As the search for MND treatments and a cure continues, we’re investing in Care research to support Australia’s MND community.
Care investment
Our investment into Care focuses on three key priorities, developed in consultation with the MND community:
- Evidence: funding care-focused research to inform the best practices for supporting people with MND, their families and their carers.
- Standards: investing in the creation of national standards and guidelines for MND care.
- Support: providing targeted support through organisations delivering MND care and services.
These efforts aim to enhance the quality of life for Australians living with MND and their caregivers.
2025 Care investment
In 2025, we’ve invested $1.15 million into four Care research projects. This investment supports research aiming to enhance the quality of live for Australians living with MND.
Some of the key Care research projects funded by FightMND include:
- The development of toolkits to help manage issues like swallowing difficulties and weight loss.
- Understanding how dietary fat affects those living with MND to help provide clear, practical and personalised nutrition guidance.
- Mapping how MND care coordinators are used across Australia to make access more consistent and equitable.
- Using machine learning to improve the use of non-invasive ventilators.
Each of these initiatives plays a vital role in supporting those living with MND, their families and caregivers.
Care Case Study: A Friend’s Place
A Friend’s Place is a collaboration between the National Centre for Childhood Grief (NCCG) and Australia’s MND associations. The program is designed to help families with children aged 3 to 17 navigate the emotional complexities of living with a close family member who has MND. It does this by providing specialist care packages that include individual and family counselling sessions, important care resources and support for the children’s schools.
Following from a successful pilot program in 2023, FightMND’s 2024 investment will see the program expanded to 35 families across Australia. Learn more about the program in A Friend’s Place: helping families navigate the heartache of MND
Our impact in Care
FightMND first started investing in Care initiatives in 2017. This was expanded in 2024 with the introduction of Australia’s first Care Research Grant Program. Today, we have invested more than $16.49 million to improve MND Care in Australia through research and support.
Of this, $2.36 million has been invested into nine Care research projects focused on:
- innovations to improve quality of life and extend survival
- providing evidence to inform best practice MND care.
In addition to research, we have awarded $14.13 million to projects and initiatives to support Australia’s MND community. This includes:
- Developing national clinical care guidelines for MND
- Producing educational resources to raise awareness and understanding
- Providing assistive tools to improve life for those living with MND
- Supporting a range of vital services for the MND community
It is important to note that FightMND is not a care service provider. This is the role of:
- MND Australia
- MND and Me Foundation
- MND New South Wales
- MND Queensland
- MND Tasmania
- MND Victoria
- MND Western Australia
- MND South Australia
- other organisations working to serve the MND community.
Our investment into Care-focused research and initiatives aims to complement and support these organisations as they work to improve the lives of Australians living with MND, their families and the people caring for them.
The fight is not over
We are so proud of all we have achieved together, but there’s more to do.
Investment into Care initiatives is equally important. Delivered by the national and state associations, and those caring for those with MND, these initiatives can have a real and positive impact on those affected by MND.
We can’t do this alone. We need your continued support to help:
- fund care-focused research to inform best practice MND care
- improve the quality, accessibility and consistency of care for people impacted by MND
- grow awareness of MND.
Your continued support helps us to continue accelerating progress towards finally beating the Beast that is MND.