Canberra Conversation Lecture Series

12.30pm - 1.30pm

Dementia is a major chronic disease, currently affecting over 280,000 Australians and
predicted to rise to almost 1 million by 2050 as the Australian population continues to age.
Dementia is a complex issue that crosses through both the health and aged care
system.

The Dementia Initiative in the 2005 Budget was a landmark for both people with dementia and
their families and carers. Australia was the first country to acknowledge the economic and social impact of dementia and to begin the process of planning for the epidemic. Despite a largely positive Evaluation report and bipartisan support of the Initiative, the Federal Government terminated the Initiative in the May 2011 budget (although some aspects were
retained).

In response, Alzheimer’s Australia launched a new campaign, with a renewed vigour and
boldness not usually associated with the charity. As CEO of Alzheimer’s Australia, Glenn has
continued to engage with Government, as a key party in the productivity commission reports and
the aged care consultation process.

2012 Federal Budget took crucial steps to address dementia across the health and aged care system and set the scene for long awaited changes to the way people living with dementia
will receive care.

At the time, Ita Buttrose, National President of Alzheimer’s Australia, said the budget showed that the government had listened and responded to the priorities of people affected by
dementia.

In this seminar, Glenn will reflect on the experience of engaging with government and influencing health policy in Australia from the perspective of a non-government body.

Biography
Glenn Rees has been CEO of Alzheimer's Australia since 2000 during which time dementia
has been made a National Health Priority. He is an active member of the National Aged Care
Alliance and has been a member of many Ministerial and official advisory committees on aged care.

Glenn has worked at senior levels in the British and Australian Public Services. In Britain he worked as Private Secretary to senior Ministers, in the Cabinet Office and in Economic
Departments. In Australia since 1976, he has worked in program and policy areas including Prime Minister and Cabinet, Employment and Training, Aged Care, Disabilities, Housing and
the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. He was Chair of the Nursing Homes
and Hostels Review in 1986 and was involved in implementing the first wave of aged care
reforms.

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