The 14th annual Illawarra Shoalhaven Dementia public forum is being held this September and organisers are hoping it will be their biggest event yet.

The forum will take place at the Fraternity Club in Fairy Meadow on Wednesday 17 September, running from 9:30am to 3pm, with lunch and refreshments available.

The forum has recently expanded to include the Shoalhaven area, with a free bus running from Nowra and stopping at Gerringong railway station.

With changes happening to dementia and aged care legislation from 1 November, organiser Val Fell is urging people to attend to learn more about the changes and impacts it will have.

The forum began on a ‘whim’ as Val would describe, with a spur of the moment request at a Labor Party conference in Sydney. Val approached Sue Pieters-Hawke, who was touring the country sharing her experiences caring for her mother who had dementia.

“I just got up and went across to her and I asked her to come to Wollongong, and she said yes,” Val said.

“I started to arrange it, and then decided it was going to cost me a lot of money. So I went to Dementia Australia and said, 'will you help me put this on?' And they said yes.”

What started as a single event with about 150 attendees, has grown into an annual forum that now brings in over 350 people.

The forum is organised by volunteers and funded through donations and contributions from organisations such as Dementia Australia, Dementia Support Australia, Dementia Training Australia, and the federal government.

This year's forum will include speakers Professor Tanya Buchanan the CEO of Dementia Australia, Robert Day from the Department of Health, and Joanne Kershaw from Childhood Dementia Initiatives. The speakers will be addressing the rise in dementia, community initiatives, details about the new aged care act, and information about childhood dementia.

Based on last year’s success, the forum will include an art and craft exhibition in the Fraternity Club’s foyer, displaying works created by people in the early stages of dementia.

“Just to show that people can still have meaningful lives,” said Val.

In the lead-up to the forum, Dementia Australia is offering support sessions in Kiama and Nowra between 28-31 July.

Dementia Australia states that there are an estimated 141,800 people living with dementia in NSW which is projected to rise to more than 252,800 people by 2054 if there are no medical breakthroughs.

These free sessions will provide an opportunity for people living with dementia, their carers, family, and friends to better understand dementia, and to learn about support services.

The program includes sessions on carer wellness, understanding dementia, EDIE for family carers, mild cognitive impairment, consumer engagement information, understanding changes in behaviour, communication and dementia, exploring respite, driving and dementia, and grief and loss.

These sessions cover Kiama and Nowra locations over the four days, bookings are essential and can be done online or by calling the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.

Registration is essential for the Illawarra Shoalhaven Dementia Public Forum and available online or by phone to Val (0488 114 555) or Lynda (0417 468 977). Attendance is free with donations always welcome.

If this story has prompted any questions or concerns, please call the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 (24 hours a day, seven days a week) or visit dementia.org.au.