We know we are entering a period of transformation in aged care.

Greater public recognition will also be critical in encouraging prevention and early intervention, and more generally in building public support to meet the challenges of dementia.

Prevention is one of the few known ways to reduce demand for health and aged care services.

Ageing means a loss of a number of skills over time.

Advances in science and medical research and public health policies have meant that life expectancy for Australians is one of the highest in the world.

Today it has been estimated that the average 70 year old has four chronic conditions and consumes an average of 35 PBS scripts per year for those conditions.

At the last census it indicated that about 22 per cent of Australians were born overseas.