Australian Women
with Epilepsy.
Our vision is to connect and improve the quality of life, mental health and services for all women living with epilepsy in Australia and eliminate stigma associated with epilepsy within the wider community.
Our mission is to provide access to information, education & support for women currently living with epilepsy in Australia to improve overall wellbeing and reduce health risks.
Australian Women with Epilepsy (AWE) formed in response to gaps in support and knowledge which can contribute to social isolation and low levels of well-being associated with epilepsy.
Drawing directly from lived experience with epilepsy, AWE set about to create a supportive network of empowered women living with epilepsy.
1 in 25 Australians will be diagnosed with epilepsy over a lifetime*. It is the fourth most common brain disorder after migraine, stroke and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Epilepsy is a disease of the brain characterised by the tendency to have recurrent seizures. There are many causes of epilepsy however in many instances, there are no known causes.
Around 65 million people worldwide have epilepsy**, making it one of the most common neurological diseases globally. Epilepsy can be diagnosed at any age. It can affect people of any intelligence, gender, or race.
Although epilepsy is not rare, it is often misunderstood, or even feared. There is no cure for epilepsy, however seizures can be treated in 2 out of 3 instances***.
Find out more about epilepsy at Epilepsy Action Australia
Did you know epilepsy impacts
men and women differently?
For women, some additional considerations include:
- Menstrual cycles, menopause, pregnancy and childbirth
- Impacts on children including medication or inherited genes
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and osteoporosis
AWE provides a safe, supportive space where women can discuss our unique challenges and needs.
We value and welcome people from diverse backgrounds, genders, sexualities, abilities, and cultures. We respect diverse lived experiences and identities, and acknowledge that when we say women, we include those assigned female at birth.
Even with the support of medical professionals, people with epilepsy must self-manage their health. The care of the whole person is the responsibility of patients and their families or carers.
Peers can help support the psychological and practical components of ongoing self-management. AWE are dedicated to connecting every woman living with epilepsy within Australia, facilitating vital online and face to face peer support groups and networks.
Online and face to face social and peer-support groups for women living with epilepsy
Tailored online educational resources, events, newsletters and social media
Community awareness programs across our media platforms and affiliate platforms
All women, of all ages and backgrounds have access to peer support services, wherever they are in Australia
Women with epilepsy are empowered via validation, education and connection
Accessible and tailored epilepsy resources are available to women living with epilepsy
Improved communication channels between the epilepsy community and health professionals
Improved understanding of epilepsy in the wider community
AWE launched their Kickstart The Conversation (KTC) campaign in 2022, which aims to help break the stigma around epilepsy by providing practical tools and resources to empower people with epilepsy (PWE), employees, managers & employers (M&E), friends, family and partners (FFP) to have conversations about epilepsy. Our KTC kits include discussion tree templates, FAQ's, epilepsy facts and definitions. Kits can be used in the workplace, with friends and family, and with intimate partners.
Our friends at EAA show us how to create a seizure management plan.
Knowing how to respond to a seizure could save a persons life. See our guides in colour and printer friendly black and white.
Executive Director
Director
Chair/ Executive Director
And Australian Women with Epilepsy work collaboratively to increase awareness of support services and groups for people living with epilepsy and encourage greater community engagement.
EAA delivers services to increase epilepsy awareness, understanding, knowledge and skills to improve the quality of life for people with epilepsy across Australia. Their team offer support, information and services including seizure management planning and emergency medication training. The National Epilepsy Line is a free phone, email and telehealth service delivered by EAA’s specialist epilepsy nurses. Learn more here.
Is an independent, observational register, collecting information about pregnant women with epilepsy, treated and untreated, to assist in determining which anti-epileptic medications (AEDs) are safest for the baby while protecting the mother from seizures. For further information about the APR click the link here
APR and AWE have a shared goal to support as many women with epilepsy as possible with reciprocal referral system.
Our research interests include the specific role hormones play in women with epilepsy and precision-based treatment. A better understanding of the cause for each person will underpin the era of more personalised treatments to improve outcomes for epilepsy. Learn More
Associate Professor Lata Vadlamudi leads the team.
Please send us an email, and one of our volunteers will get back to you
For event or peer support enquiries, please email: events@awepilepsy.org
For all other enquiries, please email: enquiries@awepilepsy.org
If you are a woman living with epilepsy in Australia, please join our private online support group here.
Australian Women with Epilepsy is a registered charity with deductible gift recipient status.
All contributions go towards our beneficiaries.
Contributions over $2 are tax deductible.
Donate here, via our
AWE. in the Media
We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal Owners of Country throughout Australia and pay our respect to them, their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and future Traditional Owners.
We value and welcome people from diverse backgrounds, genders, sexualities, abilities, and cultures. We respect diverse lived experiences and identities, and acknowledge that when we say women, we include those assigned female at birth.
Australian Women with Epilepsy is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Comission.
ABN: 93 653 299 220
References:
*Epilepsy Action Australia, 'About Epilepsy', 2018
** Solomon L Moshé, Emilio Perucca, Philippe Ryvlin, Torbjörn Tomson. Epilepsy. The Lancet Published online: September 23, 2014
*** Epilepsy Action Australia, 'About Epilepsy' 2018
Website last updated June 2024
