Creating Magic at Parliament House
Dementia Advocates Dr Janet Thomas and Colin Blake shared their experience and views on the importance of creative arts engagement at the November Parliamentary Friends of Dementia event at Parliament House.
Janet and Colin led the launch of Dementia Australia’s discussion paper ‘I believe in the magic of it’: creative arts engagement, wellbeing and dementia.
Colin spoke about how he and his wife Shirley’s love of dancing and music has helped them stay positive and active while Janet spoke of how important creative writing is for her.
They were part of a panel presentation alongside actor and writer Matthew Okine and Hunters and Collectors frontman Mark Seymour, who performed the song Classrooms and Kitchens inspired by his experience caring for his mother who lived with dementia.
You can read the discussion paper on our Publications page.
Photo (L-R): Pat Bains, Dementia Art Therapist, Dementia Australia, Col Blake, Dementia Advocate, Shirley Blake, Dr Janet Thomas, Dementia Advocate, Patrick Frost, Dementia Advocate, Jackie Hayes National Manager – Dementia Advocates Program, Dementia Australia.