There is often confusion between Parkinson’s NSW and Parkinson’s Australia. However, the two organisations are completely separate and unrelated, with very different roles.

Parkinson’s Australia is an advocacy body, reaching out to the Australian Government about issues of national significance. It is based in Canberra for access to the Government and bureaucracy and is not focused on delivering services which meet the day-to-day needs of the Parkinson’s community.

No state-based Parkinson’s organisations are affiliated with Parkinson’s Australia. Parkinson’s NSW and all of the other state organisations are currently in the process of agreeing and signing a Memorandum of Understanding for closer collaboration.

Parkinson’s NSW concentrates on service delivery to meet the needs of its home state’s Parkinson’s community, and advocacy to both the Australian and NSW Governments. It has a 45-year history of service delivery to the community.

Parkinson’s NSW services meeting the needs of people living with Parkinson’s, care partners and families include:

• A 1800 InfoLine advice and information service staffed by Registered Nurses, a pharmacist and a social worker.
• Comprehensive Parkinson’s information kits available through the InfoLine.
• Community-based Parkinson’s Specialist Nurses in regional and rural areas. These roles are co-funded by Parkinson’s NSW and NSW Health.
• Two specialist counsellors
• A network of 76 Parkinson’s Support Groups across the state
• Focused education for people living with Parkinson’s, care partners, and health and aged care professionals – delivered both online and face-to-face.
• An information-rich web site, digital and print publications, and social media channels.
• NDIS Advocacy for people living with Parkinson’s under the age of 65.
• Fundraising to underwrite the cost of delivering these services – because Parkinson’s NSW receives less than 3 percent of its operating costs from Government sources.