Rugby league great Wally Lewis AM will today lead a delegation of 20 individuals, including those living with probable Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), to Canberra to advocate for CTE support services, education, and awareness.
Lewis has become a strong advocate of the importance of protecting players’ brains, calling for government funding for national programs. The delegation, wearing orange t-shirts with the slogan “You only get one brain,” aims to raise awareness among politicians.
The Concussion and CTE Coalition, consisting of organisations like Dementia Australia and the Brain Foundation, urges federal support for CTE-affected individuals.
They propose a pre-budget submission for support services and an education program focusing on concussion, CTE, and brain health in schools.
Maree McCabe AM of Dementia Australia stresses that CTE impacts various populations beyond sports, including survivors of domestic violence and military personnel.
“It’s not just a sports issue. There are several different populations at risk of CTE, including domestic and family violence survivors, and military personnel:
Maree McCabe AM
The Coalition seeks to address the lack of available support for those affected by CTE, with a focus on introducing the successful Concussion Connect model nationally. Wally Lewis is set to participate in a panel discussion at Parliament House, advocating for increased awareness and action to mitigate the impact of CTE.
