About us
Our history
The UNSW Fatigue Clinic was established in 2007 and has successfully championed the strong links between scientific research and clinical service since that time, with a goal of delivering the best possible clinical benefits to patients and to guide research developments. The Clinic was established to operate on a non-profit basis with the running costs for the clinical services partially offset by Medicare reimbursements.
The goal of the treatment service (i.e. the Clinic Program) is to reduce the severity of symptoms and to improve day-to-day capacity for physical and cognitive (thinking) activities. The Program provides treatment for people affected by medically-unexplained fatigue conditions including CFS, PCF, PVFS, and PIFS.
The rationale for the Clinic Program at its inception was to combine the existing evidence-based interventions (i.e. treatments which had been shown to be consistently effective in randomised controlled trials across more than one centre) into a coordinated program, The key elements of this established evidence base were for graded exercise therapy (GET) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). In addition, the design of the Program incorporated other elements of recommended best practice including: education about the illness and its natural history; activity pacing which is a critical precursor to GET; and standard management of common complicating issues such as disturbances in sleep-wake routine, anxiety and depression, and difficulties in coping with chronic illness.
The Clinic Program was designed to include each of these standardised interventions, but in an individually-tailored program (i.e. considering the relative priority for each intervention for each patient). The Program was systematically evaluated and found to be effective in reducing symptom severity and improving functional capacity. Importantly, in contrast to some concerns about the safety of GET, the individually-prescribed and carefully monitored exercise program has been shown not to trigger sustained worsening of symptoms.
Based on the mission of the UNSW Fatigue Clinic to develop improved treatments, the addition of an equivalent to GET targeting the commonly reported difficulties in concentration and memory was developed, piloted and then formally evaluated and found to be effective. This component of the Clinic Program has been termed cognitive exercise therapy (CET) and is now incorporated as part of the improved intervention.
Research studies conducted by members of the UNSW Fatigue Clinic in collaboration with cancer specialists at Prince of Wales Hospital, revealed that the illness characteristics and natural history of chronic fatigue occurring after cancer treatment was closely comparable to those of PIFS and CFS. Accordingly, the team formally evaluated the benefits of the CBT/GET intervention for patients with post-cancer fatigue (PCF). This study revealed that the Clinic Program was also effective and safe for patients with PCF.
Welcome from the Co-directors
Emeritus Professor Andrew Lloyd AM and Dr Carolina Sandler are the UNSW Fatigue Clinic directors. E/Prof Lloyd is a distinguished infectious diseases physician and research scientist who established the Clinic in collaboration with Dr Sandler who is an academic and accredited exercise physiologist. Prof Lloyd has made major contributions to clinical practice in chronic fatigue states associated with infection and cancer; he also leads a successful laboratory-based research program in the Kirby Institute studying the biological basis of the acute sickness response to infection, and genetic determinants of post-infective fatigue states. Dr Sandler completed her PhD in studies of post-cancer fatigue (PCF) and now also leads research evaluating health service interventions for PCF and post-infective fatigue syndrome (PIFS).
The UNSW Fatigue Clinic is a unique clinical service in Australia focused on improving the lives of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), post-cancer fatigue (PCF), post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS), and post-infective fatigue syndrome (PIFS). These conditions share several common elements, including: i) closely comparable, disabling symptoms featuring ‘tiredness’ or fatigue, which is exacerbated by relatively minor physical or cognitive (brain) activity (sometimes called post-exertional malaise [PEM]); ii) poorly understood disease mechanisms; and iii) limited treatment options. This combination of challenges underpins the mission of the Clinic, which is to integrate scientifically-established treatment approaches with a research program which seeks to better understand the conditions, to develop better treatments, and to educate patients and clinicians about the illness and its management. Having been established for more than a decade, the UNSW Fatigue Clinic is the Australian leader in both evidence-based treatment services and associated research.
Our people
Careers
The UNSW Fatigue Clinic attracts outstanding allied health providers, researchers, and support staff to work in both our clinical service and on our research projects. Both our clinical work and research into fatigue states is highly respected nationally and internationally. We welcome expressions of interest from individuals seeking a clinical and/or research role with our organisation.
If you’re interested in becoming part of the UNSW Fatigue Clinic team, please get in touch via email or via phone on 02 93858272.
Contact us
Referrals to the Fatigue Clinic are not accepted via email, please start the online 'Program application form' to be placed on the waiting list.
Phone:
02 9385 8272
Address
UNSW Fatigue Clinic
Level 2, Health Translation Hub (HTH)
55 Botany Street
RANDWICK NSW 2031
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Opening hours:
Wednesday: 1.30pm - 4.30pm
Thursday: 8.30am - 4.30pm
Friday: 8.30am – 4.30pm
Resources