Australia’s first graduates of the Bachelor of Dementia Care proudly took to the stage recently, for their winter graduation ceremony.
The Bachelor of Dementia Care is Australia's first degree in dementia care and a flagship degree of the Faculty of Health’s Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre.
The fully online course is available to domestic and international students, ranging from carers to health professionals, and is aimed at developing specialised knowledge and helping graduates make a difference to the lives of people living with dementia.
Graduate Suzanne Teague, who used her retirement to study for her degree, said it was a rewarding and practical achievement.
“I enjoyed the course and as well as gaining new knowledge I found out a bit more about myself,” she said.
“I am aiming to eventually undertake the Bachelor of Dementia Care honours program and in the meantime, if there is a part-time employment opportunity where I can help those with dementia or their families, I will consider that option,”
Wicking Centre Co-Directors, Professor James Vickers and Professor Andrew Robinson, said they were very proud to see the first six Bachelor graduates complete the Dementia Care program, which would be an important part of future dementia care in Australia.
“The graduation of our Bachelor of Dementia Care students marks an important milestone in our mission to transform dementia care in Australia,” Professor Robinson said.
“With the escalating numbers of people with dementia, this condition is the public health issue of our times, reaching across all strata of society, with major economic and health resource impacts.
“The University of Tasmania has shown national leadership in preparing for this challenge by supporting this first-ever degree focused on dementia understanding and care.”
In addition to the new Bachelor graduates, The Wicking Centre has a growing Dementia Care alumni also including 16 Associate Degree and 96 Diploma graduates.
Professor Robinson said he hoped this growing pool of expertise would build capability and leadership for dementia care in multiple settings throughout the community and in residential care.
“Enhanced understanding through education will also help make our society more dementia-inclusive,” he said.
Pictured from left: Suzanne Teague, Jillian Chisolm, Marcia Penn, Melisa Sincock, Evthoxia Lynch, (absent Janet Siversen). Image: Natalie Mendham photography
