Emerge Australia

Emerge Australia efforts include peer support groups, Health Promotion activities, awareness and fundraising activities, advocacy, seminars and a dedicated Member information service. They produce a quarterly Emerge Journal.

"We are determined to strengthen the national response to ME/CFS and welcome and encourage all State and Territory organisations, communities and individuals to join with us as we move forward with hope, vigour and a commitment to lead."

Aims

From Emerge Australian website:

"Mission - To support, provide information and advocacy for people associated with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Vision - Universal awareness and acknowledgement of ME/CFS as a medical condition.

Values - To serve the best interests of people affected by ME/CFS with integrity, compassion and empathy."

Funding

Emerge Australia has no ongoing funding and relies on donations from individuals, community grants, trusts and government.

History

The 'ME Society' was formed in 1980 in Victoria, and included patients from Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. The New South Wales and ACT societies formed independently, at the same time. The society's quarterly information brochure, 'Emerge', began in 1980. In 2014, the society was renamed from 'ME/CFS Australia (Victoria)' to 'Emerge Australia'.

Advocacy actions

• 2016: An open letter is sent to Queen Mary University London, and the Information Commissioner's Office in the UK, asking for the release of the PACE Trial data.

Talks and interviews

• 23 Feb 2016, The Wire Radio in Australia covers the dismal research spending into ME and interviews patient Sasha, Senator Scott Ludlam and Sally Missings of Emerge Australia]
• 27 May 2014, "ME Part 1 Byron Bay Lighthouse FM MAY 2014"
• 27 May 2014, "ME Part 2 Byron Bay Lighthouse FM MAY 2014"
• 20 May 2014, "ME/CFS 774 ABC Radio 2014 Richard Stubbs and Nicole Phillips"
• 24 Sept 2013 "ME Phillips Radio Interview 2013"
• Vimeo channel - Emerge seminars

Online presence

• Website
• FaceBook
• Twitter
• Linked In
• Give Now (donations)

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.

PACE trial A controversial study which claimed that CBT and GET were effective in treating "CFS/ME", despite the fact that its own data did not support this conclusion. Its results and methodology were widely disputed by patients, scientists, and the peer-reviewed scientific literature.