Christine Bryden and the voices we still need to hear

Christine Bryden was one of the first Australians with dementia to speak out, not just as an advocate, but as a scientist, policy adviser, and person living through the experience.

Long before person-centred care became policy, Christine was showing us what it looked like in practice. Not just acknowledging the person, but staying curious about who they are now, not only who they were.

More than a decade ago, Christine shared her journey in a national interview. For me, hearing her speak about the need to shift the conversation — from caring for dementia to caring for people living with dementia — marked a pivotal moment.

But 11 years on, are we really doing enough?

Her words continue to inspire us at Allevico and they resonate deeply with moments I have experienced firsthand, caring for people with dementia and trying to understand the person behind the patient.

Christine reminded us that people living with dementia still have something to say, and something to teach us. But we have to meet them where they are. On their terms. In their time.

Our job is to listen, and to remember for them, when they can’t.

What if that didn’t rely on a caregiver’s memory, or a care plan buried in a file, but on simple, intuitive, personalised insights, available right when and where they are needed most?

Founder Reflections

• “Paul Murray, Paul Kirschner and I founded Allevico because we feel that more can be done, faster, to have a real impact in improving personalised care.”  Paul Murphy

• “What if the insights that reduce distress also reduced operational complexity? When care starts with context, perhaps the risk lowers, effort eases, and systems run smoother.” Paul Kirschner

• “In tech, memory is designed to be accessible when and where it’s needed. Shouldn’t our care systems do the same?”  Paul Murray