As the carer for a dementia patient I confirm absolutely the integral and important role filled in supporting people suffering from dementia, by the Northern Territory Memory Clinic situated in the Casuarina  Plaza Building.

At the moment the Memory Clinic has a staff quotient of one full-time Doctor, 1.5 trained and practice nursing staff and some clerical support. The Dementia program in the Northern Territory, including the Memory Clinic, is fully funded by the Commonwealth Government in Canberra. No contribution is made to these important programs by the Northern Territory Government.

I have been given to understand on good authority that from 1 July 2026, Commonwealth funding for Dementia programs in the northern territory will impact upon the Memory Clinic in a very negative fashion. The full-time doctors position will be reduced to a .5 position. The 1.5 nursing positions will reduce to one position only. I believe also the clerical support will be curtailed

If this is the case, then I am very alarmed for the consequences that will flow and the support that will be lost to people desperately needing support.

Currently, the waiting time for attention at the Memory Clinic after referral is around six months. That cannot be extended to a period of even further delay.

Either the Commonwealth government must be persuaded to increase and not decrease funding; in the alternative the Northern Territory Government through its Health Budget needs to provide financial support for this critically important support program.