Overview

Let's CHAT Dementia artwork by Indigenous artist, Sherry Johnstone — Let's CHAT Dementia artwork by Maar Nation-Gundijmara artist, Sherry Johnstone. Sherry designed the logo to represent the Let's CHAT study, as follows: "The design has 12 smaller circles in the bigger circle in the middle to represent the 12 ACCHSs working together. The four message sticks in the middle circle also are to pass on the information and awareness. The four people around the middle circle are listening to the CHAT. The dots in between the people represent the different tribes/ nations, etc. The stitch-like lines between the writing in the circle represent the different journeys people with dementia and cognitive impairment are on, trying to manage their condition."

Let's CHAT Dementia in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities

The Let's CHAT (Community Health Approaches To) Dementia in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities is a research project working with 12 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) around Australia to improve detection of cognitive impairment and dementia, as well as dementia care and brain health in the primary care context.

This is a co-design project working with ACCHS staff and a range of stakeholders in the area of Indigenous health and aged care to enhance the overall health outcomes and quality of life of older people who have cognitive impairment or dementia, their families and communities.

The project's Indigenous Reference Group advises on data collection activities, resource development and the implementation of the best-practice model of care that is being developed as part of this project and rolled out in the health services of our co-researching ACCHS partners.

The project is currently underway, with 12 co-researching partner ACCHSs located across urban, regional and remote areas of Victoria, NSW, North Queensland and Western Australia.