Suzanne Lazaroo
23 July 2025: This November, the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ of Canberra will shine a spotlight on Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), an evidence-based post diagnostic intervention for people living with dementia – and strengthen awareness of CST in Australia, as experts in the field come together at the sixth .
The ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ will host the conference on 21 November, in collaboration with the International CST Centre and CST Australia – it’s the first time the international event will be held in Australia.
“Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, or CST, is an evidence-based, cost-effective small group intervention designed to enhance and maintain cognitive function, communication, and social engagement in people with mild to moderate dementia – additional benefits include increased confidence, mood, and day-to-day functioning,” said Associate Professor Dr Nathan D’Cunha, who leads the research and evaluation of ground-breaking Sustainable Personalised Interventions for Cognition, Care, and Engagement (SPICE) program developed in 2022 and delivered in collaboration with Canberra Health Services (CHS).
Conducted under the auspices of the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ’s Centre for Ageing Research and Translation (CARAT), SPICE has already had a huge impact on over 250 people with dementia
and their care partners, while also raising awareness about the importance of providing rehabilitation services.
The 12-week program works to slow down disease progression, give care partners strategies and support, reduce the use of health services, minimise hospitalisation, enable people to remain in their homes longer, and maximise quality of life.
“CST remains the centrepiece of the SPICE program for people with dementia, with participants receiving 20 sessions in groups of seven to eight,” Dr D’Cunha said.
Awareness of the role in CST in dementia rehabilitation has rapidly expanded in Australia, thanks in large part to the work of CARAT PhD candidate Robyn Lewis, who coordinates the CST Australia Working Group, which provides information and support, and connects practitioners and researchers across a wide range of settings nationally.
Since 2022, the working group has grown from eight to over 50 people, and has established Australia’s first Master Trainer Isobel Sanger, who has trained over 250 new CST facilitators.
The conference will be a forum for researchers, clinicians, health care workers, people with dementia and their care partners, with speakers from across the globe to share the latest evidence, innovations, and best practices in CST – and speakers will include Professor of Clinical Psychology of Ageing Aimee Spector, who developed CST. She’s the Director of the International Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) Centre at ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ College London, and the UCL Dementia Training Academy.
CARAT will be hosting Professor Spector under the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ’s Distinguished Visiting Fellow program throughout November and December. As part of her visit, Professor Spector will lead an information session about CST for the public, conduct a dementia awareness for caregivers course, deliver lectures for researchers, participate in CST facilitator training and deliver the Gary Andrews International Fellow Address at the Australian Association of Gerontology Conference to be held in Alice Springs, Northern Territory in November.
“We’re thrilled to have Aimee and experts like Professor Martin Knapp from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Professor Gloria Wong from the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ of Reading, and Dr Kathy Peri from the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ of Auckland at the conference – their research has been fundamental in informing the evidence base for the SPICE program and promoting meaningful engagement opportunities for people with dementia,” Dr D’Cunha said.
“The conference will foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the development of new strategies to expand CST in Australia.
“We anticipate that it will further accelerate the adoption of CST, improve facilitator confidence, and ultimately benefit people with dementia and their care partners through increased awareness and recognition of the benefits.”
Submit abstracts and sign up for conference early bird registration by 31 July at .