Easing the impact of Machado Joseph Disease on Indigenous communities

Machado Joseph Disease is an inherited neurodegenerative disease that progressively robs sufferers of their coordination and muscle control. Although rare, it is unfortunately prevalent on Groote Eylandt, with more than 600 Indigenous Australians at risk of having it.

As a part of the Groote Eylandt community we have a long-standing relationship with the Machado Joseph Disease (MJD) Foundation. Based on Groote Eylandt, the Foundation works across Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory to provide a better quality of life for Indigenous Australians and their families living with MJD.

Our financial support is crucial to the Foundation, and our ongoing AU$900,000 partnership will see help fund new medical equipment and technology, services like physiotherapy, improvements to remote community service delivery, and the general operations of the MJD Foundation headquarters.

Acting Vice President Operations, GEMCO, Ryan Kleinschmidt said he was proud we are able to continue our support of the very important work the MJD Foundation undertakes.

“The statistics surrounding MJD are concerning, with researchers finding the disease is 100 times more prevalent in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory than the rest of the world,” Ryan said.

“We are an important part of the Groote Eylandt community and we've seen firsthand the wonderful work of the MJD Foundation and their dedicated staff. Anything we can do to help make life a little easier for those affected is worthwhile.”

MJD Foundation CEO Nadia Lindop said that the support they receive from us, both cash and in-kind, enables them to overcome many of the barriers to delivering culturally appropriate services in very remote communities.

“Government funding alone is just not enough to overcome these substantial barriers, and it is due to our important partnership with South32 that we are able to be so responsive and supportive of our clients and families living with MJD,” Nadia said.