Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Stroke Foundation

Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (03:26): (1547) My adjournment is for the Minister for Health, and the action I am seeking is for Stroke Foundation initiatives to be adequately funded in the upcoming state budget. Stroke can happen at any age; in fact a quarter of all strokes are experienced by people under 65 years of age. It is important to know the signs. FAST reminds us of the most common ways to recognise a stroke. F: ask the person to smile – is their face drooping? A: ask the person to raise their arms – is one arm weak? S: ask the person to speak – is their speech slurred? And T tells us that time is critical when seeking treatment – every second counts. But currently too many people do not know any of these signs. Currently only around a third of Victorian stroke patients arrive at hospital within the 4.5-hour window for treatment. The result is many people are left with life-altering brain injuries and there are many deaths that could have been prevented. That is why ensuring that there is funding in this year’s budget for Stroke Foundation initiatives is so important. The Stroke Foundation’s FAST regional and metropolitan program aims to deliver the FAST message across high-reach, high-impact broadcast channels, including media and community-led campaigns, to increase awareness of at least one sign of stroke in Victoria from 63 per cent to 73 per cent by 2027. Considering 80 per cent of strokes can be prevented, this message has the potential to save many, many lives across the state.

Care after a stroke is just as vital. StrokeLine provides a dedicated support phone line for survivors of stroke, their families and carers so they can access information and support when they need it. In the last three years there has been a significant increase in the number of complex calls to StrokeLine, including vulnerable survivors who are facing challenges such as anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, loss of independence, financial stress and social isolation. Dedicated StrokeLine funding will ensure all Victorian callers receive the support they need in a timely manner, including vital information to help prevent secondary stroke. I sincerely hope the government will take into consideration these life-saving initiatives and fund them.