Alzheimer’s Australia Vic launches new ’30 Years of Memories’ social media app via Working3
Alzheimer’s Australia Vic is celebrating 30 Years of Memories with the release of its new Facebook app via Melbourne digital agency Working3.
Through this activity, Alzheimer’s Australia Vic hopes to promote three decades of commitment to people living with dementia, their families and carers in an interesting and engaging way. The new app invites members of the organisation’s Facebook community to discover an interesting fact about something that happened on their birthday during the past 30 years.
Find out what momentous occasion you share your birthday with … Was the Leaning Tower of Pisa closed to the public amidst fears that its lean had become too dangerous? Was the first Apple Mackintosh computer released? Did a decomposing sperm whale explode on the streets of Taiwan? Was YouTube launched to the general public for the first time?
Says Maree McCabe, CEO of Alzheimer’s Australia Vic: “For three decades Alzheimer’s Australia Vic has ensured the people of Victoria know we are here with them when a diagnosis of dementia is received or when they have any concerns or questions. The education, information and support that we provide really does change the lives of people living with dementia, their carers and their families.”
McCabe went on to say that the new app is a fun way to engage Alzheimer’s Australia Vic’s ever increasing online community.
Says McCabe: “We are constantly striving to ensure we are harnessing the most effective ways of communicating with our audience. Our Facebook community has seen rapid growth over the past twelve months and we have noted that our followers are becoming increasingly vocal, which is great.
“Aside from providing a platform to promote our organisation’s activities, we believe that through Facebook we are fostering an online community that can provide support to one another. Our 30 Years of Memoriesapp is an entertaining way of giving back to this audience and I would encourage everybody to give it a try.”
Alzheimer’s Australia Vic’s first ever public meeting was held on March 8, 1983 in response to public concern over the lack of information, resources and residential care for people living with dementia. The first Annual General Meeting was held later that year on September 13.
By 1993 Alzheimer’s Australia Vic had 4,000 people attending its education and training sessions. This more than doubled by 2003 to 8,800 before doubling again with over 15,000 attending our education programs during the last financial year.
Our National Dementia Helpline was receiving around 1,200 calls annually by 1993. This has increased dramatically in the ensuing years, with 4,015 calls received in the last financial year.
In 2013 it is estimated there are 74,600 people living with dementia in Victoria and that is projected to almost double by 2030, increasing to more than 141,000.