Dementia Training for First Responders Trainer Resources

Designed to complement the DTA Dementia Training for First Responders online course, the Facilitator Guide and Participant Workbook support teams to reflect on learning, discuss real-world scenarios and apply key concepts in practice. Together, these resources help build confidence when responding to people living with dementia and their carers.

Suitable for first responder professionals, including paramedics, police, State Emergency Service (SES) personnel and other emergency response teams.

Overview

The Facilitator Guide and Participant Workbook are companion resources developed to support learning following completion of the Dementia Training for First Responders online course.

Designed for use by frontline supervisors and team leaders, the resources provide a structured 20-minute post-eLearning session that helps teams reflect on learning, explore real-world scenarios, and strengthen confidence when responding to people living with dementia.

How to Use the Resource

The resources are designed to help teams translate learning from the Dementia Training for First Responders online course into everyday practice.

The Facilitator Guide supports supervisors and team leaders to run a structured team discussion, while the Participant Workbook encourages reflection and engagement with real-world scenarios. Together, they help learners strengthen their understanding of dementia, apply person-centred care principles, and use effective communication strategies when responding to people living with dementia.

The session can be delivered during team meetings, shift handovers, workplace training sessions or other professional development activities.

What You’ll Learn

Following the facilitated session, participants will be able to:

• Recognise signs and behaviours associated with dementia in first response situations.
• Apply person-centred care principles to reduce distress and improve outcomes.
• Demonstrate effective communication strategies, including the MESSAGE technique, when interacting with people living with dementia.
• Reflect on their practice and identify opportunities for improvement in real-world scenarios.