Parkinson's Australia September 2026 Newsletter: Advocacy wins & CMAX

BREAKING NEWS: OUR LATEST ADVOCACY WIN!

THERE WILL BE AN APVMA SENATE INQUIRY

Parkinson’s Australia has welcomed yesterday's establishment of a parliamentary inquiry into a government watchdog’s failure to ban a herbicide that is globally linked to an increased risk of Parkinson's.

Senators Pocock and Steele-John talk about why an inquiry is needed to determine how the APVMA came up with their decision to NOT #BanParaquat in Australia.

After 30 years of the APVMA reviewing the highly toxic chemical, and in that time over 70 countries and a number of US States have banned it, we ask, why not here?

Watch the Australian Parliament House Streaming Portal - Senate Video

MORE advocacy work.

My Aged Care Reforms

Parkinson's Australia made a submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Support at Home Program and provided evidence to the Committee, highlighting concerns that the reforms do not adequately address the needs of people living with progressive neurological conditions such as Parkinson's. We called for a needs-based approach that recognises disability, fluctuating symptoms, specialised care requirements, and the significant role of unpaid carers.

Tina & Olivia testifying at the Senate Inquiry on Support at Home

Watch the Senate Community Affairs References Committee

Parkinson's eXchange Podcast

We hope you have been enjoying our new podcast. EP4 is now out, with Rex & Ann sharing their experience after Ann’s Parkinson’s diagnosis, discussing the shock, learning curve, and how they navigated changing roles over 13 years. They talk practical advice for couples, setting boundaries, avoiding burnout, and the importance of exercise and self-care for carers. The episode also tackles stigma around bladder issues, how solutions like bladder Botox helped, and the value of openness and working on your relationship to better manage life with Parkinson’s.

Watch EP4 | Ann & Rex, A couple's honest journey

EVEN MORE advocacy work!

NDIS Reforms

We are still lobbying for early intervention in Parkinson's with the NDIS and you can have your say too. Department of Health, Disability & Ageing open consultations:

NDIS Access consultation (closes 2 October)

The proposed NDIS Access principles will help shape who can access the NDIS and how eligibility is determined. If Parkinson's has affected your life, this is an opportunity to share your experience and help ensure the system recognises the realities of living with a progressive neurological condition.

NDIS Framework consultation (closes 13 October)
The NDIS Framework consultation will influence how future supports and services are designed and delivered. Your submission can help advocate for a framework that provides timely, appropriate and lifelong support for people living with Parkinson's and their families.

Things to remember:

How you access the NDIS is still "as is" until 2028.
Changes are already in place for plan reassessment requirements. Make sure you know the difference between a variation request, a reassessment or a review and who starts them. Read our YOPX article.