Executive Team
Dementia Training Australia (DTA) is a consortium bringing together leading dementia
experts from four universities and the National Peak Body, Dementia Australia

Meet the Executive Team

Professor Belinda Goodenough
Executive Director
Dementia Training Australia
Professor Belinda Goodenough is a behavioural scientist with over 25 years of experience in health, and health services research.
Read moreProfessor Goodenough has a specific interest in knowledge translation and implementation science – how to put evidence into practice. She has applied these skills in areas as diverse as pain, cancer, childhood health, and over the past decade, ageing and dementia.
Much of her work at Dementia Training Australia involves developing and disseminating resources to help support the workforce to lead innovation and change.

Dr David Sykes
Director, Dementia Australia
Dementia Training Australia
Dr Sykes leads Dementia Australia’s Centre for Dementia Learning which has been at the forefront of learning technologies including the multi award-winning Virtual Dementia Experience and the Educational Dementia Immersive Experience (EDIE). The team was recently awarded Victorian Small Training Provider of the Year.
Read moreDr Sykes was involved in the establishment of the Victorian Disability Services Commissioner, worked for 10 years with the Office of the Public Advocate, is a graduate of the Williamson Community Leadership Program, and completed his doctorate on the development of a model of advocacy practice for working with people with a cognitive disability.
As Director of Dementia Training Australia, Dr Sykes is responsible for Dementia Essentials, DTA’s nationally accredited course for workers who support people living with dementia.

Professor Elizabeth Beattie
Director, QUT
Dementia Training Australia
Professor Beattie is a gerontologist and psychogeriatric nurse educated in Australia, the UK and the US who has been involved in dementia-focused clinical practice, education, research and evaluation for more than three decades.
Read moreShe has an international nursing leadership profile, a sustained record of competitive research funding and publication, and serves on a number of ageing and dementia-focused committees and editorial boards.
Much of Professor Beattie’s work with Dementia Training Australia involves developing training and resources to assist the aged care workforce in understanding responsive behaviours.

Ellie Newman
Director, UWA
Dementia Training Australia
Ellie has considerable clinical experience specialising in aged and dementia care, particularly across the hospital and health care settings.
Read moreAs a Senior Physiotherapist, her role has evolved into Clinical Specialist for Dementia and Delirium, leading and implementing a better way to care for patients living with dementia in hospitals.
Much of her work has involved building workforce capacity and capability, delivering policy and practice change as well as developing health service wide strategic direction for dementia care.
Ellie is committed to identifying opportunities to enhance and enable others to support the delivery of person-centred care and achieve better outcomes for people living with dementia.

Dr Margaret Winbolt
Director, LaTrobe University
Dementia Training Australia
Dr Winbolt is a Registered Nurse with extensive experience in the care of people with dementia. Since moving into the university sector she has undertaken and managed numerous research projects, all with a focus on practice improvement.
Read moreDr Winbolt has an interest in learning pathways, mentoring, and professional development at all levels for the healthcare workforce.
As Director of Dementia Training Australia, she is responsible for DTA’s Fellowship program, offered to residential care staff in selected organisations as part of a Tailored Training Package.

Michelle Rankin
Chief Operating Officer
Dementia Training Australia
Michelle is an experienced operations and transformational change agent with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors.
Read moreMichelle is responsible for the general management of DTA’s governance, communications, planning, finances, operations and infrastructure. She brings extensive experience at a senior-level in various roles across Australia, United States, United Kingdom, Asia Pacific and the Philippines.
Michelle holds a Master of Strategic Management with Distinction and a Bachelor of Business. She also has industry qualifications in Agile Project Management, Mentoring, Lean Six Sigma and Integrative Health.
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