STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms SHARKIE (Mayo) (13:31): I rise to speak about a brave young man from my electorate, Angus Rowland, who is living with a debilitating and chronic skin condition. Angus is aged 12, and he has severe eczema. He's had this his entire life.

His mother, Samantha, has lost count of the number of times he's been in an ambulance due to his eczema or asthma. Itching every night from severe eczema, bloodied sheets are a regular occurrence, and there is little relief from prescribed treatments. Angus has found school a challenge, with many missed days and, when at school, the social isolation and anxiety that can come.

He is constantly asked by children and teachers if his skin hurts, if the eczema is getting worse and, by some children, 'What's wrong with you?' There are thousands of children just like Angus in Australia whose severe eczema will cause some long-term physical and emotional harm if they cannot access new treatments. Angus was in Parliament House last week, raising awareness of severe childhood eczema.

He and his mum, Samantha, enjoyed meeting with other children and families with similar experiences. I'd like to thank Angus, in particular, as well as Samantha and all of the families who came to Canberra to call for better access to treatments for chronic skin conditions.