Building Bridges Network Monthly Events
Upcoming Events
We host regular events that balance connection with practical insight, so attendees leave with new relationships, fresh ideas, and clear next steps.
Watch out for more information
about our upcoming event this June!
Building Bridges Network is a business-to-business community platform built for the community services sector. Our purpose is to strengthen how organisations work together by making it easier to connect with the right people, exchange real-world knowledge, and build trusted referral and collaboration pathways.
We bring together providers, professionals, sector leaders, and purpose-aligned partners creating a place where information becomes action and relationships turn into outcomes.
28 May 2026 - Thursday Afternoon
Venue: Global Rehabilitation Service Office, Silverwater
Understanding Dementia and Cognitive Impairment: Building Better Support Around the Person
Building Bridges Network brings together another event this June! This month, we’re exploring the growing role of technology across the disability, aged care, health, and community services sectors. From artificial intelligence and automation to assistive technology, digital systems, and service innovation, we’ll be discussing how technology is shaping the future of care and support.
Join us this month for another Building Bridges Network for an afternoon of learning, connection, and real conversations.
Register Now and Join Us!
More about this Event
Building Bridges Network Event | Join the Conversation
Understanding Dementia & Cognitive Impairment Join the Conversation
How do we better support people living with dementia or cognitive impairment as their needs change over time?
Dementia and cognitive impairment can significantly impact how a person communicates, makes decisions, manages daily routines, and experiences the world around them. For providers, families, and professionals, the challenge is not only understanding the diagnosis, but learning how to respond with patience, flexibility, and person-centred support.
This Building Bridges event will explore practical approaches to supporting people living with dementia or cognitive impairment across disability, aged care, health, and community settings. The discussion will focus on dignity, communication, risk, behaviour, decision-making, and how providers can work together to improve safety, consistency, and quality of life.
This event is designed to bring the sector together to share knowledge, strengthen practice, and better understand how we can support people as their needs change over time.
Gain Practical Insight into Dementia & Cognitive Support
This May, Building Bridges Network brings together professionals, providers, and community voices for an important conversation focused on practical approaches to supporting people across disability, aged care, health, and community settings.
This session is designed to explore the real-world challenges surrounding communication, behaviour, decision-making, risk, and person-centred support while strengthening the way services and professionals work together around the individual.
We bring together professionals and providers to explore the bigger picture where communication, dignity, collaboration, and practical support come together to create more connected and responsive support systems.
What to learn and expect at this event:
- Dementia and cognitive impairment
- Dual diagnosis: dementia plus another mental health, neurological, psychosocial, behavioural, or psychological presentation
- Behaviours of concern as communication
- Understanding unmet needs
- Reducing staff injury and occupational violence
- Moving from reactive behaviour management to proactive, relationship-based support
- The importance of life story, environment, triggers, and meaningful connection
- Equipping managers and frontline teams with practical tools they can take back into their workplaces
Guest Speaker
Tatjana Jokic
Tatjana Jokic brings more than 20 years of experience as a psychologist, workplace rehabilitation specialist, organisational consultant, and leader in psychological health and workplace safety.
As the Managing Director of JK Corporate Resourcing, Tatjana has worked across health, aged care, rehabilitation, workplace injury, mental health, and organisational wellbeing. Her work is deeply practical, helping organisations understand the link between behaviour, environment, psychological safety, staff capability, and client outcomes.
At this event, Tatjana will share insights from the Resident Experience Ambassador Program, a pilot that challenged traditional approaches to behaviour management by focusing on unmet needs, life story, meaningful connection, and proactive support. Her session will give attendees practical ideas they can take back into their own workplaces to better support clients, reduce escalation, and improve safety for both staff and the people they care for.
Why Join Us?
Why this event matters and why you should join us!
When behaviour is better understood, support becomes safer, more person-centred, and more effective.
Through shared discussion and practical perspectives, the session will explore practical takeaways:
- A clearer understanding of dementia and dual diagnosis
- A better way to interpret behaviours of concern.
- An introduction to the unmet needs model.
- Practical prompts for gathering better client/resident information.
- A stronger understanding of how life story impacts behaviour and support.
- Strategies to reduce escalation and improve staff safety.
- Ideas for managers who are dealing with staff injuries linked to behaviours of concern.
- A mindset shift from “managing behaviour” to “understanding and responding to need.”
- Basic skills to take back into workplaces and start changing team conversations.
April Event Vendor Sponsors
The Co-Group is an Australian not-for-profit workforce and business services provider for disability, aged care and community services.
Independent Living Specialists are Australian leaders in healthcare equipment solutions.
Providing high quality Mobility Equipment and Assistive Aids to the Disability, Aged Care, Home Care, Hospitals, and Rehabilitation sectors since 2015.
Mainstream Exhibitors
Free nationwide support for carers, including counselling, coaching, respite, and tailored support services.
A central place to find information and services across employment, housing, health, and everyday living.
Sydney Water is Australia’s largest water utility, providing water, wastewater, recycled water and some stormwater services to Greater Sydney.
Delivering emergency relief, food support, and assistance during hardship.
Helping resolve disputes with energy and water providers through a free, independent service.
Supporting individuals and families affected by Leukodystrophy – a group of genetic neurodegenerative conditions – through information, advocacy, connection, and practical support.
If you believe your personal information has been stolen, used, or accessed without your knowledge or consent, our advisors can simplify the process and guide you through protecting your identity, accounts, and devices.
Providing legal support and advocacy for people with intellectual disability and cognitive impairment.
At EmployAbility, we bring first-hand experience of disability to the forefront, making us true experts in disability employment.
Providing support with wills, estate planning, financial management, and trustee services, helping people plan ahead and protect their interests.
NSW Trustee and Guardian is a NSW Government agency that supports the rights, welfare and interests of the people of NSW.
Palliative Care NSW is the peak body and leading voice for our members and the community, promoting quality palliative care for everyone.
We promote the rights of older people and adults with disability to live free from abuse in their family, home and community
The NSW Police Force works with the community to reduce crime, improve safety, and protect people and property through prevention, response, and emergency services.
Our Annual Sponsors
Thank you to all our Annual Sponsors
and Event Vendors!
A sincere thank you to our Annual Premium Sponsors. Building Bridges simply wouldn’t exist without the organisations which choose to invest in knowledge-sharing, connection, and stronger outcomes across our community. Your ongoing support is what makes these events possible and we’re genuinely grateful
Vendor Premier
Partner Plus
Partner
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If you’re interested in collaborating, speaking, or exploring partnership opportunities, we’d love to hear from you.