1. Local Book Club, The Gap, Brisbane. 7 July 2008

 

Vince was invited to discuss his book with particular reference to his role as carer, and the ways that the importance of funding for research toward a cure could be attained.

 

 2. Catholic Health Australia National Conference, Gold Coast. 26 August 2008

 

Vince was invited to speak on his experience as a carer for one with Alzheimer's disease with respect to prayer and the receipt of Communion as part of the launch of a document produced by Catholic Health Australia entitled, "Ministering to people with dementia: a pastoral guide". The document has been distributed to every catholic parish in Australia. Vince's book has been quoted in the document. 

 

3. Volunteer's, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane. 27 August 2008

 

Vince was invited to share with the body of volunteers at Greenslopes Private Hospital something of his lived experience as a carer and to suggest ways that may assist carers that came out of his own experience and study.

 

 4. Ozcare, Southern Region Development Day. 10 September 2008

 

Vince was invited by Robert McNamara to address the staff in attendance at their development day at Springwood. He shared his experience as a prime carer highlighting his and his wife Margaret's reaction to their experiences with care providers within their own home, through respite services and ultimately within a nursing home environment. Ozcare had been one of the service providers for himself and Margaret before Margaret entered a nursing home.

 

 5. Alzheimer's Australia NT, Alice Springs. 18 September 2008

 

Some 35 carers working in the Alice Springs region were invited to have morning tea with Vince. He spoke to them for 30 minutes and followed that formal event up with a question and answer period. This event was organised by Alzheimer's Australia NT which has an office serving the Alice Springs region.

 

 6. Keynote Address, Alzheimer's Australia NT, Darwin. 21 September 2008

 

The major event to kick start Alzheimer's awareness week was a dinner held at the Darwin Casino. It was attended by some 90 guests including the Territory Minister for Ageing and the head of the Department of Health. Vince was invited to be the keynote speaker for the event. Apart from his address he participated as part of a panel to field questions from those present. The following day he met with a number of prime carers to exchange experiences and to offer support for the work ahead for them.

 

 7. Author's Evening, Mary Ryan Hervey Bay. 25 September 2008

 

Meegan and Paul Ryan invited Vince to their Mary Ryan bookshop at Hervey Bay for an Author's Evening. Some 65 people attended a most successful evening which began at 7pm and concluded at 9.15pm. The format was for Vince to speak for 30 minutes and then take questions from the audience. The following morning Vince attended the store for a couple of hours to sign books and to meet with patrons.

 

 8. Staff of Brisbane Catholic Education Office. 10 October 2008

 

A 30 minute discussion of the formation of the book and its contents followed by questions and answers from those in attendance.

 

 9. Guest Speaker at the Aspley Rotary Club, Brisbane. 13 November 2008

 

Attended by some 35 members, Vince spoke for 20 minutes on the nature of the disease and his role as a prime carer. There were a number of perinent questions from the floor following the address.

 

10. Guest Speaker at the Alzheimer's Forum for Wide bay. 4 November 2008

 

Vince was invited to address the final meeting of the year held in Bundaberg. His address outlined his experiences as a prime carer and then offered a critique of services provide by outside bodies during his wife's struggle with Alzheimer's viz. respite care, in-home services and nursing home care. He was well received and invited to speak at other functions in the new year in regional Queensland.

 

11. Guest Speaker at Maryborough. 5 February 2009

 

Vince spoke first to the prime carers of residents of the Aged Care Facility. Later in the day he addressed the staff. Both were well received.

 

12. Ozcare Southern Region Staff Inservice. February 2009-April 2009

 

Vince has been engaged to provide an inservice package for staff employed in the Southern Region of Ozcare. He has spoken to more than 300 staff members during this period at 8 different locations including the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Ipswich, New Farm and Shailer Park. Staff feedback the usefulness for them to hear of the first hand experiences of a prime carer with whom they work so closely in their careers.

 

13. Guest Speaker for Alzheimer's Association Queensland forums. March 2009

 

Vince was invited to talk of his journey with Alzheimer's to audiences of prime carers. On 2 March he addressed a gathering of over 60 people in Toowoomba and on 31 March some 40 carers at Noosaville. The audiences seemed to appreciate greatly hearing from one of their 'own'.

 

14. Guest Speaker Queensland University Psychology Department. 25 May 2009

 

Vince was invited through the Alzheimer's Association Queensland to speak to third year psychology students on the role of carer. This was organised by the Parenting and Family Support  Centre, School of Psychology. Approximately 40-50 students were in attendance.

 

15. Participation as Guest in Carer Support Groups. July - August 2009

 

Vince attended several support groups organised through Alzheimer's Association Queensland. He learned much from listeneing to the nature of the caring role of many others. Their experiences were invaluable in informing him of the uniqueness of the role and the plight of so many other carers. Of particular interest was meeting with the Young Onset group and a group of male carers.

 

16. Guest Speaker at Gladstone and Rockhampton Dementia Forums. 16 -17 July 2009

 

The forums had been organised largely by Blue Care. There were some 30 persons at each of the forums. They comprised both prime carers and service providers. Vince's theme was of his caring role.

 

17. Launch of Continence Awareness Week. 31 July 2009

 

Vince was asked to share the podium at the Canberra breakfast launch with Tania Hayes. Some 70 guests were present. His 10 minute input highlighted the tremendous stress placed on the carer when faecal incontinence is a daily reality for the carer.

 

18. Development of a Training DVD for Alzheimer's Association Qld. August 2009

 

Vince was invited to be the voice of one carer as part of training DVD developed by Alzheimer's Association Queensland.

 

19. Guest Speaker  at Forum held at Garden City. 11 August 2009 

 

Vince shared his experiences as a carer with particular reference to the imact of the caring role on the carer. The forum was held at the Garden City Library. Some 50 people were in attendance.

 

20. Guest Speaker at Symposia, University of Qld. 27 - 28 August 2009

 

Vince was one of four speakers asked to address first year medical students on caring for the carer. Students from the Brisbane and Ipswich campuses of the University of Queensland attended the symposia. The symposia ran over a two hour period. The first was attended by some 175 studnets and the second by 20 from the Ipswich campus. They were organised by the School of Population Health.

 

21. Guest Speaker for STEPS at Gin Gin. 8 September 2009

 

Vince was invited to speak about the caring role to indigenous people at Gin Gin. He addressed a small gathering and was very well received. He has a similar engagement in October for STEPS to be held at Bundaberg.

 

22. Guest Speaker at Pine Woods Aged Care Centre. 23 September 2009

 

Vince spent time with 10 prime carers who form a support group under Blue Care at this facility at Lawnton. The response was very positive as carers know that Vince has walked in their shoes.

 

23. Guest Speaker at Sunshine Coast University. 30 September 2009

 

Vince was invited to share his experiences with a small group of fifth year psychology students being tutored by Dr Alanda Thompson.