Dear Meniere's warrior, Firstly, thank you for being one of the 6,253 people to sign the petition to add Meniere's disease medications to the PBS. Your signature is an important step in reaching this goal. One of the other steps is the Break The Sound Barrier campaign, started by the Deafness Forum of Australia with the aim of making Hearing Health and Well-being the 10th National Health Priority Area. Last year the Federal Parliament held an inquiry into the Hearing Health and Well-being of Australia. Our PBS petition was given to the chair of this committee, Trent Zimmerman MP, and is listed on page 164 of the committee report titled, "Still Waiting To Be Heard". The report detailed the current gaps in services, support and funding – and made 22 recommendations for Government action. Our cause of balance disorder treatments (peripheral vestibular disorders) got a very brief mention in Recommendation 8 which states: "4.83 The Committee recommends that the Hearing Services Program and the National Acoustic Laboratories prioritise funding for research which focuses on: The causes of balance disorders and potential treatment options; Genetic and stem-cell based treatments for hearing impairment; and Longitudinal research on the experiences of adults undergoing treatment for hearing impairment." The final and most important recommendation, number 22, "recommends that hearing health is made a National Health Priority Area." Now personally I prefer the phrase "Hearing Health and Well-being" because many people fail to understand (or remember) that the ear isn't just an organ for hearing; its primary function is orientation (gravity and acceleration perception, as well as sound perception and direction). Anyone who lives with a balance disorder understands that the "Well-being" part of this phrase is crucial. Phrasing aside, recommendation 22 is important because if it is actioned *all* hearing health conditions will receive more government funding for treatments, research, support and awareness. This will benefit Australians living with chronic ear disorders (such as Meniere's disease, Labyrinthitis, Vestibular Neuronitis, BPPV, Mal De Débarquement, Acoustic Neuroma, Hyperacusis, Tinnitus, etc). We need Hearing Health to become a National Health Priority Area (NHPA) if we want better access to medications and overall support. Over the next 2 days (2 & 3 August) state and territory health ministers will be meeting with the federal Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, to decide if they will commit to ensuring Hearing Health and Well-being becomes the 10th NHPA. *What You Can Do To Help* CALL, EMAIL, TWEET or MESSAGE any or all of the Health Ministers and ask them to support the recommendation "that hearing health is made a National Health Priority Area". Please also mention to them that balance disorders of the ear are an *important* part of hearing health. Remind them of our petition to add Meniere's medication to the PBS. https://www.change.org/p/over-40-000-australians-with-meniere-s-disease-urgently-need-your-help-please-sign-and-share-this-petition The ministers attending the COAG Health Council include: Federal - Hon Greg Hunt MP https://www.facebook.com/greg.hunt.mp/ Victoria - Hon Jill Hennessy MP https://www.facebook.com/JillHennessyMLA/ Queensland - Hon Dr Steven Miles https://www.facebook.com/stevenmilesmp/ New South Wales - Hon Brad Hazzard MP https://twitter.com/BradHazzard South Australia - Hon Stephen Wade MP https://twitter.com/StephenWadeMLC Western Australia - Hon Roger Cook MLA https://www.facebook.com/RogerCookMLA/ Tasmania - Hon Michael Ferguson MP https://twitter.com/fergusonmichael Australian Capital Territory - Ms Meegan Fitzharris MLA https://www.facebook.com/MeeganFitzharrisMLA/ Northern Territory - Hon Natasha Fyles https://www.facebook.com/NatashaFylesForNightcliff/ If you're feeling extra motivated contact Federal Opposition Leader, Hon Bill Shorten MP. https://www.facebook.com/BillShorten/ Their other contact details and a template letter (if needed) can be found here: http://breakthesoundbarrier.org.au/now-time-make-hearing-health-wellbeing-national-priority-australia/ Together we can put balance disorders on the agenda and make Hearing Health and Well-being the 10th National Health priority area. ���⚖️ � Many thanks, Beatrice Tarnawski