Emerge ACT

30/04/2026

🦠 Essential tips for flu season for your ME/CFS and long COVID patients 🦠

An infection such as COVID-19 or influenza can pose significant risks for people with ME/CFS and long COVID.

Thoughtful, proactive care in general practice can make a meaningful difference in reducing risk of further functional decline.

Listen in as Associate Professor Bernard Shiu and our Nurse Educator, Kate Herbert, discuss safe, informed and patient‑centred approaches to vaccination and antiviral prescribing in this patient population.

When: Recorded, watch when it works for you. Available now!
Where: https://zurl.co/axwoz
Cost: Free!

Learning outcomes:
• Identify infection‑related risks for people with ME/CFS and Long COVID
• Apply practical, proactive risk‑reduction strategies in general practice
• Use shared decision‑making to support informed, respectful conversations about prevention and treatment options

This recorded session supports clinicians to work in partnership with patients to recognise individual risk, respect patient expertise, and prioritise safety during flu season and beyond.

RACGP CPD approved for 0.5 Educational Activity hours.

Please note: These sessions are for Health Professionals only.

This webinar has been supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Moderna.

30/04/2026

🩺 Early diagnosis of ME/CFS is essential.
Your GP can diagnose myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome ( ) using the US National Academy of Medicine (NAM) criteria.

🔍 Key signs of ME/CFS include:

Post-exertional malaise (PEM): Symptoms worsen after even minor physical or mental activity.

Long-lasting fatigue: A significant drop in your ability to do daily tasks, lasting 6+ months. Rest doesn't bring relief.

Unrefreshing sleep: You wake up feeling unrefreshed, even though you may have slept all night.

🧠 You may also experience:

Cognitive issues (a.k.a. “brain fog”) – trouble thinking, remembering, or concentrating.

Orthostatic intolerance: Feeling worse when standing—dizzy, nauseous, sweaty—which improves when lying down.

📘 Learn more about how ME/CFS is diagnosed:
👉 https://zurl.co/pQgrn

23/04/2026

We have a members talk coming up for International ME/CFS Awareness Day on 12th May. Researchers from RMIT's LAMP project will be holding a short webinar about their current research into services for and experiences of people living with Long COVID and post viral illness. Information about the researchers and topics is attached.

Membership is $49 per household for a year and members have access to programs, support groups and webinars at no additional cost.

23/04/2026

The next two weeks' topics for our Club Tortoise groups is managing sleep issues when you have a chronic illness and using SMART goals for pacing.

23/04/2026

Our next Self Help Course is starting in May, so we have opened up enrolments. To secure your spot, email mecfs@arthritisact.org.au or call 02 6251 2055. Payment will be required to secure your spot.

Information about our self help course (and other pacing courses) is available here: https://www.arthritispainsupportemergeact.org.au/services-and-information/courses/

100% of all previous participants say they would recommend this course to people with ME/CFS, Long COVID and fibromyalgia. Some feedback from previous participants includes:

"Very grateful to have been able to have done this course - it broke down pacing into something more accessible with built in accountability, and it allowed me to both share and listen to/connect with others in similar situations."

"Really helpful and has improved my quality of life and mental health"

[What I liked most about the course was] "the people and the different ideas we all bought to each session. To openly talk about where we are up to and trying to achieve"

[What I liked most about the course was] "the currency of the content, and the mix of information and practical info /exercises. Really valued the competence of the presenters and the approach they took each week."

Our next Self Help Course is starting in May, so we have opened up enrolments. To secure your spot, email mecfs@arthritisact.org.au or call 02 6251 2055. Payment will be required to secure your spot. Only two spots remain!

Information about our self help course (and other pacing courses) is available here: https://www.arthritispainsupportemergeact.org.au/services-and-information/courses/

14/04/2026

This week's Club Tortoise topic is "your unique circumstances". Club Tortoise is an ongoing pacing education program for Arthritis, Pain Support and Emerge ACT members. Contact us for more information or to join.

13/04/2026

Our next Self Help Course is starting in May, so we have opened up enrolments. To secure your spot, email mecfs@arthritisact.org.au or call 02 6251 2055. Payment will be required to secure your spot. Only two spots remain!

Information about our self help course (and other pacing courses) is available here: https://www.arthritispainsupportemergeact.org.au/services-and-information/courses/

30/03/2026

This week's topic for our Club Tortoise pacing program is 'Building a flare or crash toolkit'. Club Tortoise is a free weekly program for Emerge ACT members to help support pacing and self management skills for living with a fatiguing condition.

26/03/2026

Seeking people with Long COVID who have gotten care from a GP for their long COVID 📣

Contact the researcher at manya.bhambri@anu.edu.au or put in your EOI here: https://qualtricsxmydvpqqm6s.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4Nvg7hEgYfclv7M?Q_CHL=qr

23/03/2026

18/03/2026

This is on this afternoon for members - a good opportunity to see the kind of research happening in the ACT

Members will have a wonderful opportunity this week to hear from a researcher at the ANU about her prospective study into the experiences of seeking Long COVID care from GPs in the ACT.

When: Thursday 19th March at 4:00pm
Where: via Zoom (will be recorded)
Free for current members
Contact mecfs@arthritisact.org.au for more info.

Joining the study:
If you are interested in participating please follow the link or scan the QR code below, which will take you to an expression of interest form: https://qualtricsxmydvpqqm6s.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4Nvg7hEgYfclv7M

If you have any questions, please contact Manya at: manya.bhambri@anu.edu.au

15/03/2026

Members will have a wonderful opportunity this week to hear from a researcher at the ANU about her prospective study into the experiences of seeking Long COVID care from GPs in the ACT.

When: Thursday 19th March at 4:00pm
Where: via Zoom (will be recorded)
Free for current members
Contact mecfs@arthritisact.org.au for more info.

Joining the study:
If you are interested in participating please follow the link or scan the QR code below, which will take you to an expression of interest form: https://qualtricsxmydvpqqm6s.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4Nvg7hEgYfclv7M

If you have any questions, please contact Manya at: manya.bhambri@anu.edu.au