An important opportunity for national change
The Australian Government has announced a national Senate Inquiry into epilepsy — a significant opportunity to strengthen understanding, policy, and systems of support for people living with epilepsy.
The Inquiry will examine the current landscape of epilepsy care and identify where improvements are needed across health, education, research, and community support.
👉 View the official Inquiry and Terms of Reference:
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/EpilepsyinAustralia
Why this matters
Epilepsy affects over 250,000 Australians, yet many people continue to experience:
- Delays in diagnosis and access to appropriate care
- Variability in support across regions and systems
- Limited awareness and understanding in the community
- Barriers to accessing emerging treatments and technologies
- Ongoing safety risks, including SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy)
This Inquiry provides a structured pathway to bring these issues forward and contribute to meaningful, system-level improvement.
Why your voice matters
The strength of this Inquiry will depend on the breadth and depth of contributions received.
Submissions are welcomed from:
- People living with epilepsy
- Families and carers
- Clinicians and health professionals
- Educators and workplaces
- Community and advocacy organisations
Sharing lived experience, professional insight, or practical recommendations helps build a clearer picture of what is working — and where change is needed.
How you can get involved
1. Make a submission
You can provide a written submission directly to the Inquiry.
Submissions close 15 May 2026.
👉 Submit via the official Inquiry page:
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/EpilepsyinAustralia
2. Access submission templates and guidance
To support clear and effective contributions, we have developed a series of practical templates to help people structure their submissions, align to the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference, and provide practical recommendations.
If you are unsure where to start, the individual template is a good place to begin.
- Download the Individual Submission Template
- Download the Clinician Submission Template
- Download the Organisation Submission Template
- Download the SUDEP-focused Submission Template
These resources are intended to support a range of contributors, including individuals and families, clinicians and health professionals, organisations and advocacy groups, and those wishing to contribute specifically on SUDEP.
3. Learn how to contribute effectively
A dedicated webinar series is available to help guide you through the submission process and provide context on key issues.
🎥 Watch the Senate Inquiry Webinar Series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCaFMR0KqP676fgnyrxqsc9jLhk9fkYUX
4. Connect with us
Epilepsy Tasmania is working with individuals, clinicians, and organisations to support meaningful contributions to the Inquiry.
If you would like guidance, have questions, or are considering a submission:
📧 senateinquiry@epilepsytasmania.org.au
What makes a strong submission?
Submissions do not need to be long or technical. The most helpful submissions are:
- Clear and focused
- Based on real experience or evidence
- Aligned to the Inquiry’s areas of focus
- Practical in suggested improvements
Even a short submission can make a meaningful contribution.
Our focus
Our focus is to support a thoughtful, coordinated contribution to the Inquiry by:
- Encouraging broad participation across the community
- Supporting clear alignment to the Terms of Reference
- Ensuring lived experience is represented alongside clinical and system perspectives
- Contributing to practical, evidence-informed recommendations
A collective opportunity
This Inquiry represents an important opportunity to inform future policy and improve outcomes for people living with epilepsy across Australia.
Contributions of all kinds — large or small — are valuable in helping shape that future.