A new model of care for people living with Parkinson’s disease in rural and remote Australia will be implemented thanks to a $2.88 million grant to be led by the Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania.
The model of care is called ParkinsonNet. ParkinsonNet is an internationally recognised best practice multidisciplinary model of care from the Netherlands and has been implemented in the United States and Europe. It has been shown to improve access to high-quality care and improve health outcomes by, for example, lowering disability, rates of hospitalisation and healthcare costs.
Project lead Professor Michele Callisaya, a physiotherapist who is living with Parkinson’s herself, said this project would adapt and implement the gold standard of care.
“By integrating ParkinsonNet into the Australian healthcare system, we can improve access to best practice care and improve health outcomes for the approximately 220,000 Australians living with Parkinson’s.”
“This grant is a game-changer for Parkinson’s care in Australia because people with Parkinson’s in rural and remote Australia currently have poorer access to high quality care.”
Professor Callisaya and her team have been awarded $2.88 million from the Medical Research Future Fund for the project.
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic progressive neurological condition with no cure. Allied health interventions are recommended to reduce disability and improve quality of life
Fight Parkinson’s are also making a significant contribution to the delivery of the ParkinsonNet model of care project. Emma Collin, Fight Parkinson’s CEO said they were excited to have a collaborative approach.
"Our additional community's research funding contribution of $815,000 demonstrates a significant commitment to advancing access to multidisciplinary care. The strong leadership, community support and research excellence involved in this project enables us to make a difference and fight Parkinson's together."
The collaborative team includes other researchers from the University of Tasmania - Professor Jane Alty (Wicking), A/Prof Barbara De Graaff (Menzies), and Prof Jan Radford (School of Medicine) as well as from, the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Queensland, Deakin University and Radboud University in the Netherlands. The team have partnered with - Fight Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s Tasmania, the Tasmanian Health service, Barwon health, South West Healthcare, Western Alliance, Australian Physiotherapy Association, Occupational Therapy Australia and Speech Pathology Australia.
Media contact: Angela Wilson
Menzies Communications Manager
angela.wilson@utas.edu.au
0487 325 217
Pictured: Leading researcher Professor Michele Callisaya. Photo by Peter Mathew