Dementia Alliance
Canterbury Bankstown Dementia Alliance is a Council-led initiative to support the development of a dementia-friendly community in Canterbury-Bankstown.
A dementia-friendly community built together
Dementia is one of Australia’s fastest-growing health challenges. As of 2025, over 400,000 Australians live with dementia – expected to double by 2058. Here in Canterbury-Bankstown, over 8,000 residents are living with dementia and that number is projected to more than double by 2050.
The CBDA – a Council-led initiative established in 2021 and led by people with lived experience – is here to create a community where people living with dementia and their families feel understood, supported and included.
Our vision and mission
We envision a community where people living with dementia are empowered to:
- Live well
- Stay connected
- Feel valued in their community
Our mission is to strive for a community where:
- People with dementia are respected, included and safe
- Local services, businesses and community spaces embrace dementia-awareness and accessibility
- Everyone – from schools to volunteers – plays a part in building a caring, dementia-inclusive community
What we do
Awareness, education and engagement
- Delivered 30+ memory loss info sessions since 2022, reaching over 800 people across English, Arabic, Urdu, Greek and Vietnamese–speaking communities
- Surveyed 200+ community members about dementia beliefs and barriers
- Developed the CBDA Commitment Statement, recognised by Dementia Australia as the first culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)-inclusive dementia alliance
Community research and collaboration
- Partnered with Western Sydney University, University of Technology Sydney and South Western Sydney Local Health District to co-design inclusive dementia strategies
Award-winning impact
- 2024: Honoured with the NSW Local Government Excellence Award for Community Development (population over 150,000) for culturally inclusive dementia work
- July 2023: Presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Amsterdam, showcasing our pioneering work supporting CALD communities and collaborative co-design approach
- Shared our story on a global platform – highlighting the importance of cultural sensitivity and community engagement
Save the date for our annual expo on Friday 26 September!
Dementia Risk Reduction: 12 Modifiable Factors
Research by the Lancet Commission shows up to 40% of dementia cases may be preventable by addressing known risk factors. Small lifestyle changes can lead to big improvements in brain health.
Explore trusted resources to help reduce risk:
Protective factors for brain health (WHO 2023)
- Regular physical activity and healthy diet
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Quitting smoking and reducing alcohol intake
- Staying socially active
- Keeping mentally stimulated
- Managing health conditions like hypertension, hearing loss, diabetes and depression
It’s never too early or late to start making positive changes!
Multilingual and multicultural engagement
Recognising Canterbury-Bankstown’s rich cultural diversity, CBDA provides:
• Translated dementia information in Arabic, Vietnamese, Chinese, Greek and more
• Workshops tailored to cultural need, delivered in community languages and sessions delivered in community languages
If you are interested, please contact our Community Development Officer – Ageing, on 02 9707 9464.
Key facts (August 2025)
| Statistic | Value | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australians living with dementia | 400,000+ | |||
| Projected by 2058 | 800,000+ | |||
| Residents affected (Canterbury-Bankstown) | 8,000+ | |||
| Younger–onset dementia (nationally) | 28,650 approximately |
Get involved
You can help by:
• Becoming a Dementia Friend or Advocate
• Becoming a CBDA Alliance Member
• Attending or exhibiting at our Expo
• Registering your business on the Dementia-Friendly Places Map
• Sharing your lived experience or helping translate resources
Contact us on 9707 9464
Useful Links:
• CBDA Official Page – City of Canterbury Bankstown
• NSW Local Government Excellence Award – Inside Local Government
• Western Sydney University Dementia Research
External Resources and Training Opportunities
The following organisations provide valuable dementia support services, training, and resources that are independent of the Canterbury Bankstown Dementia Alliance:
Tovertafel At Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre
During our recent Seniors Festival, Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre introduced the Tovertafel, which translates to “Magic Table”.
The Tovertafel is a beautiful piece of interactive technology created to provide many moments of happiness to people living with dementia or intellectual disability. It helps connect users with each other and with their surroundings, providing stimulation on three levels – social, cognitive, and physical. It also aims to improve conversation opportunities and self-esteem, while helping users to interact in a positive way with other people and their environment.
This is an engaging and fun piece of technology for young and old. Groups are encouraged to call 9707 9733 to make a booking to explore the Tovertafel.
For more information contact our Community Development Officer – Ageing on 9704 9464 or email sandra.loyola-sandoval@cbcity.nsw.gov.au