Michael Preston is a trained and qualified aged carer with the Australian Nursing Federation.

In 2015 Michael graduated from the University of Tasmania with a degree in dementia care. Since then he has completed post graduate studies in Arts & Dementia & Creativity in Ageing.

During his career, Michael worked in a memory support facility in Gerringong, NSW where he used music, arts, drama and laughter therapy for a range of people living with dementia. He continues to work at the aged care home as a chef on weekends.

While he is now semi-retired from Kiama Council, Michael was a leading member of the Kiama Dementia-Friendly Alliance until 2022, when funding ended.

“During the 2020 pandemic it was doubtful if the project would survive until I introduced Zoom locally to connect people living with dementia, their carers and service providers. The invitation was extended to Victoria, Queensland, WA, and Alzheimer’s Singapore attending the weekly afternoon Zoom sessions. We held live presentations from the United States of America at the Alliance AGM Zoom meetings in 2020 and 2021. Zoom helped to put dementia on the global map.”

Following the end of the dementia project, Michael was appointed as the NSW Seniors Festival Lead Officer, coordinating the festival events in Kiama. He is also involved with Monash University and a new project titled FamilyShare.