During the week Emerge Australia will invite the community to participate in a series of initiatives around the theme Breaking Barriers, Building Support. With the aim of raising awareness and support for the long COVID and ME/CFS communities.

Imagine Podcast

Seven episodes of our Imagine podcast will be released during the week, encompassing compelling discussions with experts, patients, and advocates exploring the multifaceted impacts of long COVID and ME/CFS.

Guests include:

• Prof David Putrino, Emerge Australia Ambassador, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Leonie Cavill, living with long COVID
• Dr Bernard Shiu, Clinical Director Geelong Long COVID Clinic
• Kit McMahon, CEO Women’s Health in the South-East (WHISE) 
• Dr Michelle Tavoletti, Emerge Australia Research Manager
• Dr Emma Tippett, Long COVID specialist Clinic Nineteen
• Henry and Jen Barker, Lived experience with ME/CFS and long COVID

Parliamentary Friends of ME/CFS meeting

On Tuesday 10 March at 11am (AEDT) ME/CFS Alliance Australia, and co-chair Dr Mike Freelander MP invite you virtually to the 2026 meeting of the Parliamentary Friends of ME/CFS. Register to attend online here.

This meeting will bring together parliamentarians, clinicians, researchers, and people with lived experience to highlight the urgent and growing needs of Australians living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

The session aims to:

• strengthen engagement between the Alliance and parliamentarians in support of stronger policy and community outcomes.
• highlight the challenges faced by people with invisible or fluctuating symptoms, and
• promote the need for improved clinical and disability supports
• highlight the need for coordinated and prioritised research investment.

Speakers include:

• Henry Barker, Lived experience with ME/CFS and long COVID
• James Dunn, Lived experience with ME/CFS
• Dr Mike Freelander MP, Member for Macarthur, Chair of the Health, Aged Care and Disability Committee, Co-Chair Parliamentary Friends of ME/CFS Group
• Sandra Goodyer, Carer to adult child living with ME/CFS
• Dr Monique Ryan MP, Federal member for Kooyong
• Professor Peter Schofield AO, Chair of the Mason Foundation National Medical Advisory Panel
• Dr Emma Tippett, Director Clinic Nineteen

Excellence in Media Awards

The finalists and winner of the Emerge Australia Awards for long COVID Journalism Excellence, will be announced during Awareness Week.