They are determined to pool their experience with the disease and their passion for advocacy, particularly in raising awareness among a younger demographic.

Nick Locandro, Brittany Rose and Meg Curnow each made their own impact in the past year to boost the profile of what it truly means to be a dementia-friendly community.

Now they are teaming up as This is Dementia, a not-for-profit body to channel their energies together on the growing, complex issue in Ballarat.

"All the events we've done have raised money for Dementia Australia - and it's been fantastic for all of us - but we also wanted to do something really special here in Ballarat," Mr Locandro said.

"We can reach a different audience, like through different social media use, and reach a lot more people than traditional dementia awareness groups... We can help make this a community issue."

More than 3,100 Ballarat people are living with dementia.

This is projected to increase to almost 4,300 Ballarat people in the next decade and to 7,000 by 2058, according to Dementia Australia. Dementia is the second biggest cause of death in Australia.

Each set out last year to make a difference in breaking the 'old person' stigma of dementia, spurred on by their personal experience.

Mr Locandro, a professional cyclist, rode from Uluru to Ballarat in tribute to his father Sam, who died with aggressive, early on-set dementia.

Ms Rose hosted a community memory walk for her grandfather Harold, who would walk Lake Wendouree every morning.

Ms Curnow hosted a golf charity event for her mother Wilma, who lives with early on-set dementia.

They are united in their vision to give dementia voice and feel they can do this best by working as one.

One key focus for the group is support for Eyres House, a long-time day respite care tucked away on Ligar Street. The Ballarat Health Services-run centre used to have a program for people living with younger on-set dementia - awareness in what it could offer was crucial to get it up and running again.

Their other aim is to work with BHS and Eyres House for a blue-print on what a dementia-friendly Ballarat could mean.

For more, visit @thisisdementia on Facebook.

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