Stroke Foundation welcomes new funding but says more is needed

Stroke Foundation has welcomed new funding from the Australian Government as part of the 2024-25 Budget but warns more investment is urgently needed to seriously tackle the impact of stroke on Australians and the nation’s economy. 

$200,000 has been announced for the foundation’s Living Well After Stroke program for one year. This program empowers Australians to change their health behaviours and prevent secondary stroke. Stroke Foundation also received a one-year extension of $300,000 for our F.A.S.T (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) education campaign so that more Australians know the common signs of stroke and to call 000.

Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr Lisa Murphy, says this is a good start but long-term investment is critical.

“We are pleased to receive $500,000 and we will ensure it goes a long way in improving the health outcomes of Australians, but this is simply a starting point and if real progress is to be made, we need to see increased long-term investment from government.”

“Time is critical when a person is experiencing a stroke. The quicker they receive treatment the better the outcome. Without Australians knowing the signs of a stroke, they lose valuable time to receive emergency treatment. The F.A.S.T campaign is a key public health message, and it needs increased investment to reach more Australians.

Stroke Foundation currently funds critical programs via donations but as cost-of-living pressures increase, demand for services rise, and the health system fails to meet post-discharge needs from hospital, more funding is needed from the government to meet demand.

“We are deeply concerned about the Australian Government’s decision not to fund the world’s first Living Guidelines in Stroke Management, regarded by experts as the foundation for delivering timely and up-to-date treatment, and critical funding to expand the reach and capacity of Stroke Foundation’s StrokeLine,” Dr Murphy said.

“We know lives have been saved because of the Living Guidelines and our awareness education programs. Stroke Foundation’s work can no longer be funded by donations alone. We need greater support from government as we are meeting the service gaps in the health system and the needs of more than 445,000 survivors of stroke living in the community.”

“We are calling for the Prime Minister and Health Minister to prioritise the long-term health of Australians by urgently funding F.A.S.T for the next four years, the Living Guidelines and StrokeLine,” Dr Murphy said.