Australia

Contact

Isobel Sanger – Master Trainer
Team Leader, Specialist Aged Services, Merri Health
Email: isobel.sanger@merrihealth.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 provision

Since 2006, CST has been offered in a range of settings including residential services, hospital wards and transition care services (hospital to home transitions). CST principles have been incorporated into social groups in community settings since 2009.

In 2016, the Whiddon Group (NSW and QLD) commenced CST groups through the program Chat, Stories and Tea.

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.

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.

CST research projects

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.
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
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
D’Cunha, N. M. CST for people with dementia: What are the outcomes of facilitator training? University of Canberra (in progress)
In 2020, Robyn Lewis received a Churchill Fellowship to explore yoga for cognitive stimulation in dementia settings in New Zealand, US and UK. (hyperlink to https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/project/to-explore-the-use-of-yoga-wit...)

CST Australia working group

Robyn Lewis has established a working group for those interested in collaboration in Australia. Contact: robyn.lewis@canberra.edu.au

Oral presentations

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy - a pilot Australian adaption, National Dementia Research Forum 2014, Sydney
CST International Conference, Hong Kong June 2024: “CST in Australia – Past, Present and Future” I Sanger, A Cussen, R Lewis and N D’Cunha

Poster presentations

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
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
HammondCare 8th international Dementia Conference: Making a difference: July 2010 Sydney “Making a difference through collaboration: Cognitive Stimulation Therapy” L de la Perrelle
Alzheimer’s Australia’s 15th Annual Conference, Tasmania 14–17 May 2013
National Dementia Research Forum 2014, Sydney
CST International Conference, Hong Kong June 2024: “CST Working Group in Australia – Planning, Engagement and Implementation” 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
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

CST Australia Working Group

In 2020, Robyn Lewis received a Churchill Fellowship to explore yoga for cognitive stimulation in dementia settings in New Zealand, US and UK. (https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/project/to-explore-the-use-of-yoga-wit...)

Robyn Lewis has established a working group for those interested in collaboration in Australia. Contact: robyn.lewis@canberra.edu.au

Training

Face to face CST Training is held once per year in Australia. Contact Isobel.Sanger@merrihealth.org.au or visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/international-cognitive-stimulation-therapy/training-courses-and-events for online training.