Australian Young Onset Dementia Conference 2026

How do we close the gap between young onset dementia research and the support people actually receive? The Australian Young Onset Dementia Conference brings researchers, clinicians, service providers and people with lived experience together at the University of Canberra for a one-day meeting on research, post-diagnostic support and policy.

Hosted by the Centre for Ageing Research and Translation (CARAT) and the UC Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE), the day opens with a personal reflection from dementia advocate Bill Yeates on what hope means for someone living with dementia. Professor Mary Pat Sullivan (Nipissing University, Canada) then describes building Rare Dementia Support Canada – you can hear more about the UK work it partners with in our Rare Dementia Support Impact study podcast – and Carola Renders, director of the Dutch Knowledge Centre for Young Onset Dementia, explains how the Netherlands connects practice, education and research.

The second plenary features Associate Professor Samantha Loi (University of Melbourne) on service development at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Associate Professor Elissa Burton (Curtin University) on young onset dementia research in Western Australia, and Professor Muireann Irish (University of Sydney) on a new framework for the early detection of frontotemporal dementia, followed by a panel discussion.

The afternoon splits into concurrent streams covering blood biomarkers, digital biomarkers, primary progressive aphasia rehabilitation, young people in nursing homes, family counselling, peer support and lived experience perspectives, closing with networking from 5pm. For more on involving people with lived experience in this field, read our blogs on co-producing young onset dementia research and shaping young onset dementia support with the public.

When

Friday 20th November – 08:00 to 17:00 Canberra time (21:00 Thursday 19th to 06:00 Friday 20th November UK time)

Where

Ann Harding Centre, University of Canberra, 24 University Drive, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia

Who Should Attend

Researchers, healthcare professionals, community and disability service providers, policy makers, and people with living experience of young onset dementia.

Cost

Early bird and standard registration rates are available – see the registration page for current fees.

Organiser

Organised by the Centre for Ageing Research and Translation (CARAT) and the UC Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE) at the University of Canberra. For more information, email ucageing@canberra.edu.au.

Register