Blog
Memory insights
The Hybrid Virtual Memory Clinic shares updates, resources and information to help patients, carers and clinicians better understand memory, cognition and dementia care.
hVMC Launches in Orange, NSW!
We are thrilled to announce that hVMC has officially launched in Orange, New South Wales — bringing specialist memory assessment services to yet another regional community for the very first time. Patients in Orange and surrounding areas can now be referred by their…
Welcome Amy Copping and Dr Tasneem Mayat!
We are excited to welcome two new members to the hVMC team as we continue to grow! Amy Copping joins as the Local Coordinator for Orange Health Service. A registered nurse, Amy will play a vital role in supporting patients and their families through the hVMC process…
COPE Training for Occupational Therapists in Orange
In February 2026, we were delighted to see 20 Occupational Therapists complete training in COPE — Care of Persons with Dementia in their Environments — in preparation for the hVMC service launch in Orange. COPE is an evidence-based intervention that supports both…
Localisation Workshops in Orange, NSW (Round 2)
In February 2026, we returned to Orange, New South Wales, for a second round of localisation workshops — building on the conversations started in June 2025 and continuing to shape the hVMC model for the Orange community. These workshops brought together local…
hVMC at Echuca Regional Health Concludes
On 5 February 2026, the hVMC program at Echuca Regional Health came to a close — marking the end of an incredible chapter in the hVMC story. What the Echuca team achieved over this period has been truly remarkable. From clearing a nine-month waiting list, to training…
Our Co-Design Research Published!
We are proud to share that our paper on the co-design process behind hVMC has been published:Low L-F, Vaccaro L, Simonetti S, Michaelian J, Mehrani I, Parkhouse J, Whyte-Ball T, Kurrle S, Brodaty H, Laver K, Pond D, Naismith SL. Co-Designing a Hybrid Virtual Memory…
hVMC Re-Launches at Echuca Regional Health!
We are delighted to announce that hVMC has officially re-launched at Echuca Regional Health — bringing specialist memory assessment services back to the Echuca community with renewed energy and the benefit of our learnings from the first phase. With Jarrod Tucker as…
Welcome, Jarrod Tucker!
We are delighted to welcome Jarrod Tucker as the new Local Coordinator at Echuca Regional Health, commencing in November 2025. Jarrod brings fresh energy and commitment to the role, and we look forward to the contributions he will make as hVMC continues to grow and…
Localisation Workshops in Orange, NSW
In June 2025, we travelled to Orange, New South Wales, to begin the process of localising the hVMC model for the Orange community — just as we did in Echuca back in 2023. Working alongside local stakeholders, we explored how the hVMC model can be adapted to fit the…
New Research Funding Secured via the MRFF
We are thrilled to announce that hVMC has been awarded new research funding through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) — a significant vote of confidence in the model and its potential to transform dementia care for regional Australians. This funding will extend…
End of Initial Intake Period: Reflecting on Nine Months at Echuca Regional Health
In March 2025, we reached the end of the initial intake period at Echuca Regional Health — a moment that called for both reflection and celebration. Over nine months, we saw 72 patients through the hVMC service. Of those triaged, 71% were seen via the virtual clinic,…
hVMC Coordinators, Jessica Parkhouse and Ruth Glanville, Present at the ERH Research Innovation Symposium
Our hVMC Coordinator, Jessica Parkhouse, and the local Coordinator, Ruth Glanville, presented at the Echuca Regional Health Research Innovation Symposium — sharing insights and outcomes from the hVMC program with the broader research and clinical community. Events…
Ruth Presents at the Understanding Dementia Community Forum in Kyabram
Our Local Coordinator in Echuca, VIC, Ruth Glanville took to the stage at the Understanding Dementia Community Forum in Kyabram, presenting a talk titled: ‘Virtual Memory Clinic — Echuca Regional Health’. Community forums like this are a wonderful opportunity to…
In the News: ‘Discovering Dementia Early’ — Riverine Herald
This just in, the Riverine Herald published an article titled ‘Discovering Dementia Early’, shining a spotlight on the hVMC service and its impact for people in the Echuca region. Media coverage like this plays an important role in raising community awareness —…
COPE Training for Occupational Therapists
In May, Occupational Therapists from the Echuca region completed training in COPE — Care of People with Dementia in their Environments — a specialised, evidence-based intervention program. COPE is designed to support both people living with dementia and their carers…
GP Training in Collaboration with Dementia Training Australia
In May, we partnered with Dementia Training Australia to deliver two professional development workshops for GPs in the Echuca region, with 21 participants attending across both sessions. CPD points were available for attendees. The first session, delivered by…
hVMC Launches at Echuca Regional Health!
We are incredibly proud to announce that the Hybrid Virtual Memory Clinic officially launched at Echuca Regional Health on 7 May 2024 — marking a landmark moment for dementia care in regional Victoria. Our team travelled to the region for our very first face-to-face…
Welcome, our local hVMC Coordinator, Ruth Glanville!
We are delighted to welcome Ruth Glanville as the Local Coordinator for hVMC at Echuca Regional Health, commencing in January 2024. As Local Coordinator, Ruth plays a central role in connecting patients and their families with the hVMC service — from initial referral…
Localisation Workshops in Echuca, VIC
In December 2023, we headed to Echuca, Victoria, for a series of localisation workshops — taking the findings from our national co-design process and working with the local community to adapt the hVMC model to their specific context. We met with approximately 20 local…
Co-Design Workshops: Building the hVMC Model Together
Between September and November 2023, we held four co-design workshops to shape the hVMC model from the ground up — with the people who matter most. With over 50 participants from across regional and remote Australia, these workshops brought together an incredibly…
Secured Funding from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
We are thrilled to share that the hVMC, as part of the Australian Dementia Network, received funding from the Australian Government’s Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. This milestone funding marks the beginning of an exciting journey to bring specialist…