We’re pleased to share updates on the new national clinical guidelines for ME/CFS that are being developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
These guidelines will play an important role in improving care for people with ME/CFS across Australia. They aim to help health professionals better understand ME/CFS and support more consistent, evidence-based and compassionate care.
Emerge Australia’s Role
Emerge Australia has been strongly advocating for this project for many years. Thanks to ongoing community support and the advocacy work of Emerge Australia and others, federal funding was secured in 2024 to make these new guidelines possible.
We’re proud to be contributing directly to their development:
- Anne Wilson, Emerge Australia’s CEO, is a member of the Guideline Steering Committee, which oversees the project.
- Simone Eyssens, Emerge Australia’s Research Director, is a consumer member of the Guideline Development Committee, helping ensure that the voices and lived experiences of people with ME/CFS are at the heart of this work.
Stay Updated
This page will be updated regularly as the project progresses and will share:
- meeting summaries
- key updates and milestones
- opportunities for community input, when available
You can also visit the NHMRC ME/CFS Clinical Guideline Development page for more information about the project.
Together, we’re working towards a future where people with ME/CFS receive the healthcare and support they deserve.
Newest Updates on the ME/CFS GDC
Published: 13 October 2025
NHMRC ME/CFS Clinical Guidelines – Scoping Survey Results Released
Earlier this year, the NHMRC conducted a scoping survey to help determine priorities for developing new national clinical guidelines for ME/CFS. The survey results have now been released.
More than 1,000 people responded — most with lived experience of ME/CFS, either as patients or carers. A huge contribution from our community!
Survey respondents said that they:
- Felt unsupported by health professionals and left to manage the condition alone
- Wanted the new guidelines to recognise past harm and misinformation
- Called for consistent diagnostic criteria nationwide
- Urged a shift from outdated psychological explanations
- Expressed concern over graded exercise therapy; advocating for pacing and energy management to prevent symptom worsening
These results provide valuable insights that will guide the work of the Guideline Development Committee as they shape recommendations for clinical care and management.
Published: 9 October 2025
First meeting of the NHMRC ME/CFS Clinical Guideline Development Committee
The NHMRC ME/CFS Clinical Guideline Development Committee held its first meeting in August 2025, marking an important step toward developing updated, evidence-based clinical guidelines for ME/CFS in Australia.
Key discussion themes included:
- Early intervention
- Consistent and contextually relevant diagnostic criteria
- Core symptoms such as post-exertional malaise
- Holistic, patient-centred models of care
- The severity spectrum of ME/CFS
- The impact of ME/CFS on young people
Read the NHMRC meeting summary
The project is already having an impact. The Medical Journal of Australia has now added a new disclaimer to the outdated 2002 Australian ME/CFS guidelines, stating: “The notification has been issued to inform readers of concerns that the information contained therein is outdated.”