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 Adrienne Withall
(Immediate Past Co-Chair)
Associate Professor, School of Psychology, UNSW.
A/Prof Jade Cartwright
(Immediate Past Co-Chair)
Associate Professor, Speech Pathology, University of Tasmania.
A/Prof Nathan D’Cunha
(Co-Chair)
Associate Professor, Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra.
Naomi Moylan
(Co-Chair)
Dementia Support Specialist, Brightwater Care Group.
Occupational Therapist.
Nicholas Lawlis (Communications Chair)
PhD Candidate, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra & Centre for Ageing Research and Translation, University of Canberra. Accredited Exercise Physiologist.
Michelle Chiu
Research Fellow, Neuropsychiatry Centre, The Royal Melbourne Hospital. Research Fellow, Social Gerontology Division, National Ageing Research Institute. Honorary Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne.
View biography
A/Prof Elissa Burton
Associate Professor of Healthy Ageing, Curtin University’s School of Allied Health. Co-domain lead, Dementia and Ageing Domain, Curtin enAble Institute. Harken Fellow, Brightwater Research Centre.
Naomi Folder
PhD Candidate, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney focusing on communication partner training. Naomi works as a speech pathologist in the Illawarra health district.
View biography
Rebecca (Becky) Layton
Lived Experience Representative
Our Webinars
Watch our latest webinar: Let us Grow: Life, Creativity and Connection
For more YOD-SIG webinars, please visit the ADNeT YouTube Channel or view our webinar resources page.
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.
Our Newsletters
You can read the YOD-SIG newsletters here.
Newsletter Highlights
Dementia Support Australia and the Australian Frontotemporal Dementia Association are working in partnership to develop and run a nationwide network of proactive groups called Carer Conversations. Designed for carers who are supporting someone living with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the groups are an opportunity for you to meet with other carers either face to face or virtually. You can read a case study from participants here.
Join YOD-SIG
If you would like to join YOD-SIG, please fill out this New Members form.