Researchers from the Befriending with GENIE project team, Prof Loretta Baldassar and NARI’s A/Prof Anita Goh, presented the project at the Australian Dementia Network’s Australian Dementia Research Forum (ADRF) held in Perth from 3 - 5 June 2025.

Befriending with GENIE is a program that aims to better connect people living with dementia with useful resources to enhance their social networks and reduce loneliness. It addresses inequalities in the knowledge and uptake of activities and services for people in the community who are living with dementia (and their caregivers) from diverse backgrounds and language groups.

We are currently recruiting participants in Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney:

• Are you interested in expanding your social support network to reduce loneliness?
• Do you come from a Chinese, Italian, South Asian, or Vietnamese background?
• Do you have trouble with thinking or remembering things, or have you been told you have dementia? OR do you take care of someone who does?

If you answered yes to the questions above, you may be eligible to join our Befriending with GENIE program. Contact our team to learn more and register your interest:

Email: [email protected]

Register an expression of interest

Find out more - visit the project website

Approved by the Edith Cowan University HREC (2023-04072-BALDASSAR)