Wendy Askew (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

As the co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Parkinson's group throughout the last parliament, I have seen and heard just how little many Australians know about this disease. Parkinson's is the world's fastest-growing neurological condition, with around 220,000 people living with the condition in Australia, but it remains a mystery to most until they or a loved one is diagnosed. As someone with friends and loved ones living with Parkinson's disease, I can fully appreciate the importance of education and awareness to help equip people with the information they need to manage the condition. That is why I was pleased to learn of the launch of the latest 'massive open online course' focused on Parkinson's disease. A massive open online course, or MOOC, is an online course available for anyone to participate and undertake the course at their own pace on any internet enabled device.

The Parkinson's MOOC is purposefully designed to be accessible and practically useful for people with Parkinson's disease and their care partners through to healthcare professionals, support workers, researchers, health policymakers and anyone with an interest. This MOOC, delivered in partnership between the Wicking Dementia Centre, Menzies institute, the University of Tasmania and the Parkinson's Research Foundation, builds on the important work pioneered by Wicking after they launched their Understanding Dementia MOOC. Since its launch in 2013, the Understanding Dementia MOOC has recorded over 330,000 enrolments from around the world, which is absolutely incredible. I am certain that the Parkinson's MOOC will also have a significant response, and I extend my congratulations to the community and industry leaders at Wicking, Utas and Menzies and in the Parkinson's community on this innovative program. It will transform the understanding of Parkinson's for ordinary Australians and contribute to important discourse about how to manage this condition.