South Australian Government Commits $5.8 Million to MND Support and Research

The Malinauskas Labor Government in South Australia has announced a substantial $5.8 million commitment. This funding is aimed at improving support for individuals living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and accelerating crucial local research efforts.

Key Initiatives

The commitment is divided into two primary areas:

MND Biomarker Research Centre of Excellence

A $1.8 million commitment will fund the establishment of Australia’s first dedicated MND Biomarker Research Centre of Excellence.

This pioneering center will be created through a collaboration between FightMND and Flinders University, and will be located within the Health and Medical Research Building at Flinders.

Its focus will be on identifying biological markers that indicate the effectiveness of treatments in clinical trials, potentially accelerating the development of therapies.

Increased Funding for MNDSA

A re-elected Labor Government would allocate $4 million over four years to Motor Neurone Disease South Australia (MNDSA).

This funding is intended to expand access to rapid-response equipment and specialist care, particularly for individuals over 65 who are not eligible for NDIS support.

Context

Up to 200 South Australians live with MND at any given time, a devastating condition with no known cure. The disease rapidly impacts mobility, speech, swallowing, and breathing, with six to eight deaths reported monthly in the state.

A significant challenge arises for older individuals, as approximately 60 percent of MNDSA's clients are older South Australians. Many of these individuals face severe delays in receiving federal aged care support.

Alarmingly, up to 80 percent of people over 65 living with MND die before receiving appropriate Commonwealth support.

This situation makes MNDSA a crucial provider of essential equipment, care coordination, and daily living assistance for those affected.