Legend Wally Lewis welcomes government’s multi million dollar plan to address CTE and brain health

Icon and advocate Wally Lewis has welcomed news that the Federal Government will invest millions of dollars to tackle probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and support those living with the disease.

The $12.5 million investment package will go to Dementia Australia to develop and deliver a national pilot support service program for people impacted by CTE, and a national education program in schools to protect the brains of Australian children.

According to Dementia Australia, CTE is a type of dementia where many repeated head injuries can affect someone’s brain function over time, enough to interfere with the person’s normal or working life. 

Lewis became a Dementia Australia and Connectors advocate after being diagnosed with the debilitating condition, which he revealed in an episode of 60 Minutes.

The rugby league great thanked the federal government “on behalf of all people impacted by CTE” and reiterated the need to educate and support all those at risk.

“We need to be talking to the whole community about protecting our brains and brain health and continuing to support people who are impacted by the effects of repeated head injury and are at risk of CTE,” Lewis said.

While it is not known how often CTE occurs in contact sportspeople, around 1,600 people between the ages of five and 24 in Australia were hospitalised with sports-related concussion during 2021-2022.

Federal Minister for the Aged and Sport, Anika Wells, said Lewis’s support was invaluable as sport played a critical role in Australian life and concussion and sports-related head injuries impact young people more than any other age group.

“It is critical we educate sporting clubs, teachers, parents and school children about the importance of looking after our brains for life and who better to get that message across than The King, Wally Lewis,” Wells said.

“We have one brain and we need to look after it – and investing in support and building a better understanding of CTE and its impact on individuals, families and communities, is money well spent.

“We know that concussion and sports-related head injuries affect young people more than any other age group, so we want to make sure our kids have the knowledge and skills to help them compete more safely.”

Despite his diagnosis, Lewis has previously explained that he has no regrets about his stellar sporting career and said he wouldn’t change a thing.

The former Australian captain has bravely shared his own challenges with the illness to raise awareness and support those afflicted with CTE.

Speaking at a National Press Club address, “The King” outlined his own challenges living with the disease. 

“It’s a journey marked by the twin shadows of fear and embarrassment, a journey through the fog of dementia and the erosion of my memory,” he said.

“I once had the confidence in myself to succeed, lead a team to victory, captain my country, remember the strengths and weaknesses of opposition teams, organise myself each and every day and feel well and truly in control of my everyday life.

“My call is for the Australian Government to back this cause and provide federal funding for these two initiatives that will start the change and will provide hope for the future. We owe it to our kids.”

 Lewis is considered one of the greatest players of rugby league and was known as The King, an Immortal and Emperor of Lang Park throughout his career.

He also represented Australia in thirty-three international matches from 1981 to 1991 and was the national team captain from 1984 to 1989.

Lewis played a major role in Queensland’s success in the State of Origin series throughout the 1980s, winning the Man of the Match a record 8 times.

In recognition of his stellar sporting career, Lewis was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1987 and became the sixth member of ‘The Immortals’ in 1999. In 2000, he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia’s international standing in the sport of rugby league.