ME/CFS and Lyme Association of WA
ABOUT ME/CFS AND LYME ASSOCIATION OF WA
ME/CFS and Lyme Association of WA, Inc. (formerly ME/CFS Society of WA, Inc.) was incorporated in 1997 and is Western Australia’s peak organisation for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. We also provide support to those with Lyme disease (Borreliosis), co-infections, and the Australian Lyme-like illness yet to be fully characterised.
WHAT WE DO
Our charity provides information and support, participates in advocacy and awareness, and hosts many events and seminars.
We promote local Australian research, including hosting seminars for Murdoch University, NCNED, and UWA, in addition to supporting researchers around Australia with recruiting participants for their studies.
As often as possible, we also participate in advocacy and awareness activities. Some of these have included #MillionsMissing, May12th International ME/CFS Awareness Day, and the Lyme disease Senate Inquiry.
Can you help us?
We have no government funding and rely on the generosity of members, supporters, and donations to allow us to carry out our supports and services each year. Currently, we depend on the time and help offered by our volunteers - the majority having illness and disability themselves. It would make such an enormous difference if we had enough funding to be able to employ a full time staff member as it would enable us to dramatically increase our services and supports.
We hope in time to be able to provide more information and supports to patients and their carers, including in-home peer support for those with a severe form of ME/CFS who are not able to leave their home and need someone to talk to for information and some hope. We also aspire to providing greater support to those living in rural areas. These are goals and dreams that are not within reach until we have paid staff and a secure and stable annual income for our current services and supports.
If you would like to help us to support the many people in Western Australia suffering from these debilitating illnesses, please consider making a financial donation. Every dollar helps.
ABOUT ME/CFS
ME/CFS is a complex and disabling chronic illness. Conservatively, an estimated 101,000 Australians have ME/CFS, though it could be as high as 240,000. An estimated twenty five percent of these people are housebound, and many are confined to bed – unable to care for the simplest of their own needs.
ABOUT LYME DISEASE
The presence of Lyme disease in Australia remains controversial. Health authorities in Australia continue to deny the existence of Lyme disease in Australia [R], however, there is a growing body of evidence of Lyme disease in Australia [R], plus a plethora of Australian case studies submitted individuals, organisations and general practitioners to the Australian Government’s Senate Enquiry into a Lyme-like illness in Australia. [R] The Health Department is now referring to this Lyme-like illness as Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT) [R] until researchers can uncover the underlying pathophysiology.
In the meantime, numerous Australians are being bitten by Australian ticks and becoming chronically sick with an illness closely resembling Lyme disease and/or ME/CFS, are desperately in need of support, but many are not finding the support they need through our healthcare system.
Page last updated 17 July 2021
