The Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria is an Australian charity

Charitable organization

A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...

 that was formed by a group of concerned parents in May 1964 to provide support and information to all Victorians affected by epilepsy

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...

. Initially called the Victorian Bureau for Epilepsy, one of the first priorities was accommodation following the closure in 1963 of what was known as the Talbot Colony for Epileptics.

The organisation's name changed to the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria in 1978 and the next few years saw its continued rapid development including the appointment of a consultant medical officer

Consultant (medicine)

In the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and parts of the Commonwealth, consultant is the title of a senior doctor who has completed all of his or her specialist training and been placed on the specialist register in their chosen specialty...

 and the establishment of a medical advisory panel.

Today, the Foundation continues to work towards the aims of enhancing the quality of life

Quality of life (healthcare)

Quality of Life is a phrase used to refer to an individual’s total wellbeing. This includes all emotional, social, and physical aspects of the individual’s life. However, when the phrase is used in reference to medicine and healthcare as Health Related Quality of Life, it refers to how the...

 for people living with epilepsy, and improving community awareness and understanding.

Patrons Council

A select group of eminent Victorians form the Patrons Council of the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria.
Dame Beryl Beaurepaire

Beryl Beaurepaire

Dame Beryl Beaurepaire, AC, DBE is an Australian activist and politician.She was born as Beryl Edith Bedggood in Camberwell, Victoria and educated at Fintona Girls' School. She served as a meteorological officer in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force from early 1942 to late 1945...

 AC OBE (Chair), The Hon. Ted Baillieu

Ted Baillieu

Edward Norman "Ted" Baillieu MLA is an Australian politician. He is currently the Premier of Victoria and the member for the Legislative Assembly seat of Hawthorn...

 MLA, John Blackman

John Blackman

John Blackman is an Australian radio and television presenter. He is best known for his voice-over work for the comedy show Hey Hey It's Saturday from 1971 to 2010.-Biography:...

, The Hon. Justice Bernard Bongiorno, Philip Brady

Philip Brady

Philip Brady may refer to:* Philip Brady , Australian media personality* Philip Brady Irish Fianna Fáil politician, Teachta Dála for Dublin South Central* Philip Francis Brady, former Canadian diplomat...

, Julian Burnside

Julian Burnside

Julian William Kennedy Burnside AO QC is an Australian barrister, human rights and refugee advocate, and author. He is known for his staunch opposition to the mandatory detention of asylum seekers, and has provided legal counsel in a wide array of high-profile cases...

 QC, Prof. Edward Byrne

Edward Byrne

Edward Byrne may refer to:*Edward Byrne , neuroscientist and university administrator*Edward Byrne , Irish prelate of the Catholic Church...

, The Hon. John Cain

John Cain

John Cain may refer to:* John Cain , 34th Premier of Victoria, Australia* John Cain II , 41st Premier of Victoria, Australia* John J. Cain , American mayor of Bayonne, New Jersey, 1910–1912...

, The Hom. Joan Child

Joan Child

Gloria Joan Liles Child AO is a former Australian politician. She was the first, and so far only, woman to be Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives....

 AO, Paul Cronin

Paul Cronin

Paul Cronin is an Australian actor who has played iconic roles in the Australian television series Matlock Police and The Sullivans.-Personal Life:...

, Sean Cummins, The Hon. Justice Linda Dessau

Linda Dessau

Justice Linda Dessau is a judge of the Family Court of Australia. She was appointed to the bench in 1995.She started the Essendon Women's Network in 1997. She was appointed to the AFL Commission in November 2007....

, Ivan Deveson

Ivan Deveson

Ivan Deveson AO is an Australian businessman and the 100th Lord Mayor of Melbourne from 1996 to 1999 after a period of Commissioners controlling the Melbourne City Council. Deveson was elected for 3 consecutive terms, the only time in Melbourne's history that this has occurred. This was the...

 AO, Melanie Eagle, David Galbally QC, Rhonda Galbally

Rhonda Galbally

Rhonda Galbally is an Australian working in health development and social and health policy in Australia. Galbally was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1991, holds honorary degrees in health and social science from RMIT and La Trobe universities, and was awarded the Centenary Medal in...

 AO, Bev Genser, Petro Georgiou

Petro Georgiou

Petro Georgiou , Australian politician, was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from November 1994 to July 2010, representing the Division of Kooyong, Victoria.-Early life:...

, Stera Gutnik, Prof. David Hayward, The Hon. Brian Howe

Brian Howe

Brian Howe may refer to:*Brian Howe , Australian politician*Brian Howe , vocalist with the 80s and 90s versions of Bad Company*Brian Howe , American character actor best known for his major role in The Pursuit of Happyness...

, John Jost, Robert Kirby, Judy Maddigan

Judy Maddigan

Judith Marilyn Maddigan , Australian politician, was Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 2003-2005. She was the member for the seat of Essendon from 1996 to 2010, representing the Australian Labor Party....

, Neil Mitchell

Neil Mitchell

Neil Mitchell AO is an Australian radio announcer on Melbourne AM talk-back station 3AW. The son of a school teacher, he entered journalism at an early age straight after completing high school...

, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch

Elisabeth Murdoch

Elisabeth Murdoch may refer to:*Elisabeth Murdoch , mother of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch*Elisabeth Murdoch , daughter of Rupert and granddaughter of Dame Elisabeth...

 AC CBE, Emeritus Prof. Sir Gustav Nossal

Gustav Nossal

Sir Gustav Victor Joseph Nossal, AC, CBE, FRS, FAA is an Australian research biologist.-Life and career:Gustav Nossal's family was from Vienna, Austria. He was born four weeks prematurely in Bad Ischl while his mother was on holiday...

 AC CBE, Janet Powell

Janet Powell

Janet Frances Powell in Nhill, Victoria, is an Australian politician.She was appointed a senator for Victoria, representing the Australian Democrats, upon the resignation of the party's founder, Don Chipp, in 1986. She was elected the following year. She became the third leader of the party, from...

, Barbara Rozenes, Ross Smith AM, Richard Stanley QC, Michael Stillwell, Claude Ullin, Luisa Valmorbida.