
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 Samantha Loi (Chair)
Associate Professor, Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre
Neuropsychiatrist, Royal Melbourne Hospital

Dr Monica Cations (Immediate Past Chair)
MRFF / NHMRC Senior Research Fellow, Flinders University

Dr Anita Goh (Immediate Past Chair)
Senior Research Fellow, National Ageing Research Institute
and the University of Melbourne

Kate Swaffer (Consumer / Community Chair)
Co-Founder, Dementia Alliance International

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

Suzanna Hackett
Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist, Royal Adelaide Hospital and
CALHN Memory Service, SA Health




Jade Cartwright
Associate Professor, Speech Pathology, University of Tasmania
Neuropsychiatrist, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Our Webinars
Watch our latest webinar Talking about the three ‘D’ words: Death, dying, and young onset dementia
For more YOD-SIG webinars, please visit the ADNeT YouTube Channel.
Our Newsletters
You can read the YOD-SIG newsletters here.
Join YOD-SIG
If you would like to join YOD-SIG, please fill out this New Members form.