Parkinson's Australia July 2026 Newsletter

Hi there,

Episode 3 of the Parkinson’s eXchange Podcast is here!

Paula Argy - From Tremors to the Catwalk: Living Boldly with Young-Onset Parkinson's: In this episode Paula shares her journey from first symptoms in her late teens to an official diagnosis at 27, navigating pregnancy and single motherhood with young-onset Parkinson’s, and the stigma she faced in the community and workplace.

Paula has lived with Parkinson's for over 35 years - a journey marked by courage, loss, resilience, and ultimately, hope. But in 2020, everything changed. A new advanced therapy transformed her life. Within weeks, she regained her mobility, independence, and zest for life - reclaiming the ability to walk, dance, socialise, travel, and feel joy once more.

Listen in for this inspiring story with Paula here: https://hubs.la/Q04n0NM20

Next online topics: Employment & Sleep

Attend a roundtable: Our next Parkinson's Australia Roundtable features Lachlan McGregor from Maurice Blackburn, providing an overview of employment law and what it means for people living with Parkinson's.

THURS 30 JULY 1.30pm ACST

Join our webinar: Parkinson's Australia is teaming up with the Sleep Health Foundation and the Tasmanian Parkinson's Project to bring you a very eye-opening webinar on Improving Sleep with Parkinson’s: Stories, symptoms, & supports with a couple's lived experience stories, a Neurologist and a Parkinson's Nurse to give you tips around the reality of sleep issues and how to overcome some of the challenges.

WEDS 5 AUGUST 11.30am-12.30pm ACST

We look forward to seeing you online!

Sign up link for online session

Sign up link for Sleep webinar

Our advocacy work

Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee’s Inquiry on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) extended the timeline for submissions until THIS FRIDAY 10 July. We will be putting in a supplementary submission on top of what we have already done. See our NDIS campaign page for more.

Senate inquiry into the Support at Home program closes 31 July. We are working with other peak organisations, like the Genetic Alliance Australia, to get an additional 1,000 submissions before the closing date with our #needsnotanumber Aged Care campaign. See our Aged Care Reform campaign page for more information.

NDIS reform Campaign Page

Aged Care Campaign Page

Clinical trials needing your participation

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) CURIOUS Study

The University of Melbourne (Vascular Bionics Laboratory, led by Professor Nick Opie and team) wants to hear from people living with movement disorders and those who care for them. We want to understand what matters most to people when thinking about DBS; what questions or worries they have; how DBS and similar treatments affect them and their families.

Your views will help guide the design of future DBS treatments, including less invasive options.

Find out more on our clinical trials page or the button below.

DBS CURIOUS Research

TAS Blood Collections | PwP

Do you live in Tasmania and want to help improve our understanding of Parkinson’s disease?

Researchers are inviting people with Parkinson's or Parkinson's plus conditions to take part in a new study collecting blood samples and clinical information to better understand the genetics of these conditions.

You can register online now or contact us directly so we can help you enrol: email us at parkinsons@utas.edu.au or call 03 6226 5640.