Building an Umbrella Dementia Café during COVID takes a village!  The demand and interest to create a dementia café behind the Sorrento main street was so great, that launched online in Sept 2021 during lockdowns! It certainly set the tone for this incredibly close-knit group who may be our smallest café group (supporting 6 couples), but with the help of 8 volunteers, they are definitely our most proactive! This group is a well networked one and their stories of the cafe have had a positive ripple effect. 

As a result, they have caught the attention of many local businesses who actively fundraise on their behalf, including the Rosebud Country Club, Rye Beach Op Shop, Rye Lions Club and the Point Nepean Men’s Shed.

Due to our need to expanding and support more people, we have sadly outgrown our beloved art room at the Sorrento Community Centre. So, from Monday, August 4th, our Navigator Café will call The Hangar, on Hotham Road Sorrento, home.

We are incredibly grateful for the enduring support and exciting new partnership with the Point Nepean Men’s Shed committee, who have spearheaded this opportunity to allow us to support twice as many couples experiencing dementia in our Sorrento community. Visit the Mens Shed website learn more about how we are working together – here.  

We are very grateful to our local community supporters who activity fundraises to keep this café operating. Please get in touch if you’d like to support the Navigator Café in 2026.