The Motor Neurone Disease Association of Western Australia (MNDAWA) Life Membership is awarded in recognition for providing extraordinary service to the Association over a period of at least ten years. Over the years it has been awarded to health professionals who have gone beyond their professional commitment, family carers who have used their lived experience to help others, and volunteers who made a difference.
Professor Samar Aoun AM has been awarded Life Membership in recognition of her 13 years of extraordinary service and outstanding contribution to the Association and the MND community. Samar’s service on the MNDAWA Board included five years as President and six years as Vice President. Samar also served as President of the MND Australia Board in 2023.
As a researcher, Samar focuses on a public health approach and translation into practice, with an emphasis on underserved population groups such as family carers before and after bereavement, people with MND and Dementia and terminally ill people who live alone. Samar strongly advocates for person-centred health and social care and a public health approach to palliative care that views the community as an equal partner in the long and complex task of providing quality health care at the end of life.
Samar has made a significant contribution to the MND field, addressing the physical and psychosocial support needs of people living with MND and their families, and improving service provision in collaboration with all state MND Associations in Australia under the banner “until there is a cure, there is care”.
In addition to Samar’s participation on the Board, Samar has developed and led MND education programs to regional and rural areas, which were highly commended by health professionals from all disciplines, putting MNDAWA at the forefront of providing education and raising awareness in the field. Samar oversaw the expansion of vital services to the MND community, with a particular focus on supporting MND family carers.
Samar was awarded the 2023 WA Australian of the Year, and in 2025 was presented with a Member of the Order of Australia Award (AM). Samar was also recognised in 2024 within the MND community, receiving the MNDAWA Presidents’ Cup award as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from MND Australia. Internationally, Samar received the 2018 Medal for Excellence from the European Society for Person Centred Healthcare.
We congratulate Samar on her Life Membership.
Source and photo: MNDAWA
Photo caption: L-R MNDAWA President Guy Marchesani, Prof Samar Aoun and MNDAWA CEO Maeve Egan