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Contact
Isobel Sanger – Master Trainer
Team Leader, Specialist Aged Services, Holstep Health
Email: Isobel.Sanger@holstephealth.org.au
Phone: +61 419 142 996
Robyn Lewis – Working Group Coordinator
Churchill Fellow / PhD Candidate University of Canberra
Email: robyn.lewis@canberra.edu.au
Phone: +61 432 778 27
CST International Conference – Friday 21 November 2025 (Canberra)
CST Australia Working Group
The working group was established in 2022 to improve awareness of CST in Australia and to increase access to CST in all parts of the country. The working group provides a central point of contact for information and support, and connects practitioners, researchers and others across a wide range of settings delivering or interested in delivering CST. Contact: robyn.lewis@canberra.edu.au
CST Australia Incorporated
CST Australia Incorporated is an initiative of the working group and now has a website.
Canberra – sold out
Monday 28th April 09.30 - 17.00 AEST (one day course).
University of Canberra Hospital, 20 Guraguma St, Bruce ACT 2617
Perth
Tickets available via Humanitix - book online here
Friday 6th June, 09.30 - 17.00 AWST (one day course).
Brightwater Inglewood, 2A Walter Rd West, Inglewood WA 6052
Melbourne
Tickets available via Humanitix - book online here
Monday 23rd June 09.30 - 17.00 AEST (one day course).
Bagung Magali Community Room, Bargoonga Nganjin (North Fitzroy Library)
182 - 186 St. George's Road, Fitzroy VIC 3068
CST Provision
In the ACT, Canberra Health Services in partnership with the University of Canberra incorporates CST in a wellbeing program and study for people living with dementia and their carers. The Sustainable Personalised Intervention for Cognition, Care and Engagement (SPICE) is supported by the Dementia Australia Research Foundation.
In South Australia, CST is facilitated by undergraduate and postgraduate occupational therapy students from UniSA. This occurs as part of a structured foundational student placement and is delivered every year across six different aged care providers. Resthaven Incorporated has been providing CST groups in the Making Minds Matter program which was developed in 2019 through a project with Occupational Therapy students from UniSA.
CST Research Projects
D’Cunha, N. M. CST for people with dementia: What are the outcomes of facilitator training? University of Canberra (in progress)
D’Cunha, N. M., Bennett, M., Mitterfellner, R., Brennan, R., Wiseman, L., Isbel, S., Bail, K., Barrett, L., Rutherford, K., Huang, I., & Gibson, D. (2023). Preliminary Findings of an Active Multicomponent Lifestyle Intervention for People with Dementia and Their Carers: Mixed Methods Study. Health & Social Care in the Community, 2023, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/5395080
In 2020, Robyn Lewis received a Churchill Fellowship to explore yoga for cognitive stimulation in dementia settings in New Zealand, US and UK.
Murray, C. M., Gilbert-Hunt, S., Berndt, A., & de la Perrelle, L. (2016). Promoting participation and engagement for people with dementia through a cognitive stimulation therapy programme delivered by students: A descriptive qualitative study. The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79(10), 620–628. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022616653972
Kanareck D, Mathie S, McCaskie H, Narunsky N, Finlay J, Draper B. (2015) Cognitive Stimulation Therapy – a pilot Australian adaptation. Australian Journal of Dementia Care, 4(1), 33-36.
Oral presentations
CST International Conference, Hong Kong June 2024: “CST in Australia – Past, Present and Future” I Sanger, A Cussen, R Lewis and N D’Cunha
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy - a pilot Australian adaption, National Dementia Research Forum 2014, Sydney
Poster presentations
Australian Association of Gerontology, Hobart, November 2024: “Creating a Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Community of Practice in Australia” R Lewis, I Sanger and N D’Cunha
International Dementia Conference, Sydney, September 2024: “Creating an Australian Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) Community of Practice” R Lewis, I Sanger and N D’Cunha
CST International Conference, Hong Kong June 2024: “CST Working Group in Australia – Planning, Engagement and Implementation” R Lewis, I Sanger and N D’Cunha
HammondCare 8th international Dementia Conference: Making a difference: July 2010 Sydney “Making a difference through collaboration: Cognitive Stimulation Therapy” L de la Perrelle
Change Champions seminar on challenging behaviours 30 April 2010 Sydney: “Cognitive Stimulation in partnership for quality outcomes for people with dementia, students and staff” A. Berndt and L de la Perrelle
Alzheimer’s Australia National Conference, Adelaide May 2009: “The benefits of Collaboration: CST implementation with UniSA, AASA and ACH Group: A Berndt and L de la Perrelle