ME/CFS Australia Ltd

ME/CFS Australia Ltd is the peak body for ME/CFS in Australia, with six member organisations from throughout Australia. It aims to represent these member organisations and all Australians affected by ME/CFS and works at the national level with affiliations from state and other ME/CFS organizations.

ME/CFS Australia Ltd is a registered charity, non-profit organization that has been functioning as a public benevolent institution.

Every state and territory ME/CFS association has a Director's seat on the board open to them to participate in the decision-making of the national body. ME/CFS Australia welcomes and encourages all state organisations to join with them in moving their national agenda forward.

ME/CFS Australia has a strong history of participating in the political debates surrounding issues relevant to ME/CFS. In 1998, 1999 and 2001, ME/CFS Australia was actively involved in the organisation and hosting of the Sydney based international conferences on ME/CFS.

Aims
One of its key goals is to influence national health care decision makers to improve the care and treatment of people with ME/CFS.

Directors

 * Geoffrey Hallmann – Chair
 * Troy Johnson – Secretary/Treasurer
 * Penelope McMillian – Director
 * Cathy Powell - Director
 * Vacant – NSW
 * Lyn Wilson - Qld
 * Carla Talbot - SA
 * Terry Visser - WA

Member organisations

 * ME/CFS & FM Association NSW Inc – New South Wales
 * Far North Coast ME CFS Association Inc – New South Wales
 * ME/CFS/FM Support Association QLD Inc – Queensland
 * ME/CFS South Australia Inc – South Australia
 * ME/CFS and Lyme Association of WA – Western Australia
 * Bridges & Pathways Institute – South Australia

Advocacy

 * Geoffrey Hallmann, (31 March 2021), 'Inquiry into Independent Assessments: Submission 317', Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme
 * Hansard, (29 June 2021), 'Geoffrey Hallmann, ME/CFS Australia - Submission' Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme'
 * Geoffrey Hallmann, (30 July 2021), 'Purpose, Intent and Adequacy of the Disability Support Pension', Senate Community Affairs References Committee
 * Hansard, (1 November 2021), 'Geoffrey Hallmann, ME/CFS Australia - Submission', Community Affairs References Committee - Purpose, intent and adequacy of the disability support pension
 * The Senate, Community Affairs Reference Committed, (February 2022), 'Purpose, Intent and Adequacy of the Disability Support Pension', "2.23 The Chair of ME/CFS Australia, Mr Geoffrey Hallman, argued that, on the basis that a therapy may lessen an applicant’s disability, these individuals are frequently required to undergo therapies which actually worsen their impairments."

Research/Notable studies

 * Penelope Mcmillan, Penelope Del Fante, Geoffrey Hallmann, Jade Barclay, (August 2021) 'Misrepresentation of ME/CFS in Media Images: A Picture Tells a 1,000 Words. What Story Are We Telling?' 2021 IACFSME Virtual Conference
 * Geoffrey Hallmann, (November 2021) 'Australian ME/CFS Research: A Primer for Social and Public Health Issues', 2021 NCNED International ME/CFS Conference, Seaworld Nara Resort, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia

History
ME/CFS Australia Ltd was founded in 1999.

Online presence

 * Website
 * Twitter
 * Facebook page
 * YouTube channel
 * Instagram
 * LinkedIn

Learn more

 * ME/CFS Australia website