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Governor visits Emmaus Village to see the future of dementia care

Governor visits Emmaus Village to see the future of dementia care
With dementia now Australia's leading cause of death, innovative models of care have never been more important. On Saturday 25 July, Emmaus Village welcomed Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales and Administrator of the Commonwealth of Australia, for a firsthand look at a model that is helping redefine dementia care.

Set against a picture-perfect winter afternoon, the Governor toured the Village, meeting residents and staff while learning about the philosophy behind Emmaus Village and how it supports people living with dementia to maintain independence, purpose and meaningful social connection.

The visit quickly became an opportunity to experience everyday life in the Village. On the entertainment deck, residents were singing, dancing and laughing together. Visitors commented on the calm, welcoming atmosphere and the sense of community that is central to life at Emmaus Village.

Drawing on her distinguished legal career as a barrister, Federal Court judge and the first woman to serve as President of the NSW Court of Appeal, Her Excellency quickly found common ground with a resident who had also worked in the legal profession, sharing stories and reflecting on their experiences.

Joining the visit were Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan MP and Member for Port Macquarie Robert Dwyer MP. The visit recognised the strong bipartisan support that helped bring Emmaus Village to life, with significant funding contributions from both the Australian and New South Wales Governments.

The visit was an opportunity to showcase not only an internationally inspired model of dementia care, but also the extraordinary community that has grown within Emmaus Village. As Australia faces the growing impact of dementia, the Village continues to demonstrate what is possible when care is centred on dignity, independence and living well.

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Governor visits Emmaus Village to see the future of dementia care St Agnes’ Catholic Parish St Agnes’ Catholic Parish