Breaking Down Barriers

The Parliamentary Friends of Epilepsy group was relaunched in Federal Parliament at the end of March, coinciding with World Purple Day (March 26) and epilepsy awareness month.

Launched by co-chairs Henry Pike MP (Member for Bowman QLD) and Dr Gordon Reid MP (Member for Robertson NSW), the Parliamentary Friends of Epilepsy will provide a forum for nonpartisan discussion on issues concerning those impacted by epilepsy.

Together with stakeholders from across the country, including affiliate member organisations under Epilepsy Australia and the Epilepsy Smart Australia Project, the Australian Epilepsy Project, the Epilepsy Society of Australia and Seer, Epilepsy Queensland was represented in Canberra at the launch by Chief Executive Chris Dougherty, Board Chair Sam Bryce, and Patron Wally Lewis.

With the World Health Organisation’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan giving us a framework on what we need to do to help change the world of epilepsy, together, we have a vision for an Epilepsy Smart Queensland which we look forward to working with government of all levels to achieve.

We are advocating for a national strategy, supported by Federal and State government, and are hopeful of the outcomes we can achieve through the Parliamentary Friends of Epilepsy.