Introduction

Parkinson's Disease was first described by Dr. James Parkinson in 1817. The illness affects a small area of the central nervous system called the basal ganglia which controls body movements. Parkinson's Disease is a degenerative neurological disorder in which cells at the base of the brain progressively cease to function normally.

These cells, located in an area called the substantia nigra, produce a chemical called dopamine which acts as a messenger along nerve cells. In Parkinson's, the amount of available dopamine is reduced and movements tend to slow down and become difficult to start. A resting tremor and muscle stiffness develop as the unaffected parts of the brain try to overcome the movement slowdown.

Parkinson's predominantly affects older people with 1 in 100 diagnosed over the age of 50. 30% of people, however, are diagnosed in their 30s, 40's and 50's. At present there is no known cure, though medication is becoming increasingly effective at treating the symptoms.

The main symptoms of Parkinson's are tremor (or shaking), rigidity (or stiffness of the muscles), slowness of movement (known as hypokinesia) and difficulty starting movement (known as akinesia). Due to the very slow onset of the illness, people may not notice the changes in their ability to move for some time. For some, a slight tremor of the hand will be the first sign that something is wrong.

For others, difficulty walking or falling due to disturbed balance control may be the presenting feature. Parkinson's can affect all normal movements including walking, talking, writing, driving etc and no two people are affected in the same way.

The symptoms themselves tend to vary in severity from not only day to day, but at different times throughout the day. Monitoring and regulating the exact amount of medication to take becomes difficult as the symptoms become more unpredictable. It is worth noting that Parkinson's symptoms increase in their severity with increases in stress. Therefore, stressful events such as public speaking can greatly worsen the symptoms of tremor or slowness.

As well as affecting physical movements, Parkinson's can also affect a person's memory and thought processes. Difficulty remembering sequential steps or planning out events for the day become more difficult. The use of cue cards, following written instructions, and a diary can all be helpful in overcoming these problems.

History
Parkinson's Victoria Inc. was established in 1981 when four women, out of necessity, established an organisation that provided an information and support service specific to the needs of those living with Parkinson's. They had been diagnosed with Parkinson's, a progressively, degenerative neurological disorder which affects movement and balance and no other service, at that time, could meet their requirements.

Parkinson's Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation which provides information to the community about Parkinson's, coordinates a network of support groups, and promotes the positive aspects of living with Parkinson's, not coping in silence.

Education and support with reference to the impact of Parkinson's, medication and treatment strategies, and where to find assistance, empower the individual to maintain an independent lifestyle.  A supportive environment of family, friends and the broader community, who have an understanding of Parkinson's and its impact on the individual, is conducive to a positive lifestyle and better management of symptoms.

Our Mission
Parkinson's Victoria Inc promotes the right of all people living with Parkinson's to comprehensive and excellent services which encourage independence and quality of life.

We are committed to collecting the most up-to-date information from medical researchers and health professionals, both in Australia and from around the world.

This information is then distributed to people with Parkinson's, their families, caregivers, and the broader community via educational material in print and video format, as well as information presentations to groups and seminars.

Parkinson’s Victoria produces a quarterly newsletter for members containing news on research, treatment strategies and local topics of interest.

Our Vision
To enable every person living with Parkinson's to be fully empowered. To inspire a community attitude change towards Parkinson's. To be the centre of excellence in reference to Parkinson's.

Our Values
To be customer focused, accountable to our members and sensitive to the needs of people living with Parkinson's engendering trust and confidence. To think nationally. To be transparent in our governance. To be dynamic and creative, demonstrating vitality, energy, enthusiasm and enjoyment in our task. To be fair and honest in all of our dealings. To find out how we can help you, please call us on (03) 9551 1122.

Who we are
Based at our Head Office in Cheltenham, we are a vibrant and energetic team committed to reducing the impact of Parkinson's for the individual, their families and carers.

Board Members

• Mr Royce. R. Pepin AM, MBE, KCSJ, Ph.C, President
• Ms Kate Brown, Vice President
• Mr Peter Walker, Chairman Finance Committee
• Mrs Mary Jones
• Mr Fred Van Ross
• Mr Peter Raymond
• Mr Brendan Lourey

Staff Leadership Team

Glenn Mahoney - Chief Executive Officer
Victor McConvey - Parkinson's Nurse Specialist

Catherine Watson - Community Development Worker

Michelle Wootton - Client Services Officer

Shelley Pollak - Physiotherapist

Judith Mooney - Marketing and Fundraising Coordinator

Denise Perkins- Administration Officer

Ian Hosking- Finance Officer

Heather Good - Volunteer Coordinator     

PARKINSON'S VICTORIA INC.

20 Kingston Road,
Cheltenham  
VIC - 3192
(on the Kingston Centre site)

FREE CALL: 1800 644 189
( 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday )

Phone: (03) 9551 1122
Fax: (03) 9551 1310
Email: info@parkinsons-vic.org.au

We also have a network of 45 Support Groups across Victoria