Australia



There are an estimated 92,000 to 598,000 people in Australia with ME and CFS (based on prevalence ranges of 0.4-2.4%, depending on which definition of the condition is used).

In Australia, most doctors use the name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for diagnosis. Most Australian patients prefer to use the term ME/CFS, and some patients feel strongly that the most recent International Consensus Criteria should be followed and the name Myalgic Encephalomyelitis should be used.

Medical guidelines
Patient organisations in South Australia, NSW, Victoria, ACT, Northern Territory and Tasmania endorse the International Consensus Criteria and Canadian Consensus Criteria. (see 'Patient Organisations' below for the list of websites).

State organisations, NCNED and patients are lobbying for the 2002 Australian guidelines to be replaced with the IACFS/ME Primer 2014, and for the adoption of either the Canadian Consensus Criteria or International Consensus Criteria.

The current Australian guidelines are used by NHMRC fellowship recipient Prof Andrew Lloyd, who also judges NHMRC grant applications. Emerge Australia is in the process of developing new clinical guidelines to replace the outdated Australian guidelines.

Australian Medical Association (AMA)
The AMA's website includes the 2002 Australian guidelines, which were produced by the RACGP.

National health department

 * Department of Health

National Health and Medical Research Council
The NHMRC funds health and medical research, and develops health advice & guidelines. It is part of the Australian Department of Health.

State health departments

 * Victoria - Better Health - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - information for the public

Government health insurance
The Australian government subsidises most medical appointments, some hospital services, and some medications.
 * Medicare
 * Medicare Safety Net
 * Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

Social security and disability benefits

 * A Disability Support Pension is available through Centrelink for people meeting strict criteria of dysfunction.

Access to care
How many hospitals & doctors, which diagnose and treat ME (estimate): Rehabilitation offers for ME sufferers:

Patient organisations
There is no national ME or CFS organisation in Australia, however there are patient organisations in each state and territory.


 * Emerge Australia (incl Victoria, Tasmania & Northern Territory but has members from all over Australia)
 * ACT ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Society
 * ME/CFS Australia (SA) Inc
 * ME/CFS/FM Support Association, Queensland
 * ME/CFS and Lyme Society of WA
 * The ME/CFS & FM Association, NSW

Research results

 * 2016: Australian Breakthrough on Diagnostic Blood Test
 * 2015: Australian Research into ME/CFS in Adolescents

Research funding

 * 2016: Australian Health Dept Pins its Hopes on NIH Research
 * 2016: The Australian Health Department Answers Questions on ME
 * 2015: Australian Senator Questions Government on Lack of Action on ME

Research groups

 * National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED)
 * Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
 * Victoria University

Researchers

 * Henry Butt
 * Donald P Lewis
 * Michael Maes
 * Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
 * Donald Staines
 * Andrew Lloyd
 * Brett Lidbury

Clinicians

 * Biomedical clinicians: Donald P Lewis (VIC), Rashmi Cabena (VIC), Richard Schloeffel (NSW)
 * GET/CBT clinicians: Michael Oldmeadow (VIC), Andrew Lloyd (NSW)

Notable patients

 * Alison Hunter, died 1996, aged 19, from complications related to ME/CFS. The Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation was established in her name, to raise much needed funding for research into ME/CFS, as well as raising awareness and advocating for the needs of people with ME/CFS. The Alison Hunter Foundation established a partnership with the National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED), at Griffith University (Queensland), and has since ceased operating as an independent charity, instead focussing on supporting the research being undertaken at NCNED.