Hi Friends,

As we reflect on 2024, it’s been a year of growth, challenges, and remarkable achievements for us at Epilepsy Tasmania. Through our dedicated staff and community partners, we continue to make significant strides in supporting those living with and caring for people with epilepsy and raising awareness.

Key highlights include the success of our National Make March Purple and Walk 4 Epilepsy campaigns, which helped us engage more people than ever in our mission. A heartfelt thank you to all of you who supported and encouraged those raising funds and awareness.

We are also constantly expanding our outreach and support services, reaching more individuals and those around them who face the challenges of living with epilepsy. Our advocacy efforts continue to strengthen as we work to secure better resources for research and improved care.

We bade farewell to our CEO, Wendy Groot, with deep gratitude for her leadership, together with other team members and welcomed new members to the team, including myself who joined the team in June. 

As we look toward 2025, we’re excited to celebrate Epilepsy Tasmania’s 50th anniversary, marking five decades of support, education, and progress. 

Together, we will continue to make a lasting impact for the epilepsy community in the years ahead. Thank you for your support.

Paul Quilliam
CEO, Epilepsy Tasmania

Building a Stronger Community

At Epilepsy Tasmania, we are dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing of our members through tailored programmess and services. From Peer Support, awareness campaigns like Purple Month to seizure first aid training, outreach, mental health support, and healthy lifestyle guidance, our initiatives aim to reduce stigma and empower individuals living with epilepsy.

We value collaboration and strive to create inclusive environments through programmess like Epilepsy Smart Schools and Epilepsy Friendly Workplaces. We’re also excited to announce that we are now taking expressions of interest for volunteering opportunities within the organisation. Together, we can foster a safer, more supportive Tasmania for everyone affected by epilepsy. Reach out today to get involved!

                                                                                                                                        We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in and supported this year’s Walk 4 Epilepsy. Your enthusiasm, generosity, and commitment helped make the event a tremendous success, with a total of $23,661.00 raised here in Tassie, which will go directly towards funding our vital programmes and services for those living with epilepsy. What a great result and we are incredibly grateful for your ongoing support and for helping to raise awareness of epilepsy across Tasmania.

Ex-Service members of the Australian Defence Force

At Epilepsy Tasmania, we are committed to supporting all individuals affected by epilepsy, including our Veterans and their family who may be living with the condition. We understand that Veterans face unique challenges, and we want to ensure they receive the support they need. If you know any Veterans who are living with epilepsy or could benefit from our services, we encourage you to reach out and connect them with us. Together, we can ensure that everyone receives the care, understanding, and resources they deserve.

Still looking for that perfect Christmas Gift?

If you answered yes, then we have just the answer for you.  We've partnered with Entertainment to offer some great deals if you purchase a membership in support of our fundraising goals.  We know you will be keen to see what bargains you can score. 

Celebrating 50 years of Epilepsy Tasmania - What a milestone!

2025 marks a significant milestone in the history of Epilepsy Tasmania.  It will be our 50th year of providing vital support and services to the epilepsy community and is not only a time to reflect on the tremendous journey we've undertaken, but also an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the countless people whose lives have been touched by the support they have received.

As we reach this milestone, we want to recognise the many individuals who have played a key role in the success and growth of Epilepsy Tasmania. From those who have been part of the organisation in the past, to our dedicated current supporters, your contributions have been invaluable.

As we prepare to celebrate next year, we would love to hear from you if you or someone you know has been connected with Epilepsy Tasmania in the past-whether as a volunteer, donor, staff member, Board Member or someone who has benefited from our services. The stories and connections are part of what makes Epilepsy Tasmania the special organisation it is today and we would like to honour the numerous people who have been a part of our history. 

We can't wait to celebrate with you and if you are able to help out with names of people that we can celebrate with, please contact us at 50th@epilepsytasmania.org.au or as per the contact details below. 

We are looking forward to your help in creating a memorable 50 years of stories, memories and acknowledgements. 

Are you looking for ways you can volunteer in the community in 2025?

We are eager to welcome new volunteers and reconnect with those who have supported us in the past. Volunteers are the heart of our work at Epilepsy Tasmania, and their contributions are vital in helping us achieve our mission to raise awareness, provide support, and advocate for those living with epilepsy. Whether you’re interested in assisting with events, offering support services, or spreading awareness, there are numerous ways to get involved. We invite individuals who are passionate about making a difference to join us in what promises to be a year of growth and celebration. We look forward to hearing from you at volunteering@epilepsytasmania.org.au 

We’re excited to announce that the Make March Purple campaign will be returning in 2025, and we invite you to join us in raising awareness for epilepsy throughout the month of March. This national campaign is a powerful way to show support, educate the community, and help create a better understanding of epilepsy. Stay tuned for more details early next year on how you can get involved!

“Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.” – C.S. Lewis"