All aboard: Brain Station brings dementia prevention to Western Sydney

Western Sydney residents will have the opportunity to step aboard Brain Station – a free, interactive, train-themed brain health public exhibition, designed to inform the community about how to support healthy ageing.

Developed by researchers at Western Sydney University, Brain Station will bring the latest evidence on brain health, healthy ageing and dementia risk reduction directly to shoppers at Westfield Parramatta from 12 – 18 October 2026.

An Australian Government-funded public engagement initiative, more than 1,000 visitors are expected to attend over the week-long event that will target Sydney's most linguistically diverse communities.

Brain Station transforms the latest research into an engaging experience, giving participants the opportunity to speak directly with researchers, take part in hands-on activities and receive a complimentary brain health gift pack that contains free evidence-based resources designed to help people adopt brain-healthy lifestyle behaviours.

The initiative has been specifically designed to address one of Australia’s growing health equity challenges, to ensure culturally and linguistically diverse communities have equitable access to dementia prevention information.

Unlike traditional public health campaigns, every aspect of the experience, including exhibition signage, interactive activities, educational resources, and take-home brain health gift packs, is available in English, Arabic, Vietnamese and Chinese.

Associate Professor Joyce Siette, project lead at Western Sydney University, said improving access to brain health information is essential if Australia is to reduce future dementia risk.

“We know that dementia risk can be influenced by lifestyle and health behaviours across the life course. Yet many culturally diverse communities remain underrepresented in health research and underserved by conventional health promotion initiatives," Associate Professor Siette said.

“Brain Station has been designed with these communities, not simply translated for them. Our goal is to make evidence-based brain health information accessible, engaging and culturally meaningful so everyone has the opportunity to take positive steps towards healthy ageing.

Reducing dementia risk requires population-wide prevention strategies that are equitable and culturally inclusive. Although nearly half of all dementia cases may be attributable to modifiable risk factors, culturally and linguistically diverse communities are frequently underrepresented in prevention research and underserved by mainstream health promotion.

The exhibition combines interactive displays, practical advice and conversations with researchers to help visitors better understand how everyday lifestyle choices—including physical activity, cardiovascular health, sleep, nutrition, cognitive stimulation and social connection—can support long-term brain health.

Brain Station will be located at Westfield Parramatta, Ground Floor, Centre Court, 159–175 Church Street, Parramatta NSW 2150, next to Starbucks and opposite Uniqlo.

It is free with no booking required. The first 1,000 visitors will receive a free brain health pack.

For more information, visit https://brainhealthhub.com.au/projects/brain-station/.

ENDS.

12 October 2026
Media Unit