Tools to help you

We have drafted a shell email for you to send to the NSW Premier and Minister for Health. 

• Please send the email and copy (CC) Stroke Foundation’s Advocacy Email so we know you sent it.
• Also make sure you CC your local MP! You can find your local electorate and member of parliament.

Example email for you to edit and send:

TO:  office@park.minister.nsw.gov.au; kogarah@parliament.nsw.gov.au
CC: advocacy@strokefoundation.org.au, [your local MP’s email!]
Subject:  Please reverse your decision and urgently fund the Stroke Foundation’s programs


Dear Premier and Minister 

I am calling on you to urgently reverse your decision not to fund Stroke Foundation’s F.A.S.T awareness campaign and StrokeLine Navigator Program in NSW.

[INSERT SENTENCE ABOUT YOUR CONNECTION TO STROKE] 

For a modest budget investment in the budget you could make a huge impact towards improving the outcomes for NSW survivors of stroke.

When a stroke strikes, it attacks up to 1.9 million brain cells every minute!

We know that if a person experiencing the signs of a stroke gets to hospital within the 4.5-hour window, it will drastically improve their outcomes and prevent death and disability. Right now, only around 1 in 3 patients experiencing a stroke in NSW are getting to hospital within this window. We also know from a recent F.A.S.T (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) Awareness Survey, that 4 in 10 NSW residents surveyed could not name even one of the critical F.A.S.T. signs of stroke. Sydney also has the lowest level of stroke awareness of all capital cities in Australia.

We can turn this around, but we need more NSW residents to know the signs of a stroke and call 000 immediately.

Stroke Foundation has been running the F.A.S.T. Community Education and Awareness campaign for over a decade and it has proven to make a difference. Indeed, when we last had investment from the NSW Government for this important community stroke awareness program (to support the rollout of the NSW Telestroke Service) between 2020 and 2022, community stroke awareness in regional NSW where targeted activity was delivered doubled (from 22% to 44%). We now need more support to reach other NSW residents with this life-saving message.

We also know that around 1 in 4 NSW survivors of stroke are currently being discharged from hospital without appropriate knowledge and advice for preventing secondary stroke. This leaves many survivors unable to achieve their best possible recovery, manager their health and achieve better outcomes after their stroke.

This can be remedied by investing in a NSW StrokeLine Navigator Program, which would ensure that every NSW survivor of stroke and their families and carers be contacted by our trained Navigators after leaving hospital, and provided with appropriate assistance, connection to support services and other appropriate information to assist their recovery. This would impact more than 9,000 NSW residents who experience a stroke every year, and over 145,000 residents living with stroke living in NSW and help them lead healthier lives.

I look forward to receiving your reply on this very important issue.


Yours sincerely 

FULL NAME: Provide your full name so that they know you want your voice to count. 
ADDRESS: Provide your residential address so that they know you are a NSW resident. 
EMAIL ADDRESS: Provide your email address in your signature reply.