Parliamentary Friends of ME/CFS

Parliamentary Friends Groups are formally recognised. Their recognition lasts for the term of Parliament. This was the first meeting of the Parliamentary Friends of ME/CFS for the 47th Parliament.

Thank you to Senator Jordon Steele-John and Maria Vamvakinou MP, Co-Chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of ME/CFS, for convening this meeting and to their staff for coordinating the event.

Thank you also to the many people who attended, either in-person or online, to learn about ME/CFS and the challenges facing our community.

Thank you to the other presenters, Andrew Bretherton, Call for Change Australia, and Anne Wilson, CEO Emerge Australia, for so clearly portraying the need for urgent action.

Thank you to the moderator, Sophie Scott.

ME/CFS Australia's presentation

Due to a delayed start, Spokesperson for ME/CFS Australia, Penelope McMillan, was asked to cut her presentation time in half; and due to technical difficulties, she was unable to share the slides. Due to many requests from the ME/CFS community and others, the planned presentation appears here.

Presentation: slides, transcript, video below.

Other presentations

Transcripts:
Andrew Bretherton, Call for Change Australia
Anne Wilson, CEO Emerge Australia

Media coverage of the event

ABC News article
Queensland scientists push for new national treatment guidelines for chronic fatigue syndrome

ABC Radio
SA Afternoons with Sonya Feldhoff
Segment: 30:00-43:53

Additional information on the presentation

ABC News article
Port Lincoln family left with no option but to stay and defend as flames approached home

Alem Matthee's advocacy