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

View Biography

Dr Monica Cations (Immediate Past Chair)

MRFF / NHMRC Senior Research Fellow, Flinders University

View Biography

Dr Anita Goh (Immediate Past Chair)

Senior Research Fellow, National Ageing Research Institute
and the University of Melbourne

View Biography

Kate Swaffer (Consumer / Community Chair)

Co-Founder, Dementia Alliance International

View Biography

Kelly Atkins (Communications Chair)

Neuropsychologist, St Vincent’s Hospital
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Julieta Sabates (Early Career Chair)

PhD Candidate – the University of Melbourne

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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

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Dr Adrienne Withall

Senior Research Fellow, University of New South Wales

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Dr Christa Dang

Research Fellow, National Ageing Research Institute

View Biography

Vicki Barry

Care Partner and Dementia Advocate

View Biography

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.