Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia, Inc.

20/11/2025

One for the parents 🫶🏻

12/11/2025

Tourette’s Camp Leader - IYKYK 🤣

If you've ever been to Tourette's camp you’ve probably heard Conor use that same half mocking, half chiding tone with his siblings or impatient people.

Tourette's Fact: ADHD is a common co-occurring condition of Tourette's Syndrome. People with ADHD often struggle with impulse control, self awareness and/or emotional regulation - displayed in this clip by Holly lacking impulse control (but I want it) self awareness (how her choice affects the group). Impulse control, self awareness and emotional regulation are all skills we can improve on and master with the right tools. Conor is modelling what it looks like when you do the work 🤌🏻.

09/11/2025

National Education Advisor Conor has entered the BIG BROTHER house!

We can’t wait for the whole world to meet him!

06/11/2025

CHILD SAFETY STATEMENT

The Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia (TSAA) has recently received an unusually high volume of conduct complaints regarding individuals calling themselves mentors for people with Tourette’s. Because of these complaints we feel compelled to make the following statement.

The TSAA does not currently supply mentors, none of our volunteers or paid staff currently hold a position with the title mentor. Should this change, mentors will be listed on our website.

The TSAA are not affiliated with any other Tourette’s group or organisation within Australia.

The TSAA is the ONLY registered charity supporting people with Tourette’s or tic disorders in Australia and their families.

As an ACNC registered charity we ensure all staff and volunteers hold the required child safety clearances for their location, and national working with disability clearance, prior to interacting with our members.

The TSSA is aware of individuals who are no longer involved in our community, who were unable to obtain Working with Children clearances, who are currently offering their services to support families and children with Tourette’s.

We recommend that if you choose to engage with unregistered support organisations, particularly online groups, we encourage our members and the public, to always ask to see a NATIONAL YELLOW CARD, aka working with disabilities clearance, and a STATE-BASED WORKING WITH CHILDREN CLEARANCE, sometimes called a Blue Card.

The TSAA remains committed to providing acceptance through community and connection, whilst simultaneously working with government entities to make legislative changes that will provide meaningful improvements in the lives of people living with Tourette’s, and their carer’s.

Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia

For more information please visit our website

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08/10/2025

TSAA President Mandy Maysey chats with TSAA Treasurer Charlene Pinnock about the importance of tomorrow's upcoming Special General Meeting.

05/10/2025

A couple of members have asked why we’re proposing these constitutional changes and why they’re important. The simple answer is that our committees have become exhausted by the constant pull of day-to-day governance and minor administrative details (everything from compliance paperwork to debates over fonts and designs) leaving less time and energy for what really matters. At the same time, we’ve found it increasingly difficult to be taken seriously by government bodies, funders, and partner organisations due to our outdated structure.

We firmly believe that the proposed changes will make the TSAA stronger, more credible, and more effective. By introducing a two-layer governance model with a Board and a support committee, we’ll operate more like other respected national organisations, helping us to be taken more seriously by government, funders, and partners.

This structure also reduces the red tape that currently slows down the committee’s work. The Board will handle governance and compliance, while the support committee will focus on community programs, awareness, and advocacy – meaning less administrative frustration and more action where it actually counts.

Importantly, this new model will allow us to properly act on the recommendations from the Impact for Tourette's Study – ensuring we have the capacity, credibility, and structure to deliver on its findings in a meaningful way. It will also improve our eligibility for grants and funding, opening the door to bigger opportunities and better support for the Tourette Syndrome community nationwide.

30/09/2025

Université du Québec à Montréal are running an online study investigating explosive outbursts/rage attacks and their impact on family functioning; please see the flyer attached.

29/09/2025

Paid members will by now all have received a couple of emails regarding next week's SGM, one with the full details of the proposed changes to the constitution and the other with a link to voting for the changes. Voting is open from now until the meeting.

Please note: to meet quorum requirements under our constitution, we still require at least 20 members present via Zoom at the start of the meeting.

It's really important that members get involved and vote on this.

14/09/2025

Dear Members,

I am writing to inform you that a Special General Meeting (SGM) of the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia (TSAA) will be held on Thursday 9th October 2025 at 7:30pm.

The purpose of this meeting is to seek your approval on several important constitutional amendments. These changes are designed to future-proof the TSAA and ensure we are best positioned to act on the findings and recommendations of the Impact for Tourette's Study.

Details will be emailed to everyone with a current/valid membership. If you do not receive an email, please check your spam filter, contact info@tourette.org.au and/or check your email is correct on your membership.

Thank you.

03/09/2025

Would you like to take part in a study on tics and tic urges in Tourette
Syndrome aimed at kids aged 12-17?

Deakin University is currently conducting a study on tics and tic urges in Tourette Syndrome at The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.

This study is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

The project looks at the subjective experience of tics and tic urges in young people and compares these to images taken of their brain activity during a Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI) scan.

If you are interested in participating or would like further information, please contact the study coordinator at jade.zouki@deakin.edu.au.

Once you contact them, they will send you an information sheet, explaining the research in more detail.

Details of the study will be emailed to TSAA members

30/08/2025

Thank you to Nat Cook MP for hosting Charlene Pinnock, Conor Maysey and South Australian delegates of the TSAA for a presentation in SA Parliament. It was very encouraging to see so many members if parliament and heads of support agencies stay behind to not only speak with our delegation, but pledge inclusion and assistance gaining practical supports for our members.

Thanks to Samuel Wannan, Jaz Edson and Conor Maysey for sharing your lived experiences and representing our community so truthfully.

A tremendous thank you to ABC Riverland and ABC Stateline journalist Amelia Walters. Amelia dedicated herself to sharing the plight of people with Tourette’s without resorting to sensationalism, which often accors in articles about Tourette Syndrome.

29/08/2025

"The loudest person in the room that everyone stares at. Yet when it comes to what matters we are not seen or heard." Impactful words from National Education Advisor Conor Maysey to South Australian Government last week.

Thanks to Amelia Walter’s ABC Riverland for her dedication to covering our plight and the good work being done by the South Australia Government to improve the life of people living with Tourette’s

A very big thank you to TSAA Treasurer Charlene Pinnock for her hard work in organising this event and once again a huge thank you to our SA members and their families for representing yourselves so wonderfully.

Keep your eyes out for ABC TV News stories.

From poorly categorised NDIS support to high rates of su***de, Tourette syndrome advocates say it's the last disability where "it's still acceptable for people to laugh at".