ADI Regional Director for the Asia Pacific attends e-DiVA launch in Sydney, Australia
On 15 May 2025, ADI’s Asia Pacific Regional Director, DY Suharya, attended a critical two-day event hosted by National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), Swinburne University and Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA UNSW) in Sydney, Australia to launch the e-DiVa programme, an adaptation of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) iSupport initiative. iSupport is a self-help skills and training programme for those who act as carers for people living with dementia. It provides an overview of dementia while also cultivating the skills and strategies carers need in order to provide appropriate and effective support for people living with the condition.
e-DiVA aims to adapt the basis of the iSupport initiative and provide family carers with a more digital, virtual assistant model of caregiving, culturally adapted to the contexts of 4 countries: Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and Viet Nam.
On the first day, DY participated in a panel discussion on digital health within the area of dementia care and support. She spoke about the crucial role of digital inclusion, and how it has the ability to create a more equitable and inclusive society – especially when it comes to the health and care sectors. However, she noted that while there are many benefits to adapting digital health practices and innovations within dementia care, it is impossible to truly replace or replicate human interaction. For many people living with dementia, this person-to-person contact remains the most effective and important dimension in their care journeys.
On the second day, DY highlighted the importance of advocacy and strengthening partnership in her presentation From Research to Practice: The Advocacy Plan. The presentation provided the overview of each country’s dementia training programmes, the principles of advocacy plan for e-DiVA to move forward and she also shared each country’s feedback for e-DiVA , and how the program aligns with Action Area 5 of the Global Action Plan on the public health response to dementia, ‘Support for Caregivers’.
About this event, DY said:
I was thrilled to attend this crucial two-day event and contribute to key discussions alongside distinguished experts, researchers, care providers, carers, dementia advocates and WHO representative. I am looking forward to the progression of e-DiVA and how it will empower carers of people living with dementia in the Asia Pacific Regio
During her visit, DY also engaged in crucial discussions with ADI member Dementia Australia in both Sydney and Melbourne. These discussions yielded insights into their national health ecosystem, and DY had the opportunity to shadow their helpline services and connect with inspiring dementia advocates in the region.
Conversations also explored strategies for developing national dementia plans and dementia-friendly communities at the University of Sydney and Brain and Mind Centre, hosted by Professor Lee-Fay Low. This provided the opportunity to exchange ideas with experts and thought leaders like Lyn Phillipson, Sally Day, Anne Cumming, Sharon Naismith, Bianca Brijnath, as well as Lee-Fay Low’s class of PhD students.
ADI Board Member awarded at the 78th World Health Assembly
During the 23 May plenary session at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, ADI Board Member and Executive Vice President of ADI member Alzheimer’s Disease Chinese, Professor Huali Wang was one of six public health champions awarded for her outstanding work in the area of healthy ageing.
Prof Wang, along with the Geriatric Healthcare Directorate of the Ministry of Health (State of Kuwait) were jointly awarded His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and in Health Promotion. This award recognises individuals, NGOs, or institutions that have made an outstanding contribution to research, health promotion, policy, and/or programmes on healthy ageing.
Prof Wang has made considerable contributions to healthy ageing at both the global and national levels. Notably helping to shape China’s national healthy ageing strategic plan as well as the Chinese National Dementia Plan.
In her acceptance speech, Prof Wang said:
This award is a collective achievement in promoting public education, standard of care, and providing caregiver support with psycho-social approaches for older adults. To the families and individuals living with dementia, I dedicate this award to them, because they are the inspiration for our innovative work.
ADI sends Prof Huali Wang our warmest congratulations on this momentous achievement.