Ita Buttrose has built a career on openness. Now, at 83, Australia’s most recognisable media figure is sharing another chapter of her life — her transition to using a wheelchair — with the same directness that made her a household name. Her willingness to talk about her neurological condition and her ability to stay positive in the face of limited mobility has sparked widespread curiosity about her health and daily life.
Mobility aid: Wheelchair and walking stick YouTube ·
Condition: Isolated gait disorder (not Parkinson’s) YouTube ·
Rehab: Three times a week neurophysiotherapy YouTube
Quick snapshot
- Uses a wheelchair regularly due to an isolated gait disorder; does not have Parkinson’s; no known cure; attends neurophysiotherapy three times a week; experiences no pain YouTube
- Exact name of the neurological condition has not been publicly specified YouTube
- Whether the gait disorder is progressive or stable remains undisclosed (YouTube)
- Buttrose’s lifelong mild lisp is often conflated with her neurological condition, but its origin is separate (YouTube)
- 2021: Back surgery preceded the diagnosis of isolated gait disorder (Instagram)
- February 2025: Arrived at Federal Court in a wheelchair after back surgery Instagram
- 2025: Book “Unapologetically Ita” announced for October release Simon & Schuster Australia
- Testing an electric wheelchair that can rise and recline YouTube
- Continuing thrice-weekly neurophysiotherapy (YouTube)
- Book promotion for “Unapologetically Ita” Simon & Schuster Australia
Six facts about Ita Buttrose’s current health, drawn directly from her own statements and publisher announcements:
| Attribute | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mobility aid | Wheelchair and walking stick | Buttrose interview (2025) |
| Condition name | Isolated gait disorder (frozen gait disorder-like) | Buttrose interview (2025) |
| Parkinson’s status | Confirmed not Parkinson’s | Buttrose interview (2025) |
| Pain | No pain associated | Buttrose interview (2025) |
| Cure | No known cure | Buttrose interview (2025) |
| Latest book | “Unapologetically Ita” (October 2025) | Simon & Schuster Australia announcement |
| Sources: YouTube interview, Instagram post, Simon & Schuster Australia | ||
Is Ita Buttrose in a wheelchair now?
When did Ita Buttrose start using a wheelchair?
- Buttrose said in a 2025 interview that she now uses a wheelchair “quite often” because her walking has become harder.
- She was seen arriving at the Federal Court in a wheelchair in February 2025 after back surgery Instagram.
The implication: the shift to wheelchair use appears to have accelerated after back surgery in 2021, though she still uses a walking stick for shorter distances.
What did Ita Buttrose say about her mobility in 2025?
- “I can’t walk,” she stated directly, describing the condition as an isolated gait disorder.
- She admitted feeling embarrassed at first about using a wheelchair, but now finds it “easier” for travel and daily movement YouTube.
What this means: Buttrose’s openness about the emotional adjustment is rare for a public figure, and it fuels the broader conversation about disability and aging in Australia.
Buttrose, a former Australian of the Year and ABC chair, faces the same daily reality as many older Australians: navigating a health system that still treats wheelchair access as an afterthought. Her visibility shifts that conversation from policy to lived experience.
What is Ita Buttrose suffering from?
Does Ita Buttrose have a neurological condition?
- Yes. She described being diagnosed with an “isolated gait disorder” after back surgery in 2021.
- The condition was originally labeled “frozen gait disorder,” a symptom sometimes linked to Parkinson’s, but Buttrose said tests ruled out Parkinson’s.
What illness does Ita Buttrose have?
- She has not named a specific disease beyond “isolated gait disorder.”
- The condition affects her ability to walk long distances without support, but causes no pain.
- She undergoes neurophysiotherapy three times a week and does additional home exercises to maintain movement.
The trade-off: while the exact neurological diagnosis remains unspecified, the absence of pain and the presence of a structured rehab routine suggest a manageable but permanent condition.
Buttrose can no longer walk independently, yet her exercise regimen is more disciplined than many people half her age. She is both slowed and relentlessly active — a contradiction that defines her public persona.
The pattern: her discipline defies expectations, underscoring that mobility limitations need not curtail engagement.
Is Ita Buttrose still married?
Did Ita Buttrose ever marry?
- Public records indicate that Buttrose was married twice: first to Alasdair Macdonald and later to Peter Sawyer, who died in 2019.
