Our Story

The Resparke journey started nine years ago when, having spent much of my career in technology, I returned to study social impact to explore how technology could be used to create real impact.

While studying, my father-in-law Arthur was diagnosed with dementia. His condition deteriorated quickly, and he moved into care. I witnessed firsthand the changes in his behaviour and the immense challenges staff faced in supporting him. At the same time, I experienced silent disco technology for the first time and simply loved the immersive and joyful experience it created.

It sparked an idea. I realised this technology could be applied in a completely new way to support people living with dementia. I knew the music Arthur loved, and through my research I had come to understand the power of music and reminiscence therapy. One day, I trialled it with him as he sat slumped in a chair. He looked up, his eyes twinkled, and he came alive, dancing with staff to his favourite song, Fly Me to the Moon.

In that moment, I knew the challenge was not only how to help Arthur, but how to make this possible for every resident in care. I needed to find a way to make it easy for staff to deliver not just any music, but deeply meaningful and personal experiences at scale. An initial pilot study proved the concept worked. It was not only effective, but a much-needed solution for aged care teams. It helped carers support people living with dementia in a way that was joyful, engaging and completely innovative. It was a world first.

Since then, Resparke has grown far beyond the initial idea. We expanded our content platform and hardware solutions significantly in response to the evolving needs of aged care homes and the broader community. Today, we have trained thousands of staff and supported hundreds of homes across Australia and New Zealand. Most importantly, we know that thousands of residents have experienced the same kind of moment I shared with Arthur all those years ago.