Parkinson's Disease Education eXchange (PDEX)

What is the Parkinson’s Disease Education eXchange (PDEX)?

PDEX is a national education initiative developed by Parkinson’s Australia to improve health outcomes for people living with Parkinson’s disease by strengthening workforce capability. Through its partnership with AGPAL and CFEP Surveys, Parkinson’s Australia ensures the PDEX program meets the highest standards of educational quality, professional accreditation and measurable impact.

PDEX will enhance the knowledge, confidence and clinical decision-making of:

General Practitioners
Nurses
Allied health professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, exercise physiologists and counsellors

The education suite will focus on:

Early warning signs and symptoms
Evidence-based management of motor and non-motor symptoms
Diagnosis and treatment pathways
Coordinated, multidisciplinary care
Person-centred communication and shared decision-making

What will the PDEX include?

PDEX will deliver a multimodal education suite through a dedicated Learning Management System.

It will include:

Profession-specific education briefs
Evidence-based learning materials and practical resources
Instructional and graphic design materials such as slides, fact sheets, handouts and infographics
Educational videos demonstrating clinical scenarios and best practice
Pilot testing with health professionals prior to national rollout
A comprehensive evaluation framework with pre- and post-program assessment
CPD accreditation partnerships with relevant professional bodies
National dissemination through digital platforms and professional networks

All content will be co-designed with clinicians, people living with Parkinson’s, caregivers and cultural advisors to ensure relevance, practicality and inclusivity.

PDEX will build consistency, confidence and quality in Parkinson’s care across Australia by ensuring health professionals have access to practical, evidence-based education aligned with real-world needs.

What is the National Parkinson’s Survey?

The National “Your Voice, Your Needs” Survey was undertaken in 2025 to better understand the lived experiences of people affected by Parkinson’s across Australia and identify opportunities to improve care, support, and access to information.

The survey received 2,649 responses, reflecting strong engagement from the Parkinson’s community. Respondents included people living with Parkinson’s, as well as carers and family members providing ongoing support.

Importantly, responses were captured from a wide range of geographic locations, including metropolitan, regional, and rural areas. This diversity ensures the findings reflect experiences across different communities, healthcare settings, and service access contexts throughout Australia.

The survey explored several key areas, including:

Access to healthcare services
Experiences with general practitioners, specialists, and other health professionals
Challenges associated with living with Parkinson’s
Support needs and access to information and resources

To maximise reach and participation, the survey was distributed nationally through multiple channels, including newspapers, social media, online platforms, and partner networks.

Patient Activation Measure (PAM®)

The Patient Activation Measure® (PAM®) is a validated tool that measures a person's knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their own health and healthcare. 

PAM® recognises that people are at different stages of readiness when it comes to managing their health. Rather than assuming all patients need the same approach, by using PAM®, it helps clinicians understand where a person is starting from, so care can be tailored accordingly. 

In primary care settings, using the PAM® supports more meaningful, patient-centred conversations and helps teams deliver care that is responsive, practical and realistic for each individual. 