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HELPLINE 1300 852 853

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NATIONAL EPILEPSY SUPPORT SERVICE 1300 761 487

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OFFICE 02 6287 4555

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Senate Inquiry into Epilepsy in Australia

The Australian government has announced a national Senate Inquiry into epilepsy - a significant opportunity to strengthen understanding, policy and systems of support for people living with epilepsy.

The Inquiry will examine the current landscape of epilepsy care and identify where improvements are needed across health, education, research and community support.

View the official inquiry and terms of reference:

Why this matters

Epilepsy affects over 250,000 Australians, yet many people continue to experience:

  • Delays in diagnosis and access to appropriate care.
  • Variability in support across regions and systems.
  • Limited awareness and understanding in the community.
  • Barriers to accessing emerging treatments and technologies.
  • Ongoing safety risks, including SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy).

This Inquiry provides a structured pathway to bring these issues forward and contribute to meaningful, system-level improvement.

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Why your voice matters

The strength of this Inquiry will depend on the breadth and depth of contributions received.

Submissions are welcomed from:

  • People living with epilepsy.
  • Families and carers.
  • Clinicians and health professionals.
  • Educators and workplaces.
  • Community and advocacy organisations.

Sharing lived experience, professional insight, or practical recommendations helps build a clearer picture of what is working and where change is needed.

How you can get involved

1.

Make a submission

You can provide a written submission directly to the Inquiry.

Submissions close 15 May 2026.

Submit via the official Inquiry page: Australian parliament website.

Access submission templates and guidance

To support clear and effective contributions, we have developed a series of practical templates to help people structure their submissions, align to the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference and provide practical recommendations.

If you are unsure where to start, the individual template is a good place to begin.

These resources are intended to support a range of contributors, including individuals and families, clinicians and health professionals, organisations and advocacy groups and those wishing to contribute specifically on SUDEP.

What makes a strong submission?

Submissions do not need to be long or technical. The most helpful submissions are:

  • Clear and focused.
  • Based on real experience or evidence.
  • Aligned to the Inquiry’s areas of focus.
  • Practical in suggested improvements.

Even a short submission can make a meaningful contribution.

2.

Learn how to contribute effectively

A dedicated webinar series is available to help guide you through the submission process and provide context on key issues.

The following videos have been developed by Epilepsy Tasmania. We thank them for their leadership in supporting the epilepsy community to engage with the Senate Inquiry.

Watch the Senate Inquiry Webinar Series.

3.

Connect with us

Epilepsy ACT is working with individuals, clinicians and organisations to support meaningful contributions to the Inquiry.

Contact us if you would like guidance, have questions or are considering a submission.

Our focus

Our focus is to support a thoughtful, coordinated contribution to the Inquiry by:

  • Encouraging broad participation across the community.
  • Supporting clear alignment to the Terms of Reference.
  • Ensuring lived experience is represented alongside clinical and system perspectives.
  • Contributing to practical, evidence-informed recommendations.
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A collective opportunity

This Inquiry represents an important opportunity to inform future policy and improve outcomes for people living with epilepsy across Australia.

Contributions of all kinds - large or small - are valuable in helping shape that future.

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National helpline

1300 852 853

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Location

Grant Cameron Community Centre
Level 1B, 27 Mulley Street
Holder ACT 2611

Postal Address:
PO Box 3744
Weston Creek ACT 2611

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Opening times

Mon to Thurs: 9am to 4pm
Fri: Closed
Sat & Sun: Closed

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