April 29, 2016

Inspiring dementia advocate Kate Swaffer gives guest lecture

Poet, author and academic Kate Swaffer shares her story of living with early onset dementia.

When former nurse Kate Swaffer was diagnosed with early onset dementia at just 49 years of age, doctors told her to get her affairs in order. To quit her job, give up study and live for the time she had left.

Fast-forward eight years and Kate has become an internationally recognised advocate for the 47 million people with dementia around the world.

Since her diagnosis, Kate has completed two degrees, in psychology and creative writing, in her hometown of Adelaide and a Master of Science in Dementia Care from UOW (pictured right at her UOW graduation in December 2014).

She has since commenced her PhD at UOW, focusing on improving the lives of people living with dementia.

“UOW has opened my eyes to the fact Higher Research is not as difficult as I had once thought, and a PhD may actually be possible, even living with dementia,” she said.

“Life is one hell of a journey… many things could seem regrettable, but I do not regret one thing that has happened before today! Even having a diagnosis of dementia has been one of the greatest gifts of my life.”

The poet, author, and academic now sits on many boards, steering committees and scientific panels providing a consumer perspective and helping to set research priorities for dementia.

Her daily blogs, written with honesty and compassion for herself and other sufferers, reaches an audience of more than 40,000 each month.

She was named a state finalist for the Australian of the Year 2016.

Kate will give a special guest lecture for media and journalism students at UOW on Monday 2 May where she will share her experience of what it is like to live with dementia, how it is currently represented in the media and why this needs to change.