Early in 2014, Tasmanian NET patient, Jim Franke approached his Federal representative, Mr Andrew Wilkie seeking advice as to the best course of action to assist in securing funding for the Unicorn Foundation’s NET nurse Specialist support service.
Jim had utilised this service many times and found that it had been extremely helpful. At Mr Wilkie’s suggestion, the Unicorn Foundation set about ‘petitioning’ the Federal government to financially support the NET nurse Specialist which is the only service of its kind and offers assistance to more than 12,000 NET patients Australia-wide who can seek advice, education, referral pathways, comfort and understanding from our highly experienced Dale Long RN.
In the second half of last year, many UF supporters, patients and friends hit Australian streets, café’s, work places and shopping malls raising awareness about the need for this NET nurse support role and its positive impact on NET patients’ lives. A notable contributor to collecting thousands of signatures was Reg Mundell, who has a son that had recently been diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer.
On the 23rd of November a contingent of about 30 unicorn Foundation supporters lead by the CEO, Simone Leyden presented more than 13,000 signatures to Andrew Wilkie at Parliament House in Canberra. Since then it has been the mission of the Unicorn Foundation CEO and Chairman Dr John Leyden to continue to lobby for ongoing funding. To this end, we have found support in many Senators, notably Senator Richard Di Natale and Senator Eric Abetz and numerous sitting members in the House of Representatives. For more information about our submissions go to www.aph.gov.au and search Unicorn Foundation.
Many letters have been written by the Unicorn Foundation, and our patients to Federal members of parliament imploring that funding of this NET nurse Specialist role be included in the upcoming budget. We strongly encourage all Unicorn Foundation supporters to continue this campaign without rest.
For further information regarding this campaign please contact the Unicorn Foundation CEO, Simone Leyden on simone.leyden@neuroendocrine.org.au
