The Pulse: April 2025
Your monthly update on the latest initiatives, innovations, and impacts from Dementia Alliance—keeping you connected to the heartbeat of our work
What a Month!
Since our Stage 1 Open Day, things have not stopped — and we wouldn’t have it any other way!
We’ve been overwhelmed by the interest, support, and encouragement from across the community. Phannika’s powerful speech on the day made front page news, sparking incredible responses like this one: “Well done, this is an amazing project and very inspiring. I'm a teacher at BSE and am proud to say that I know Phannika and am so proud of her. What can I do to help?” This is just one of many messages we've received.
We’ve also welcomed seven new Friends of Reflections, each bringing unique skills and a shared passion for our mission. We’re also thrilled to have recently welcomed two new carers and their loved ones, who found us through our website. Their involvement is a beautiful reminder of why we do this work — to offer connection, support, and a sense of place for people on the dementia journey.
One area gaining real momentum is our concept of ‘Friendships’ — our own term for partnerships built on shared values and mutual respect. We’ve recently formed strong Friendships with Neighbourhood Collective (Church on the Hill) and Regional Victorians of Colour — both organisations that share our commitment to inclusion, equity, community connection, and co-design.
We were also honoured to be invited by St. John of God Hospital’s Volunteer & Community Inclusion Coordinator to present to senior department leads. It was a warm and engaging session, with enthusiastic interest from their Social Work and Pastoral Services managers. They’ve even offered us space in their promotional area to display brochures — another beautiful example of a growing Friendship in action.
Stay tuned as we share more about these developments — and the people, projects, and partnerships making Reflections at Eppalock such a special place to be.
Sandra Slatter with Mayor Andrea Metcalf,
Mayor Metcalf recently visited Reflections at Eppalock and described the experience as “like forest bathing” — a moment to slow down, be present, and connect deeply with nature.
Mayor Metcalf praised the Dementia Alliance team for their extraordinary achievements and expressed strong support for the project’s inclusive and visionary approach, including plans to organise a council delegation to learn more.
Green Spaces for Healthy Ageing – A Global Conversation
Our President, Sandra Slatter, was honoured to be invited by ACAP to create and moderate an international webinar exploring the power of green spaces to support wellbeing and healthy ageing.
Sandra brought together a panel of expert speakers to examine the many ways that nature can support health outcomes, enhance quality of life, and foster inclusion across all ages and abilities. The conversation covered a range of topics — from the health benefits of outdoor spaces, to inclusive design principles and sustainability in green space development.
With 90 registrations from 14 different countries, the event was a truly global exchange of ideas, experience, and inspiration.
“What a wonderful webinar!! Many thanks for organizing such an informative session.”
— Kathryn Braun, Co-founder and President, Active Aging Consortium in Asia Pacific
It was a proud moment for Dementia Alliance to be at the centre of this global conversation — and a reminder of how our local efforts at Reflections at Eppalock are helping shape bigger conversations around ageing, inclusion, and community design.
Visit our website dementiaalliance.au if you would like to watch the presentations
Refocused and Re-energised
In April 2025, Dementia Alliance formally resigned from the GreenConnect Dementia Respite Consortium. Sandra had stepped down from her role as Project Manager in December 2024 after it became clear the consortium’s direction was shifting significantly and the collaborative environment had become untenable. Despite her resignation as project manager, Dementia Alliance continued to engage in good faith in the hope that the original vision could still be realised. Unfortunately, it became increasingly clear that the consortium no longer aligned with our values or purpose.
As a result, the Board made the difficult decision to withdraw. While disappointing, this step has also allowed us to refocus our energy on what matters most — reimagining dementia care through inclusive, community-led, and innovative approaches.
We would like to sincerely thank Dan Douglass (Heathcote Health) and Gerard Jose (Rural Care Australia) for their continued support, integrity, and commitment to the original intent of the GreenConnect project.
Now, with renewed clarity and direction, Dementia Alliance is moving forward — proudly grounded in community and driven by a shared purpose to lead change through compassion, creativity, and connection.
The energy at Reflections is building, and the momentum is unmistakable.
We’ve already hosted two wonderful activities this month — Back to Country: A Day of Connection and Culture and a fantastic Fishing Day — and we’re thrilled to say these are just the beginning. A full calendar of inclusive, nature-based, and culturally meaningful activities is already in the works, all designed to bring joy, connection, and purpose to those we support.
Back to Country - A Day of Connection and Culture at Reflections
We had our first of many planned Back to Country activities. It was a beautiful day of shared connection, culture, and community. In partnership with Neighbourhood Collective (The Old Church on the Hill) and Regional Victorians of Colour, we welcomed 48 adults and children from diverse backgrounds — including South Sudanese, Myanmar, Indian, and other cultural communities — to spend the day at Reflections at Eppalock.
Guests soaked up the sunshine, wandered through the bushland trails, splashed and played at Lake Eppalock, and shared stories over a delicious lunch provided by a local Indian small business. It was a day filled with laughter, nature, and genuine connection.
“What a lovely day! I met a beautiful soul, spotted a kangaroo, and relaxed under the tall trees. Feeling grateful for the warmth, the company, and the memories. Thank you for a truly special day.”– Dimple
Building on the success of this day, we’re now planning a holiday program where people living with dementia and their carers will be able to enjoy intergenerational activities — creating shared experiences that celebrate culture, storytelling, and connection across ages and communities. The program will offer a space where different cultures can come together, learn from one another, and nurture a sense of belonging and understanding.
Anyone for Fishing?
We were delighted to welcome members of the Heathcote Angling Club to Reflections at Eppalock for a day of fishing, fun, and connection. While the weather wasn’t exactly ideal — with strong winds and no fish to be seen — the spirit of the day remained high. Rudy, one of the club’s members, showed incredible patience and warmth, taking the time to teach young George how to set up and cast a line. The shared focus and gentle rhythm of fishing created a moment of calm and connection — and although no fish were caught, the delicious BBQ lunch more than made up for it!
More importantly, this day planted the seeds for something truly meaningful. A new Friendship is forming between Dementia Alliance and the Heathcote Angling Club, with exciting conversations underway about hosting regular intergenerational fishing days. These gatherings will bring together children from diverse cultural backgrounds and people living with dementia, along with their carers and families.
Fishing is more than just a pastime — it’s an activity that encourages presence, patience, and shared purpose. For people living with dementia, hobbies like this can provide a sense of identity, promote gentle physical activity, and spark moments of joy. When combined with intergenerational connection, these experiences become even more powerful — creating opportunities for mutual understanding, learning, and storytelling across generations.
We’re looking forward to casting a few more lines in the near future — and building on this Friendship that reminds us how the simplest activities often hold the greatest meaning.
We’re also continuing to grow our network of ‘Friendships’ — meaningful partnerships with like-minded organisations and individuals who share our values and vision for reimagining care.
Keep an eye out for our next edition of The Pulse, where we’ll be sharing more about our upcoming activities, new Friendships, and how you can get involved in this growing movement of community-led change.
Until then, thank you for being part of the journey.
Warm regards,
The Dementia Alliance Team
