My first six months at the Australia Medic Alert Foundation have been both busy and rewarding. I’ve had the chance to speak with or meet many health professionals across the country who entrust MedicAlert® with helping to protect the health of their patients.

Ensuring that emergency personnel are trained to look for the MedicAlert® emblem around the neck or wrists is vital and liaising with ambulance personnel across Australia about the MedicAlert® system has been a priority.

Watch out for our fresh new look over the coming months. While the internationally recognised MedicAlert® emblem will stay the same, we’re giving our website and other materials a makeover to better reflect the important role we play in people’s lives. We continue to improve our range of MedicAlert® emblems, so why not have a quick look at our current product range.

Our soon-to-be-launched new, user friendly website will make it easier to join MedicAlert® on-line and to understand the benefits of our original and unique four-part system. We also encourage people to call our toll free number 1800 88 22 22 for all general membership enquiries or to join over the phone. This will ensure that the emergency hotline number engraved on the back of each emblem is used only when people need it the most – in an emergency.

We have noticed that even with the removal of mandatory authentication, the majority of our new members still obtain verification of their medical details from their treating doctor. Because of the importance of accurate medical information in an emergency, we continue to encourage you to have your doctor authenticate your information at time of joining or at your next visit.

Food Allergy Awareness Week in May was a timely reminder of the rapid rise in the number of Australians who have a potentially fatal food allergy. Around six per cent of children and two per cent of adults are affected. Unfortunately, the largest increase in food allergy is amongst Australian children under the age of five years, with up to five per cent developing a food allergy by school age.

Parents can find it very difficult to cope with managing the risks of a severe allergy in young children. Wearing a MedicAlert® emblem brings peace of mind to both the sufferer and their family, particularly as they become more independent at school, playing sport and socially.

Sadly, our highly respected volunteer Director (since 1981) and Board Chairman for the past 22 years, Murray Bray OAM, passed away on 25th May after a short illness. Murray’s leadership, vision and guidance during his 29 years service to the Australia Medic Alert Foundation leaves a lasting legacy.

Murray’s tireless dedication to the humanitarian mission of the MedicAlert® Foundation was recognised with several awards including the Order of Australia for ‘Service to the Community and Health’ he received in 1993.

Murray worked hard every day to ensure MedicAlert® could continually provide support and peace of mind to its members across Australia and internationally. He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by his Board colleagues and all of the MedicAlert® team who had the privilege to know him. Vale Murray.

Every day, across Australia and internationally, MedicAlert® provides vital support to someone who is unable to speak for themselves or needs special assistance in times of emergency. If you would like to share your story, please email us. I look forward to hearing those stories and to meeting more members of the MedicAlert® community as I continue in my role.

Sandra Turner