Parkinson’s NSW services for people living with Parkinson’s, their care partners, and families include: 

• 1800 InfoLine 

• Parkinson’s Support Groups  

• Counselling 

• Community-based Parkinson’s Specialist Nurses 

• Information and education 

1800 644 189 InfoLine 

The Parkinson’s NSW InfoLine is a free service that handles up to 400 calls per month from people living with Parkinson’s, care partners and family members, and Primary and Allied health professionals.  

It is the first point of contact for all services offered by Parkinson’s NSW – and for connection to services by other providers which have been verified by the Quality Assurance Team. 

Each call is handled with care and expertise, ensuring that callers receive the information and support they need to manage their condition effectively. The InfoLine team is dedicated to providing a listening ear, practical advice, and a compassionate touch to everyone who reaches out to it. 

Typical InfoLine enquiries include:    

Medication Issues  

• Questions about managing medication regimens and potential side effects. 

• Guidance on interactions between Parkinson’s medications and other treatments. 

Mental Health Support 

• Support for individuals experiencing apathy, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues related to Parkinson’s. 

• Connection to counselling and psychological services for further assistance. 

Family and Caregiver Support 

• Advice for family members and care partners on how to best support their loved ones. 

• Resources and strategies for managing care partner stress and maintaining well-being. 

NDIS Information and Advocacy 

• Assistance with navigating the NDIS application process. 

• Advocacy support to ensure individuals receive the benefits and services they are entitled to. 

Community Engagement and Resources 

• Information about local support groups, events, and community resources. 

• Guidance on how to stay connected and engaged within the Parkinson’s community. 

Lifestyle and Daily Living 

• Tips and advice on managing daily activities and maintaining independence. 

• Recommendations for exercise, diet, and other lifestyle adjustments to improve quality of life. 

Newly Diagnosed Support 

• Pre-diagnosis support 

• Pathway to Counselling support 

For more information on the Parkinson’s NSW InfoLine, go to Have you called the Parkinson’s InfoLine yet? | Parkinsons NSW  

Parkinson’s Support Groups   

There are 75 face-to-face Parkinson’s NSW Support Groups operating in New South Wales involving more than 2,500 participants.     

In addition to face-to-face Groups, there are five Zoom videoconferencing Groups in operation for:  

• Young Onset  

• Carers’ Chat  

• Leadership Teams  

• Let’s Talk Parkinson’s  

• Deep Brain Stimulation  

Zoom sessions are open to any Support Group participants who want to register free of charge.  

There are also four Facebook Groups for:  

• Caregivers  

• Young Onset  

• Support Groups Online Community  

• Support Group Leadership Teams    

For more information on Support Groups go to Support Groups | Parkinsons NSW 

Counselling 

The Parkinson’s NSW Counselling offers both individual and group counselling sessions. 

Face to face counselling sessions are delivered at three locations – War Memorial Hospital, Wolper Jewish Hospital and Parkinson’s NSW headquarters in North Ryde.  

For client convenience, counselling sessions are also made available via telephone and Zoom teleconferencing. 

Counsellors support people living with Parkinson’s, care partners, couples and family members. They address a wide range of client issues and requests including: 

• Support for newly diagnosed clients 

• Depression 

• Anxiety 

• Grief and loss 

• Suicidal ideation 

• Uncertainty about the future  

• Carer stress and carer burnout 

• Employment issues 

• Managing the progression of Parkinson’s  

• Living with the physical effects of the disease 

• Dealing with treatments 

• Ensuring clear communication with doctors 

• Maintaining emotional balance to cope with negative feelings 

• Maintaining confidence and a positive self-image 

• Building and maintaining social relationships  

• Building and maintaining a strong support network when faced with an uncertain medical future  

For more information on Counselling, go to: Counselling | Parkinsons NSW  

Parkinson’s Specialist Nurses 

Parkinson’s Specialist Nurses are based in the Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Tweed and Goulburn communities.   

They work within the Mid North Coast, Northern NSW and Southern NSW Local Health Districts respectively. This arrangement provides the Nurses with access to regional health facilities, centralised medical records, professional development opportunities, and peer support from a range of other Primary and Allied Health professionals.   

Our Parkinson’s Specialist Nurses support more than 2,300 patients. 

More than 200 neurological telehealth consultations are also supported by the Nurses each year. Telehealth programs operate Coffs Harbour and the Tweed region, anchored by a series of fly-in/fly-out clinics offering in-person consultations.  

Movement Disorder Specialists providing these consultations are based in Westmead Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital, Macquarie University Hospital, and John Hunter Hospital.     

Information and Education 

The Information and Education team manages both in-person information seminars and the development and distribution of online learning modules. 

In-person seminars include sessions for Newly Diagnosed clients and their care partners and general community information gatherings. Newly Diagnosed seminars originated in Sydney and are now being spread to regional areas.   

There are three interactive online training modules now available via the internet. 

Module 1 is Introduction to Parkinson’s and suitable for all audiences. It gives an overview and orientation on all key aspects of Parkinson’s disease. 

Module 2 is Best Care Practices for Parkinson’s. It is designed for Allied Health and Aged Care professionals who are supporting people living with Parkinson’s. 

Module 3 is Exercise for Parkinson’s. It was developed for exercise professionals who are involved in assessing Parkinson’s clients and developing, implementing and coaching appropriate exercise programs for them.     

For online education modules, go to  https://www.parkinsonsnsw.org.au/education/  

For further information email: education@parkinsonsnsw.org.au