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Action to improve awareness, participation, care and support for people with epilepsy

Beverley M Essue, Stephen Jan, Maree L Hackett, Andrew F Bleasel, Carol A Ireland, Samuel F Berkovic and Craig S Anderson
Med J Aust 2011; 194 (1): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2011.tb04135.x
Published online: 3 January 2011

A national policy forum in Sydney connected researchers, clinicians, advocates, consumers and policymakers

The Sydney Epilepsy Incidence Study to Measure Illness Consequences (SEISMIC) is Australia’s first population-based study designed to identify modifiable factors that will enhance resilience and reduce vulnerability to the psychosocial and economic impacts of epilepsy. SEISMIC involves collaboration between The George Institute for Global Health, Epilepsy Action Australia, the Epilepsy Society of Australia, Sydney South West Area Health Service, the University of Sydney, hospitals and clinicians in Sydney, and Austin Health in Melbourne. The study is funded by research grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Research Council. A key aspect of SEISMIC is the inclusion of a series of policy forums to ensure appropriate translation of evidence into policy and practice; the first forum was convened on 4 August 2010.


  • 1 Neurological and Mental Health Division, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, NSW.
  • 2 Epilepsy Unit, Department of Neurology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW.
  • 3 Epilepsy Society of Australia, Sydney, NSW.
  • 4 Epilepsy Action Australia, Sydney, NSW.
  • 5 Epilepsy Research Centre, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC.



Acknowledgements: 

We thank everyone who attended and contributed to the Policy Forum. A list of attendees can be obtained from the corresponding author. Consumer feedback and other information is available at Epilepsy Action Australia http://www.epilepsy.org.au.

Competing interests:

None identified.

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