Bronte Parkin

Advocacy for dementia has been a key part of my life since my wife was diagnosed with a rare dementia 13 years ago. The lived experience of understanding and caring for her is the basis of my philosophy and approach to advocacy. I also regard it as a privilege to represent her unspoken voice as she lives with advanced dementia in residential aged care at the age of 69. Drawing on my skills honed as a senior executive in the WA public service I now participate in numerous activities and research studies on and about dementia and dementia care, including as: • Co-chair, Brain Health Research Community Reference Group, Curtin University; • Member, Dementia Research Community Advisory Group, Curtin University; • Member, Aged Care Clinical Standards Advisory Committee, Australian Commission for Quality and Safety in Health Care (ACQSHC) - which recently reviewed the aged care clinical care standards; • Member, ACQSHC Topic Working Group - which recently reviewed the standard on use of psychotropic medicines in managing changed behaviours; • Member, Dementia Training Australia’s Consumer Reference Group – currently reviewing the National Dementia Education and Standards Training Framework; • Peer Leader, Dementia Australia’s Peer Support Program; and • Former member of the Board of Alzheimer’s WA.