Release date: 01/05/22

The Malinauskas Labor Government is providing $2.4 million for improved care and support for South Australians living with motor neurone disease (MND).

Health and Wellbeing Minister Chris Picton will announce the funding for Motor Neurone Disease SA (MNDSA), the state's not-for-profit community organisation, at today’s fundraiser Walk to D’Feet MND.

The funding over four years was promised by Labor at the election, and will support MNDSA to provide specialist care, treatment and equipment that will improve quality of life for people with MND and help them to stay out of hospital.

The Malinauskas Labor Government believes that MND offers enough challenges on its own without sufferers and families being forced to endure additional and avoidable complexities in accessing valuable, life-changing support.

Up to 65% of MNDSA's clients are over 65 years old and don't qualify for any support through the National Insurance Disability Scheme (NDIS), which means they turn to MNDSA for access to equipment and care.

The funding includes:

  • $500,000 per year to establish a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals to assist over 65s with MND unable to get immediate support from government.
  • $100,000 per year to allow the organisation to offer rapid-access equipment loans to South Australians living with MND. This funding will enable MNDSA to lend equipment such as breathing devices, mobility devices, communication devices and everyday living aids, which can prevent people ending up in hospital.

MNDSA asked the previous government for ongoing funding to support its important services, but the Liberal Government only provided a small one-off $50,500 to assist with equipment purchases back in 2019 – a tiny amount compared to the needs of people with MND.

South Australia is the only mainland state where the State Government did not provide their peak MND body with financial support.


Quotes

Attributable to Minister for Health & Wellbeing Chris Picton

It is great to be with MNDSA and its community today for their fundraiser Walk to D’Feet MND.

This organisation has relied on the community for funding for years and despite pleas to the previous Government MNDSA has had to struggle with no ongoing government support.

The Malinauskas Labor Government is providing much needed ongoing funding for MNDSA so they can help people with MND and make their lives a bit easier with more support and specialised equipment.

This will help South Australians with MND get care and equipment when they need it and help them to stay out of hospital.

We are determined that all South Australians living with MND can do so with dignity, with support, and with every opportunity that we can provide to improve their quality of life.

Attributable to MNDSA CEO Karen Percival

These vital funds will allow us to improve the supports we can offer to the 60% of people with MND in SA who are diagnosed with MND after the age of 65 and as such are not eligible for NDIS funding purely based on their age.

It gives MNDSA certainty to appoint staff for appropriate supports rather than be purely reliant on one off grants and fundraising, the outcomes of which are never guaranteed.