"Stroke patients in regional or remote areas find it difficult to access rehabilitation services," said lead researcher Dr Penelope McNulty from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA). "This project will assess the feasibility of offering high-quality, remotely-monitored rehabilitation where access to therapy is currently restricted or non-existent."

Each participant will take part in ten one-hour sessions at home over a two-week period. They will be supervised by a therapist in Sydney, who will use the network to receive high quality video images and sensor data to analyse the patient's movements and provide feedback.

"Studies at Neuroscience Research Australia have shown that this form of therapy can significantly improve movement after only two weeks," said Dr McNulty.

NBN CEO Mike Quigley, a member of the NeuRA board, has donated his first year's salary of $2 million - to fund this and other projects at NeuRA, including the construction of the Neuroscience Research Precinct.

"This project combines my two great passions in life - medical research, from which I have personally benefitted, and telecommunications," Quigley said. "This research project is a great example of the improvement in healthcare delivery that will be possible using the speed and coverage of the National Broadband Network. " This is particularly important in remote locations and to those who have difficulty travelling to receive care."

According to NeuRA, Every year over 60,000 Australians have a stroke, making it a leading cause of disability, and rehabilitation is the only method to recover movement of stroke-affected limbs.

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