Kirsty Bennett

Kirsty's role at Dementia Training Australia

Kirsty brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role. She is a practising architect, a UK Dementia Services Development Centre Design Associate, and Co-author 2020 ADI World Report on the Built Environment https://www.alz.co.uk/research/world-report-2020. Her knowledge from studying gerontology and being a voluntary caregiver offers insights which complement her architectural knowledge.

She is co-author with Professor Richard Fleming of Dementia Training Australia’s (DTA’s) Environmental Design Resources (the first reference under Standard 5).

Kirsty has visited residential aged care and acute sites across Australia and overseas, focusing on how environments can empower older people.

One of the things Kirsty loves best is going on site (after a DTA Environments education session) and walking around with staff and seeing the design principles in action.

“There is nothing better than seeing someone look around and say ‘Oh, now I see what you mean. All the corridors look the same! How could anyone find their way?’ And then start to talk about the simple things they can do to change them.”

What you do at DTA

I am a Senior Academic Consultant for the DTA Environments team. This role allows me to combine my practice experience as an architect and my academic interests (as a researcher and PhD candidate at Swinburne University) as I provide advice and develop resources which capture the latest evidence based research. I also look for case studies which show best practice and collaborate with industry.​

What’s your favourite part of your job?

I enjoy seeing and reading about what people are doing in very different parts of Australia. It is great to be able to think about how we can work with them to improve environments so they can support people living with dementia​.

How would your colleagues describe you?

Enthusiastic, passionate, dedicated

What’s a usual 'day in the office' like for you?

There is no usual day which is what I love. It could be reading an article, recording an interview, visiting a site, or speaking to a DON on the phone.

What’s your favourite font and why?

Calibri, clear, but has a 'bit of design'

Something on your bucket list that you’d care to share?

​Going to the Ring Cycle in Bayreuth