Community groups can apply for up to $10,000 to support young people with dementia and their carers.
Dementia Australia is calling for bold community ideas that put young people with dementia and the carers who support them front and centre.
The organisation has opened a new round of Community Engagement grants to fund up to 12 dementia-friendly projects across the country.
Community groups, organisations and businesses can apply for up to $10,000 to turn ideas into action.
Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said the grants were designed to support inclusion where people live, work and connect.
“For this year’s grants we have a special focus on people living with young onset dementia and young carers,” she said.
“There are an estimated 29,000 people in Australia living with young onset dementia. This figure is expected to increase to an estimated 41,000 people by 2054.
“It is important we take action to ensure people living with dementia, no matter their age, feel included, respected and embraced by their communities.”
Applicants are encouraged to develop projects that reflect local need, build partnerships, consult meaningfully with people impacted by dementia and draw on existing community strengths.
Since 2018, the Community Engagement Program has funded more than 100 grassroots projects, investing over $1.16 million nationwide.
Past recipient Lisa Hendry from the Southern Yorke Peninsula Memory Lane Café said the impact could be transformative.
“We initially piloted two Memory Lane Café sessions,” Ms Hendry said.
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“The program has since catered to over 300 participants across several towns providing a rare and essential combination of social engagement, peer support, community connection, education and access to services,” she said.
“It helps to reduce isolation and stress, it empowers communities with increased understanding and we’ve had positive feedback on the effectiveness of the program.
“It is for this reason I encourage anyone else wanting to make their communities more dementia-friendly to apply.”
Priority will be given to projects supporting people with young onset dementia or younger carers, working in partnership with those affected, and engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, and regional and remote areas.
Applications close on 16 February 2026, with details available here.