Hearing the Voices of Older People – What makes quality aged care

Wednesday 12 October 2022

11.05am –11.50am

Speaker Bio

Gwenda joined the National Older Persons Reference Group this year with OPAN and has been an active advocate for senior Australians for some years. Gwenda lives with younger onset Fronto Temporal dementia and other comorbidities. A proud Aboriginal woman descendent from the Tebrikuna tribe, born in the Gamilaroi country. A mother, grandmother and great grandmother who lives in rural NSW. A member of the Council of Elders, Dementia Australia advocate and ADNeT steering committee consumer member.

Gwenda is involved in many committees and research projects including associate researcher with University of Western Australia reviewing the Kimberley Indigenous Cognitive Assessment tool, a health department approved tool used by ACAT assessors for First Nations people across Australia. A recipient of a Home Care package herself for many years, which she now self manages, she has seen many changes since 2014. Gwenda advocates, provides advice and assists others in rural communities in navigating aged care services. Gwenda is also a matriarch in her own family, including 5 ageing siblings, providing support to them all.