A re-elected Labor government will spend $50 million to set up a national network of stroke care co-ordinators.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made the announcement while visiting a Medicare Local centre in the northern NSW town of Lismore on Monday.
Stroke sufferers needed tailored care and support as they moved from hospital to home.
"Stroke survivors and their families have told us it can be difficult adjusting to life after a stroke and finding the care and support they need in their local community," Mr Rudd said.
He said a coalition government would cut 3000 frontline health workers from the Medicare Local system, which is run by local clinicians and community leaders.
"Mr Abbott hasn't thought through the impact of his cuts on real peoples' lives," he said.
The program would be rolled out in stages across all states and territories by 2016/17.
The initial areas for the program would be southern Victoria, coastal NSW and Queensland and regions with high indigenous populations.
Strokes kill around 8300 Australians a year.
An estimated 375,000 stroke survivors are living in the community.
National Stroke Foundation chief executive officer Dr Erin Lalor said it was the biggest boost to stoke care since the federal government made it a national health priority in 1996.
"This boost to stroke care recognises ... the gaping holes in Australian stroke care," she said.
NSW stroke survivor Adrian O'Malley said the commitment would be life transforming for people in his situation.
"Dealing with the aftermath of stroke in today's world is a daily battle, with little or no support once you have left hospital," Mr O'Malley said.
