Society for the Arts in Dementia Care

Affiliates - Australia

Executive Board - Australia

Maree Maclachlan, BAppSc(OT),
Maree MacLachlan graduated as an occupational therapist BAppSc(OT) in 2005. She has worked in mental health, aged care facilities, public hospital and is currently working in a private hospital. Her interest in Aged Care and especially people with dementia started when working with Hilary Lee on the Cherished Memories, Childhood Dreams Tapestry Project as a student. She presented at Better Practice Aged Conference in Perth on the projects competed under Hilary’s supervision “Spiritual Garden” and Tapestry Project. She was treasurer then Convener of the Aged Care Interest Group in WA 2006. In 2007 through her involvement in the Tapestry project she gave a lecture and workshop to Japanese OT and PT students in Brisbane. In 2007 she became involved in the Society for the Arts in Dementia Care (Australia). As secretary to the society, she helped organise The Fourth International Conference for the Society in partnership with Aged and Community Services SA and NT in Adelaide 2009 and Symposium in June 2010. She has now taken on the role of chair for the society with Hilary Lee still playing a vital role but staying on as founder.

Hilary Lee, MSc, OTR
Hilary is the Founder of the Society for the Arts in Dementia Care in Australia, having brought the society from Vancouver, Canada, where it was first introduced by Dr Dalia Gottlieb-Tanaka. She is also the Co Founder of the Spark of Life Foundation with a global focus on education, research and innovation. Hilary has undertaken many projects in dementia care. These include easing the transition to residential care, the early identification and prevention of depression, and a multidisciplinary approach to palliative care. She has published articles on many of her projects and has developed the Creative Expression Abilities Assessment tool (CEAA) in collaboration with Dr Dalia Gottlieb-Tanaka and Professor Peter Graf at the University of British Columbia

Jo Marshall has a background in management and education. She is passionate about facilitating a work place or a “school place” that is challenging and satisfying - a place where people can make meaningful contribution and also grow and develop - considering that we spend a large proportion of our lives in these spaces.

Jo has an MBA Advanced (UWA 2000) and completed the Diploma of Professional Coaching with Coach School in 2004. Jo has worked at Edith Cowan University and The University of Western Australia, and now works at Central Institute of Technology in Management and Business. Jo recently completed a Masterclass in Instructional Intelligence (Advanced Facilitation) Her current challenge is in redeveloping sessions from classroom delivery to “simulated workplaces” to help engage students and make the learning process even more interesting and practical. As part of this process, Jo has facilitated Diploma level class groups in planning and managing conferences for real world clients including CECD.

Trisha Kotai-Ewers

As the only child of creative parents Trisha Kotai-Ewers was active in the worlds of dance, craft and song before becoming immersed in writing. With a professional background in teaching languages in government and independent schools, Trisha has an MPhil in Medieval and Renaissance Studies and is now completing a PhD on the history of the Fellowship of Australian Writers (WA), of which she is currently president.

Trisha’s book Listen to the Talk of Us: People with dementia speak out, published by Alzheimer’s Australia (WA) in May 2007, drew on her findings as Writer in Residence with people with dementia.

The Society for the Arts in Dementia Care Vancouver Canada presents
Conferences & Workshops on Creative Expression, Communication and Dementia with support from our affiliate
Society for the Arts in Dementia Care Perth Australia