Community Affairs References Committee
Date referred: 11 March 2026
Submissions close: 15 May 2026
Reporting date: 10 September 2026

Terms of Reference

Epilepsy in Australia, with particular reference to:

1. barriers to diagnosis and access to appropriate treatment options, including the impact of factors such as:
   1. geographic locations,
   2. availability of medical practitioners, including neurologists,
   3. costs, and
   4. cultural and language barriers;
2. drug-resistant epilepsy and its psychosocial and economic impacts on patients and the community;
3. the level of community awareness and understanding of epilepsy and treatment options;
4. barriers to access support services after diagnosis, including the National Disability and Insurance Scheme;
5. the adequacy of Commonwealth funding for research into epilepsy; and
6. any other related matters.

Making a submission
Please note that when providing a submission, medical reports, NDIS participant plans, court documents and other correspondence relating to your medical condition are not required. If you do provide such documents, they will likely be returned to you.

Individual cases or complaints
It is important to note that the committee is not able to provide advice on your individual circumstances. The committee is also not able to progress or resolve any individual concerns or complaints about your experience that you may have.