The DAMPAA Project:

A Dementia prevention and risk Management Program for Aboriginal Australians project

The DAMPAA program was designed to reduce memory and thinking decline for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 45 years and over. The program targeted key dementia risk factors, including physical inactivity, falls, head injury and cardiovascular factors. 

Co-developed in 2018 with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCHO) partners: Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service, Moorditj Koort Aboriginal Corporation, and Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service, and coordinated by Aboriginal Health Practitioners, the DAMPAA program was trialled from 2021-2024.

The following culturally informed resources focusing on improving brain health for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were developed from the DAMPAA program. Click on each heading to find the DAMPAA brain health and medicine use posters, DAMPAA manuals and publications. Click on each resource to begin download.

 5 Tips - Brain Health posters 

                                   

DAMPAA Good Brain Health              DAMPAA Be Active                            DAMPAA Eat Healthy                                                

                   

DAMPAA Heart and Spirit                DAMPAA Protect Your Head                DAMPAA Stay Connected         

To download the Poster click on poster title.

 

Good Medicine Use for Elders poster 

DAMPAA Good Medicine use for Elders          

DAMPAA Publications

  • Process evaluation of a dementia prevention program for Aboriginal Australians (DAMPAA) using a Theory of Change framework. Rohit A, Yappo L, Lalovic A, Dowden G, Markey L, Little N, Basile A, Mateo-Arriero I, Cox KL, Pestell CF, Flicker L, Thompson S, Woods D, Edgill P, Hill K, Bessarab D, Milte R, Etherton-Beer C, LoGiudice D, Lin I, Kickett C, Ratcliffe J, Almeida OP, Hyde Z, Smith K. Qualitative Health Research. 2025. 
  • Community-based dementia risk management and prevention program for Aboriginal Australians (DAMPAA): a randomised controlled trial study protocol.  Lalovic A, Dowden G, Markey L, Bynder M, Yappo L, Cox KL, Mateo-Arriero I, Flicker L, Bessarab D, Thompson S, Kickett C, Woods D, Pestell CF, Edgill P, Hill K, Etherton-Beer C, LoGiudice D, Almeida OP, Lin I, Milte R, Ratcliffe J, Hyde Z, Smith K.BMJ Open. 2024 Sep 13;14(9):e088281. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088281.
  • Co-design of dementia prevention program for Aboriginal Australians (DAMPAA). Matero-Arriero I, Lalovic A, Dowden D, Markey L, Cox KL, Flicker L, Bessarab D, Thompson S, Kickett C, Woods D, Pestell CF, Edgill P, Etherton-Beer C, Smith K. Alzheimers Dement. 2023 Oct; 19(10):4564-4571. doi: 10.1002/alz.13032