Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to speak briefly about epilepsy. The Sunday just gone was Purple Day, epilepsy awareness day. Epilepsy is a devastating medical condition that causes seizures and can impact on an individual's day-to-day life. Currently, the NT is one of two states and territories in Australia that does not recognise epilepsy as a disability. But I understand that there is work going on to look at that. Unfortunately, as a result, there is not too much support going around for the many, many thousands of Territorians living with this condition. A direct consequence of not having this vital funding is that the Territory is the only state or territory without an epilepsy support organisation to support these individuals and their families.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Caitlyn Rolfe, a mother of a five-year-old boy who has epilepsy currently living in Darwin. Caitlyn has recently started a Facebook page called 'Epilepsy in the Top End'. I will help her to run an epilepsy awareness event next year. Caitlyn is hoping such an event will raise more awareness about epilepsy in the Territory, with a future goal of establishing an epilepsy organisation in the Top End. I commend the work of Caitlyn Rolfe and the many other families living with epilepsy every day.