About Bigger Hearts
Bigger Hearts was launched in October 2016 to help to build a more dementia-friendly Ballarat. The inspiration for the project came from Edie Mayhew and Anne Tudor who describe how their responses to living with Edie's younger onset dementia made their hearts bigger. Edie and Anne co-led the project. Bigger Hearts utilised creative arts and story based approaches to Ballarat residents in listening to people living with dementia. It built support for a Ballarat Dementia Alliance - which was established in 2017. The Alliance is a key step in the ongoing process of building a dementia friendly Ballarat.
The project was a partnership between Celebrate Ageing, Alzheimer's Australia Vic, City of Ballarat, Australian Unity, The Ballarat North Community House and Carers Respite Service at Ballarat Health Service.
The project was a partnership between Celebrate Ageing, Alzheimer's Australia Vic, City of Ballarat, Australian Unity, The Ballarat North Community House and Carers Respite Service at Ballarat Health Service.
Launch
Bigger Hearts was launched in October 2016 at the Ballarat North Neighbourhood House. There were a number of highlights. One was hearing Edie share her experience of living with Younger Onset Dementia and her vision for Bigger Hearts in the Ballarat Community. Another highlight was hearing Gorgi Coghlan sing - beautiful song, fabulous guitarist and pianist and an amazing choir - the youngest 6 years old. Pleased to have media presence - getting the word out is so important. You can watch the video from the launch below
Bigger Heart Hubs
Ballarat businesses, services, groups and families were invited to become a Bigger Heart Hub. This involved displaying a project poster and distributing blank project postcards that ask community members to document their suggestions for a dementia friendly Ballarat. Suggestions were analysed and a brief report written for the Ballarat Dementia Alliance. See examples of the postcards below and click here for a copy of the report. Thanks to the services that participated including: Australian Unity; Ballarat Community Health Centre; Ballarat City Library; Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative; Ballarat City Council; Ballarat Health Services; Ballarat North Neighbourhood House; Bendigo Bank; Carer’s Respite; Crowe Horwath; Eyers House; dentistry@ballarat; Garlor; Nazareth House; The Courier; The Turret; The Western Hotel; Creswick and Clunes Medical Centre; Hepburn Health Services; Creswick Nursing Home; John Curtain Aged Care; U3A; and The Tipping Foundation.
Tuesdays at the Turret
Most Tuesdays across the months of September and October we invited community members to join us at the Turret Cafe in Sturt Street to talk about the project and dementia more broadly. These meetings have been wonderful. We've shared stories, laughs and useful information. We've made new friends and supported each other. Thanks to the Ballarat Courier for helping to spread the word. Check out our short film here. |
Bigger Hearts Exchange
One of the critical aspects of the project was engaging community members in listening to people living with dementia. This offered an opportunity to learn more about dementia, understand how to build connections, recognise the expertise of people living with dementia and build empathy. To achieve this we facilitated an exchange between seven people living with dementia and seven community members (called 'story catchers') - to document the experiences of people living with dementia and their suggestions for a dementia friendly Ballarat.
The interaction was filmed by talented Ballarat film maker Andrew Fergusen and we are very grateful to Australian Unity for sponsoring the film. The film is an invaluable tool for educating community members and service providers about the importance of reaching out and talking to people living with dementia. Participants were provided with an information sheet and invited to contact the project coordinator. The exchange was wonderful. Lots of animated conversations, steaming cups of tea and new friendships made.
The interaction was filmed by talented Ballarat film maker Andrew Fergusen and we are very grateful to Australian Unity for sponsoring the film. The film is an invaluable tool for educating community members and service providers about the importance of reaching out and talking to people living with dementia. Participants were provided with an information sheet and invited to contact the project coordinator. The exchange was wonderful. Lots of animated conversations, steaming cups of tea and new friendships made.
Ballarat Dementia Alliance
In their framework for creating dementia-friendly communities Alzheimer's Australia have identified the importance of creating a Local Dementia Alliance. The Alliance is a group of people who coordinate the activities required. Check out Alzheimer's Australia's guide to creating a Local Dementia Alliance here. The Bigger Hearts project raised awareness of need for a Ballarat Dementia Alliance. An information session was hosted on 26th October 2016 and included the launch of our film by Catherine King MP. In 2017 the Dementia Alliance met for the first time. Check out the Terms of Reference and you can read the minutes for the first meeting.
In the media
Getting the message out about Bigger Hearts is an important part of raising awareness about dementia and a more dementia friendly Ballarat. Thank you to everyone who has covered the project.
- Dementia Alliance International (18/9/16): Edie Mayhew and Anne Tudors "Bigger Hearts" Campaign Story (here)
- The Ballarat Courier (20/9/16): How to make a dementia-friendly city (here)
- The Ballarat Courier (30/8/16): Project to show Bigger Hearts in a dementia-friendly Ballarat (here)
- The Ballarat Courier (30/8/16): Share heartfelt ideas for a dementia-friendly Ballarat (here)
More information
- Go to the Dementia Australia website to learn more about dementia or read more about Alzheimer's Australia's framework for Dementia Friendly Communities or the work being done to create Dementia Friendly Communities in Kiama, Port MacQuarie, Beechworth
- Read the toolkit on creating a dementia friendly business here
- Learn more about Ballarat and the City of Ballarat here.
Contact us
Catherine Barrett,
Project Coordinator
Phone: 0429 582 237
Email: director@celebrateageing.com
Post: PO Box 1377 St Kilda, 3182
Project Coordinator
Phone: 0429 582 237
Email: director@celebrateageing.com
Post: PO Box 1377 St Kilda, 3182
(c) 2013 celebrateageing.com