News

Brain health boost for First Nations communities

By Lua Ikenasio

Apr 10, 2026

Dementia Australia representatives Bertilla Campbell and Jacinta Allen with Country Hearing Care’s Malcolm Comfort. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

First Nations communities along the Murray River are taking charge of brain health, thanks to Dementia Australia and Country Hearing Care’s inaugural Brain Health Roadshow.

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Representatives from both organisations visited five towns, including Echuca, to deliver sessions on brain health and related wellbeing issues.

For Echuca’s sessions, the organisations partnered with Njernda Aboriginal Corporation’s Aunty Vicki Walker to help bring the event together.

Dementia Australia state manager Jacinta Allen said participants have been eager to learn more about dementia.

“We embraced the opportunity to work with Vicky and other First Nations organisations along the Murray,” she said.

“The focus has been on brain health and modifiable risks.

“As dementia is now the leading cause of death for all Australians, there's definitely more interest in dementia, and sometimes people don't realise that there are actually things that we can be doing to prevent the actual onset of dementia.”

Country Hearing Care representative Maddison Kennedy spoke to guests about the links between dementia and hearing loss. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

The five-day roadshow began in Mildura before heading to Swan Hill, Robinvale, and Kerang, and wrapping up in Echuca on Friday, March 27.

The Echuca event opened with a presentation from Dementia Australia, introducing dementia and its impact on individuals and communities.

Local chiropractor Troy Walker followed with a session titled Healthy Mind, Healthy Body.

Community members listened intently during the sessions. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Mr Walker highlighted the connection between physical wellbeing and mental health and shared practical tips for overall health.

After a short morning break, the focus shifted to the often-overlooked relationship between hearing loss and cognitive decline.

Country Hearing Care representatives presented insights on how maintaining hearing health can support brain health.

The final presentation was hosted by an Elders Rights Victoria representative, who spoke about protecting the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of older community members.

Aunty Vicki Walker led the days events. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Aunty Vicky Walker said that with dementia now being the leading cause of death in Australia, educating the community about its impacts is crucial.

“To be able to prevent or, have the ideas or the knowledge around how it can be prevented and even slowed down is so, so important, and it just needs to be right across the community,” she said.

“I've seen loads of community people that I've loved and grown up with during my life that are affected... and it's just a horrible thing to witness.

“It is confronting for a lot of our mob... but it's about making sure that everybody knows where to go or who to contact if they're worried about either their own brain or they're worried about somebody else in the community.”