Monday 19 May 2025

Media Release

On 15 and 16 May 2025, the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) hosted an impressive gathering of national and international dementia experts, academic researchers, policy makers and advocacy groups in Sydney to celebrate the global launch of e-DiVA (empowering Dementia carers with an iSupport Virtual Assistant).

e-DiVA is a digital platform that aims to improve the lives of carers and people with dementia across Australia, New Zealand (NZ), Indonesia and Vietnam through a culturally adapted, user-friendly and accessible digital solution. It builds upon the World Health Organization (WHO) iSupport program, an evidence-based online training resource for informal dementia carers, enhancing it with a virtual assistant to provide real-time, interactive support.

The five-year e-DiVA project was delivered in collaboration with key partners including WHO, Alzheimer's Disease International, Dementia Australia, Alzheimer’s New Zealand, Alzheimer Indonesia, the Vietnam Alzheimer Disease & Neurocognitive Disorders Association, and several ethno-specific community aged care providers in Australia (Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association; CO.AS.IT. Italian Assistance Association; and Chinese Australian Services Society). Since it commenced in 2021, the project has developed and implemented the following functions for carers of people with dementia:

1. iSupport online course and videos to improve caring skills and knowledge
2. Diary to assist with organisation
3. Peer support to connect with other carers
4. Voice search option
5. Recommended content tailored to individual caring needs
6. Available dementia care services according to area.

The launch event, chaired by Prof. Tracy Comans, brought together international teams, which included carer representatives, to share their experience of the e-DIVA project and showcase key learnings. Discussions regarding the role of digital health in dementia care and support, as well as future directions in dementia advocacy and policy development across the Asia-Pacific region, were facilitated or presented by e-DiVA Project Lead A/Prof. Tuan Nguyen and NARI team (Dr Upasana Baruah and Ms Zara Page), as well as guest speakers and panelists including:

• Scientia Prof. Henry Brodaty - Scientia Professor of Ageing and Mental Health and Director at the Dementia Collaborative Research Centre (University of NSW)
• Dr. Kaele Stokes - Executive Director Services, Advocacy and Research (Dementia Australia)
• Dr. Katrin Seeher - Mental Health Specialist at World Health Organization (WHO)
• Ms. DY Suharya - Regional Director - Asia Pacific (Alzheimer's Disease International)
• A/Prof. Binh Thanh Nguyen - Department of Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease, (Vietnam National Geriatric Hospital), Department of Neurology (Hanoi Medical University, Vietnam)
• Prof. Yuda Turana - Faculty of Medicine (Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia)
• Dr. Tara Sani - Department of Psychological Medicine (The University of Auckland, NZ)
• Prof. Ladson Hinton - Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (UC Davis Health, USA)
• Prof. Adrian Esterman - Professor of Biostatistics (University of South Australia)
• Prof. Anthony Zwi - Professor of Global Health and Development (University of NSW)
• Prof. Prem Prakash Jayaraman - Director of Swinburne Factory of the Future and Digital Innovation Lab (Swinburne University of Technology)
• Prof. Bianca Brijnath - Professor of Health Communication in Society (La Trobe University)
• Representatives from community aged care organisations including Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association (AVWA); CO.AS.IT. Italian Assistance Association; Chinese Australian Services Society (CASS); Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre; Chung Wah Community Care; and Association for Culturally Appropriate Services (AfCAS).

Dementia is a global public health priority and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people. It currently affects over 55 million people worldwide, along with their unpaid family carers. Family carers, particularly women, often face considerable physical, emotional, and financial strain that can impact their health, well-being and quality of life.

The e-DiVA project was jointly funded by the governments of the four e-DiVA countries through the NHMRC e-ASIA Joint Research Program (APP2001548).

 – ENDS –

Media Contact:                                 

Amy Parker

Senior Manager Government Relations and Strategic Communications, National Ageing Research Institute (NARI)

[email protected]

 

Available for Comment:                  

Associate Professor Tuan Nguyen

Principal Research Fellow, National Ageing Research Institute (NARI)

[email protected]

 

About NARI:

The National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) is Australia’s leading independent, non-profit medical research centre dedicated to ageing, health and aged care research. With a strong focus on translational research – from healthy ageing through to end-of-life care across all services and settings – NARI makes a measurable difference to the lives of older people and those who care for them.

Founded in 1976, NARI is highly respected across the community, health, aged care and research sectors in Australia and internationally. Our work is underpinned by effective and meaningful collaboration, engagement and co-design with a range of key stakeholders to understand and respond to identified need.

We bring together the expertise of industry leaders, advocacy groups, academics, clinical experts, world-class educators and older people themselves to influence and shape the agenda; providing a bridge between academia, policy and practice by rapidly translating research into accessible evidence, knowledge, tools and resources to enable informed decision making by government, service providers and clinicians. This has positive health, wellbeing, social, cultural, environmental, and economic impacts for individuals and the community.