Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing. Retirement can become one of life’s most rewarding chapters. And growing older should never mean giving up purpose, creativity or contribution.
Those are the messages from three of Australia’s most compelling advocates, who will come together in Adelaide this month to challenge outdated perceptions of ageing and share practical ways to live healthier, more connected lives.
Professor Henry Brodaty AO makes his first SA visit as Senior Australian of the Year
In his first visit to South Australia since being named the 2026 Australian Senior Australian of the Year, world-leading dementia researcher Professor Henry Brodaty AO will share why protecting brain health should become as routine as looking after your heart.
“Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing. Protecting your brain health should become just as routine as looking after your heart,” Professor Brodaty said.
“Healthy ageing isn’t simply about living longer — it’s about staying independent for longer, and that’s something we can influence. We’ve shown that investing in brain health doesn’t just improve lives — it actually saves the health system money. Prevention isn’t just good medicine; it’s good economics.”
Professor Brodaty has spent more than five decades advancing dementia prevention, research and care. He helped establish what is now Dementia Australia and Alzheimer’s Disease International, while pioneering research and support programs that have improved the lives of families across Australia and around the world.
South Australia’s Senior Australians of the Year
Joining Professor Brodaty are South Australia’s joint 2026 Senior Australians of the Year, award-winning sound designer James Currie and volunteer leader Mac Benoy. Their stories demonstrate that purpose, creativity and contribution need not diminish with age.
Across a career spanning more than 50 years, Currie has helped shape the sound of acclaimed Australian productions including Wolf Creek and worked alongside some of the country’s most celebrated filmmakers. Today, he says his greatest achievement isn’t the films he helped create, but the people he has mentored.
“Experience shouldn’t be retired. Some of my proudest achievements aren’t the films I made — they’re the people I’ve helped along the way,” Mr Currie said.
After taking early retirement more than 22 years ago, Mr Benoy transformed his life through volunteering, mentoring and community leadership, becoming a passionate advocate for recognising the knowledge and experience older Australians continue to offer.
“Australia’s greatest untapped resource isn’t hidden underground — it’s the knowledge, experience and skills of retired Australians,” Mr Benoy said.
Event details
Hosted by ABC Radio Adelaide’s Deb Tribe, Reshaping the Future of Ageing will be held on Wednesday 22 July, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm at U City, 43 Franklin Street, Adelaide.
The afternoon will explore brain health, dementia prevention, creativity, mentoring, volunteering, lifelong learning and finding purpose later in life.
Tickets are $35 for adults and $26 concession (plus booking fee) and are available now at australiadaysa.com.au/reshaping-the-future-of-ageing.
Nominations for the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards close on 31 July 2026. To nominate someone making an extraordinary difference in your community, visit australianoftheyear.org.au.
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