Advanced Dementia Practice Program
Program at Full Capacity – Submit an Expression of Interest to Join the Waitlist
Submit Expression of InterestThe Advanced Dementia Practice program is a free, online program for professionals providing dementia care. The program supports you to further advance your understanding of dementia, enhance your practical skills and address areas for improvement in your dementia skills and knowledge.
This course allows participants to develop advanced knowledge and skills to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, apply person-centred and enablement approaches, and deliver ethical, rights-based, and palliative dementia care. Demonstrate effective communication, behavioural analysis, and reflective practice to support independence, and quality of life for people living with dementia.
This DTA course is funded by the Australian Government under the Dementia and Aged Care Services Fund and delivered by Dementia Australia (RTO Code 2512).
What the Program Consists of
The Advanced Dementia Practice program currently includes 5 accredited courses and consists of 8 units of competency:
- NAT10993004 Optimise Communication for People Living with Dementia
- CHCLEG001 Work Legally and Ethically
- CHCDIV001 Work with Diverse People
- NAT10993005 Support Changed Behaviours Associated with Dementia
- NAT10993003 Deliver Dementia Support Using Enablement Strategies
- CHCCCS040 Support Independence and Wellbeing
- NAT10993006 Facilitate Wellbeing of Carers and Self in Dementia Care
- NAT10993007 Develop Dementia Service Networks
Graduates of the program are eligible to receive credit towards future qualifications, including the Certificate IV in Dementia Practice.
Note: Additional units of competency required to attain the Certificate IV in Dementia Practice are not included in this program.
Eligibility
Participants are required to have completed Foundational training in dementia care to undertake this program, such as Dementia Essentials (or similar).
Participants must currently be working in an Australian health care setting (e.g., residential aged care, community/home care, disability, hospital, primary care) and be working with at least two people living with dementia.
As this is an accredited program, participants will be required to submit assessments, including workplace assessments.
What You Will Learn
After completing this course, you will gain knowledge and skills in the following:
- Skills to participate within a multidisciplinary team, contribute to care plans and review these plans using a range of contemporary practice
- The ability to identify and respond to changed behaviours through appropriate analysis and development of strategies
- Communicate effectively while respecting cultural and lifestyle preferences to support independence for people living with dementia
- Make contributions to the establishment of effective networks with workers, families, and carers to support well-being and the provision of dementia services
- Skills to promote independence and engagement through enablement approaches
- Person-centred care approaches, supporting ethical and rights-based decision-making
- Use a palliative approach when planning and providing care services
- Provide care to people living with dementia in accordance with legal and ethical frameworks
- Apply critical reflective practice to own work role
The Advanced Dementia Practice Program Includes Five Accredited Courses
Advanced Communication Skills in Dementia
This course focuses on advanced skills needed to effectively communicate with a person living with dementia. The course also introduces advanced techniques for tailoring communication to dementia stages and types, focus on emotional intelligence, cultural context, enablement and applied strategies for workplace scenarios.
Ensuring a Human Rights Approach in Dementia Practice
This course focuses on embedding a human rights-based approach to dementia care, especially important with evolving aged care standards and legislation.
Advanced Skills in Supporting Changed Behaviours
This course provides health workers responsible for dementia care with advanced knowledge and skills in supporting people living with dementia who exhibit changed behaviours, enabling you to respond with confidence, compassion, and evidence-informed strategies.
Advanced Skills in Therapeutic Engagement
This course provides health workers who deliver activities and services for people living with dementia with skills in creating purposeful, meaningful engagement and supporting wellbeing.
Dementia Case Management and Service Coordination
This course addresses a major gap in supporting carers and family systems, developing service navigation skills and enhancing multi-sector collaboration for community-based care.