully described system of care for YOD, along with a road map of responsibilities that outlines services that should be available along the disease pathway.
The final research report and findings of a rapid review of models of care and pathways for people with young onset dementia can be viewed below. The infographic provides a summary of the main research findings and recommendations for a gold-standard pathway of care for people with YOD. An accessible version of the report is also being prepared and will be available shortly.
Join YOD-SIG
If you would like to join YOD-SIG, please fill out this New Members form.