Dementia Australia has today welcomed Associate Professor Margaret MacAndrew as the organisation’s inaugural Honorary Nursing Advisor.
Dementia Australia CEO, Professor Tanya Buchanan said Associate Professor MacAndrew (pictured) has made a significant contribution to dementia awareness and care.
“We are delighted to welcome Associate Professor MacAndrew as our inaugural Honorary Nursing Advisor,” Prof Buchanan said.
“Nurses play a vital role in dementia care, providing essential expertise, care and support, and improving the quality of life for people living with dementia.”
She said Associate Professor MacAndrew brings with her a wealth of nursing expertise and passionate advocacy for dementia care.
“So we are thrilled to have her support at Dementia Australia as our inaugural Dementia Australia Honorary Nursing Advisor.”
Associate Professor MacAndrew completed her PhD on the characteristics of dementia-related boundary transgression, the characteristic of wandering behaviour that takes the person into out of bounds or hazardous areas. Her current research aims to improve the safety of people with dementia who wander through better assessment and use of non-pharmacological interventions to support them to walk safely with dementia.
She works in the School of Nursing at Queensland University of Technology and, in 2023, was appointed as the Director of Dementia Training Australia (Qld & NT).
Associate Professor MacAndrew said it was a privilege to be joining Dementia Australia as the inaugural Honorary Nursing Advisor.
“I am committed to improving the quality of life for people with dementia, starting with improving awareness of what dementia is and how the person is affected, particularly for our future nurses,” she said.
Dementia Australia Honorary Advisors provide guidance and commentary on research in their field of expertise, act as media spokespeople and represent Dementia Australia in speaking engagements.
Associate Professor MacAndrew will join fellow Honorary Advisors Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty AO, Professor Amy Brodtmann, Dr Marita Long, Professor Blossom CM Stephan and Associate Professor Michael Woodward AM.
For support, please contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. An interpreter service is available. The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government. People looking for information can also visit dementia.org.au
