Hey! I’m Cameron and I am the Marketing Manager and a Graphic Designer as part of the Communications Team for the Desert Rose. I guess my role with the Communications Team is to get as many people in the public aware about all the insane innovations, design and livability solutions that are going into the Desert Rose to make it the most sustainable and suitable for our ageing population.
I got involved with this project because I have had two grandparents that lived with dementia before their passing, both spent there last years in a home that was not equipped for their conditions. It left them unstimulated and often injured. I believe that the work being done on the Desert Rose would have improved their quality of life throughout these years. When the opportunity came knocking at the door to be part of such an amazing project and help to spread the message and innovation of the Desert Rose it seemed the perfect way I could use my skills for something I am passionate about.
Our team wants to make a change in the sustainability and aged living sectors to last into the future. We are making sure we are partnering with organisations to not only learn the issues that the Desert Rose needs to work towards resolving but also to teach the organisations of our discoveries and steps forward too. One of our community partners is Dementia Australia. Dementia Australia works on the ground supporting those in our community living with Dementia and Alzheimer’s and does significant work in educating our community about these diseases and making a dementia-friendly Australia. As part of this partnership every member of Team UOW is participating in Dementia Australia’s Dementia Friendly Communities program. This trains us about the effects of the disease, including carers and family, how we can be more supportive and inclusive of those living with dementia and how to break down stigma.
Last Sunday the 4th of March, Team UOW rose up nice and early to meet down at Stuart Park to participate in Wollongong’s Memory Walk and Jog organised by Dementia Australia. This is an awareness and fundraising walk. The team split up across the three different events; the 9km run, the 5km walk and the 2km walk. I took part in the 5km walk. It was a great day to chat with some of those most affected by dementia. The event was hosted by Doris Younane who gave our project a little shout out which was great.
It was a great day to get out in the community as a team and help raise funds and awareness while also letting more people know about the Desert Rose!
