Latest news and information

We are excited to present to you Epilepsy Queensland's Impact Report for 2020-2021. The report outlines our progress on delivering to our vision of being the beacon of hope for people living with, and impacted by epilepsy in Queensland.

Join us this October as we walk to raise funds and awareness for the 250,000 Australians living with epilepsy. This year’s event is entirely virtual, which means you can contribute any day, and in any way!

Children aged 12 to 15 with epilepsy are now eligible for the Pfizer vaccine

Showcasing renowned speakers with extensive knowledge of neurology and epilepsy, this series of presentations will interest anyone with a connection to epilepsy - whether you are a person with epilepsy, a family member, a health professional or care worker.

The latest Play for Purpose draw is open. Lottery tickets are only $10 each and you have the chance to win a share of $500k in prizes! What’s more, every ticket sold means we can dedicate more funding to improving the quality of life of people with epilepsy.

Naomi was diagnosed with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy at 31 years of age. Recently, specialists have considered the origin to be autoimmune- caused by a change in the body's immune function. Naomi has tried many different treatments, which she shares in her story at the link below.

New Queensland research on venomous caterpillar has potential to treat epilepsy.

Keeley is 19 years old. At a stage in life where her friends are learning to drive and gaining independence, for Keeley this means constant supervision from her parents in case she has a seizure. Your tax-deductible donation can help give Keeley and other Queenslanders hope that researchers can uncover the cause of their seizures and develop an effective, personalised way to treat them.

Meet Professor Ernst Wolvetang 👋 Epilepsy researcher, professor in stem cell biology and Senior Group leader at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering (AIBN) and Nanotechnology of the University of Queensland. Read our interview to hear about his exciting epilepsy research and how the professor feels his work can bring hope for people living with epilepsy.

June is Dravet Syndrome Awareness Month. There is no cure for this rare and catastrophic childhood epilepsy.

Epilepsy Queensland is proud to have been selected as a VIP charity partner for the 2021 Bridge to Brisbane Fun Run. By joining the Epilepsy Queensland Team you will make an difference to the 30,000 Queenslanders living with epilepsy.

Nathan Garvie of Brenorrs, Roma launched his thoughtfully-designed Epicool work shirts at Beef 2021, reports Ashley Walmsley for The Queensland Country Life. Five dollars from the sale of every shirt will go to Epilepsy Queensland.

Epilepsy Queensland works proactively with universities and other research institutions to ensure people living with epilepsy have access to research.

22 -year-old Brisbane woman Maddie Gill sadly passed away from SUDEP in December 2020. You can contribute to her family's fundraising efforts here.

Shop purple epilepsy supporter merchandise here.

Find out how Epilepsy Queensland is serving the epilepsy community.

To coincide with International Epilepsy Day, Epilepsy Queensland introduced a new visionary awards program, with each award aligning with the values of our organisation. Congratulations to our deserving award recipients for 2020.

In the lead-up to International Epilepsy Day and our awards on 8 February, we interviewed our ambassador, Lakeisha "Lucky" Patterson OAM. Lucky generously shares with us her experience of living with epilepsy, her involvement with our organisation and her passion for raising epilepsy awareness in the wider community.

Nicole is a two-time stroke survivor and was diagnosed with epilepsy after her second stroke in 2016. Find out more about Nicole's battle with medication side- effects, her passion for seizure first aid and stroke awareness, and her hopes for the future.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has provisionally approved the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in Australia. Ahead of the roll-out, we have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions about epilepsy and COVID-19 vaccinations.

A number of you have made contact to let us know that more support and connection is needed for families who have lost someone to epilepsy. Epilepsy Queensland would like to work with you to make this possible.

Neil, 44, from Banyo, Brisbane has a tale of incredible fortitude to share with us. When he emigrated from the UK in 2008, a year after meeting Aussie woman, Shannon, (now his loving wife), little did he know Australia’s sunny shores would hold some bleak times and be the place where he would endure four surgeries. As he points out, "Three of these were on my head!"

Brett, 25, has been living with epilepsy since he was born, after a difficult birth in which his Mum was whisked away for an emergency delivery. With support and understanding, Brett has built a busy and rewarding life, proving living well with epilepsy can be possible.

Your kind and valued support enables us to reach out and help more people and families living with epilepsy.

SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) is defined as an unexplained or unexpected death in a person with epilepsy where no clear cause of death is determinable after a postmortem examination.

Having a diagnosis of epilepsy may impact your driving status. At Epilepsy Queensland, we understand the challenges and concerns relating to a change in driving status, even if this is on a temporary- basis. It is important to discuss transport and driving guidelines with your GP or neurologist to determine your travel options.

So you, or someone in your care, have received an epilepsy diagnosis. Now what? Here at Epilepsy Queensland, we understand that this can be a stressful time with change and challenges to be navigated. We want you to know you are not alone.

For people with epilepsy, employment is often an important focus. Many people with epilepsy can, and do, find and maintain work. People with epilepsy can work in a range of occupations and generally epilepsy is not a factor in a person’s ability to do a job well.

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a collection of symptoms such as blackouts, paralysis and atypical movements that suggest the presence of an underlying neurological condition, yet cannot be explained by disease or anatomical abnormalities.

Madaline Guilk embodies the spirit of determination. The nineteen-year-old from Ipswich, who lives with a rare form of epilepsy called Jeavons Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a resilient person who is focused on giving back.

Epilepsy Queensland provides ‘Understanding Epilepsy’ & ‘Seizure Recognition, First Aid and Administration of Midazolam’ training.

One in ten people will have a seizure in their lifetime, which means it is likely you will encounter someone who may need your help. At Epilepsy Queensland it is our aim for one person in every household to know basic seizure first aid.

Some people with epilepsy find that certain factors may induce seizures- these are known as seizure triggers. Find our fact sheet and information about seizure diaries here.

Epilepsy Queensland's support groups and meet-ups provide an opportunity for people to connect. They are currently operating via online videoconferencing platform, Zoom.

Epilepsy is a complex and multi-faceted condition and it is normal and expected that people have a range of questions.