Pilates 4 Parkinson’s: Vicky commemorates her father
When Vicky’s dad, John, passed away in 2022, Vicky launched ‘Pilates 4 Parkinson’s’, combining her passion for movement with an honourary fundraiser for Parkinson’s awareness, research, and support. Taking place within the stunning Hubert Estate Gallery of Art space in the Yarra Valley, Vicky offered an hour-long guided mat Pilates session to the community. This year, the second ‘Pilates […]
MSA Awareness Month 2026: Lawrie’s Story
In the 60s, Lawrie played a lot of sports, most prominently, football. Whilst starting his apprenticeship as a boilermaker and welder, he sought social interactions and friendships through playing in the seconds for Footscray, and other clubs in the western suburbs of Victoria, like Sunshine YCW and Albion FC. Sports became a major passion for Lawrie, until numerous concussions and an industrial work […]
The story behind the National Parkinson’s Action Plan
With more than 200,000 Australians affected by Parkinson’s, Australia has never had a national framework to guide how care, support, research, and policy responses should be coordinated. Recognising this gap, leaders from across the Parkinson’s community began working together to call for national action. 2023 – National taskforce established In August 2023, a national taskforce […]
National Parkinson’s Action Plan: An update from Fight Parkinson’s
The NPAP represents years of advocacy and collaboration across the Parkinson’s community and sector, led by the National Parkinson’s Alliance (NPA) of which Fight Parkinson’s is a founding member. Most importantly, it reflects the voices and experiences of more than 200,000 people living with Parkinson’s, their families, and carers. Joining us at the launch in Canberra were Sheenagh Bottrell and Pam […]
Research call-out: The eye as a window into Parkinson’s
Many people with Parkinson’s or RBD experience changes in vision. Early findings suggest that subtle differences in retinal structure, visual processing, and sensory responses may help identify these conditions earlier and more accurately. This study aims to bring together several simple, non‑invasive tests to better understand these changes and explore their potential role in future […]
Advance Care Planning Week 2026: Plan now, peace of mind later
During Advance Care Planning Week (16 – 22 March), Fight Parkinson’s is encouraging everyone in the Parkinson’s community to consider beginning the conversation on advance care planning–whether it’s with a friend, family member, or health care professional, now is a great time to embrace the topic. What is advance care planning? Advance care planning is a way to think about and record your health care preferences. It gives […]
Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) Awareness Month
What is MSA? Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a rare and progressive neurological condition that affects multiple parts of the brain. The gradual loss and shrinkage (atrophy) of nerve cells affects multiple systems in the body and symptoms can be many and varied. The symptoms worsen over time as the condition tends to advance rapidly […]
Women in the Fight Parkinson’s community: A celebration
In 2025, Shona Cross was honoured with the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for her outstanding Parkinson’s advocacy work, vulnerability in sharing her story with the world, and ambassadorship of Fight Parkinson’s. Ten years after her Parkinson’s diagnosis, Shona’s spirit of resilience, connection, and hope remains at the heart of Fight Parkinson’s. “Fight Parkinson’s have been so good to me, and I do these things because I want […]
Health care professional call-out: Have your say on ParkinsonNet Australia–the worldclass Parkinson’s care model from the Netherlands
Motivated by her own Parkinson’s diagnosis and personal experience, Professor Michele Callisaya of the University of Tasmania’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research, leads a multidisciplinary team of clinician researchers specialising in brain disease and rehabilitation. Together they plan to adapt and test the world-leading model from the Netherlands called ‘ParkinsonNet’ for regional Australians. The project aims […]
Research call-out: Join stage one of a nationally significant project to improve care for people living with Parkinson’s
The Australian model of ParkinsonNet will focus on care which has been codesigned by people living with Parkinson’s and health carers who live and work in regional Australia, which researchers believe will be crucial to its success. The project aims to: improve access to expert multidisciplinary care for people with Parkinson’s. provide specialised training opportunities for allied […]