- No recent statements from Buttrose about her marital status appear in the 2025 interview sources.
The pattern: Buttrose has chosen to focus her public comments on health and work, leaving personal relationship details largely private.
Who is Ita Buttrose’s husband?
- Her second husband, Peter Sawyer, was a businessman. He passed away in 2019.
- Buttrose does not currently have a living spouse, making her a widow.
Why this matters: her widowhood, combined with her mobility challenges, places her in a demographic that is often invisible in media — older women living alone — yet she continues to command national attention.
Does Ita Buttrose have a lisp?
Is Ita Buttrose’s lisp a speech impediment?
- Buttrose has a mild lisp that she has had since childhood. It is a longstanding speech characteristic, not related to her current neurological condition.
- She has addressed it publicly, including in her book “Life is for Living,” noting that she never let it hold her back.
The catch: many people conflate her lisp with her mobility issues, but the two are unrelated. The lisp is congenital; the gait disorder is acquired.
‘Life is for living’: Nothing is off-limits in Ita Buttrose’s new book
What does Ita Buttrose say in her new book?
- Her forthcoming book, “Unapologetically Ita,” is set for release on 28 October 2025 by Simon & Schuster Australia.
- The book covers her career, health journey, and the philosophy that “nothing is off-limits.”
- She has said the title reflects her determination to live openly and without apology.
What this means: for a woman who helped shape Australian women’s media, this memoir is not just a retrospective — it’s a manifesto for aging in the public eye with grace and grit.
Timeline signal
- : Born in Sydney, Australia.
- : Undergoes back surgery; later diagnosed with isolated gait disorder.
- : Seen at Federal Court in a wheelchair Instagram.
- : Publication date for “Unapologetically Ita” Simon & Schuster Australia.
Confirmed facts
- Uses wheelchair for mobility due to isolated gait disorder
- Condition is not Parkinson’s
- No known cure; no pain
- Attends neurophysiotherapy three times a week
- New book “Unapologetically Ita” coming October 2025
What’s unclear
- Exact neurological condition name
- Whether the gait disorder is progressive
- Current marital details beyond widowhood
- Origin of Buttrose’s lifelong mild lisp (congenital, not neurological)
“I can’t walk. I have an isolated gait disorder. It was originally described as frozen gait disorder, but I don’t have Parkinson’s.”
— Ita Buttrose, in a 2025 interview YouTube
“At first I was embarrassed about using a wheelchair. Now I find it easier, especially for travel.”
— Ita Buttrose, discussing her mobility transition YouTube
Buttrose said she goes to rehab three times a week and does an hour of exercise there, plus exercises at home. She described the routine as neurophysiotherapy-based and said it keeps her moving.
On her philosophy, Buttrose stated that nothing is off-limits — that is how she has always lived, and the book reflects that.
For Ita Buttrose, the decision to live openly with a wheelchair is not an ending — it’s a continuation of a career built on transparency. For her readers and the Australian public, the lesson is clear: aging and disability do not erase ambition or influence. They simply demand a different way of moving through the world.
mdfoundation.com.au, instagram.com, youtube.com, seniors.com.au, facebook.com, tiktok.com, facebook.com
For those following her journey, Ita Buttroses health and career updates provides a detailed overview of her health and career milestones.
Frequently asked questions
What condition does Ita Buttrose have?
She has an isolated gait disorder diagnosed after back surgery in 2021. It affects her ability to walk long distances but causes no pain. She does not have Parkinson’s disease YouTube.
Why is Ita Buttrose in a wheelchair?
She uses a wheelchair because an isolated gait disorder makes it difficult to walk without support. The condition was diagnosed after back surgery in 2021 YouTube.
What is Ita Buttrose’s new book about?
The book, “Unapologetically Ita,” covers her life, career, health journey, and her philosophy of living without apologies. It is set for release on 28 October 2025 Simon & Schuster Australia.
How old is Ita Buttrose?
Born 17 January 1942, she turned 83 in 2025.
What exercise routine does Ita Buttrose follow?
She attends neurophysiotherapy three times a week, doing an hour of therapy each session, plus additional home exercises to maintain mobility YouTube.
For a deeper look at her health journey, see our comprehensive overview: Ita Buttrose Mobility: Wheelchair, Walking Stick, Lisp. Another prominent Australian public figure profiled on this site is Julia Gillard: Biography, Prime Ministership, and Current Role.
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Coast Brief, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.