MSWA Bulletin Magazine Autumn 16

Inside | Autumn 2016
From the desk of the CEO
Marcus Stafford
The Multiple Sclerosis
Society of WA (Inc.)
WILSON CENTRE
29 Parkhill Way (08) 9365 4888
Fax (08) 9451 4453
Freecall 1800 287 367
See Health Team Dept contacts on this page
Member Services
Directory
GENERAL MANAGER – MEMBER SERVICES
Sue Shapland: 9365 4840
INDIVIDUAL OPTIONS
Manager Community Care Programs,
Gail Palmer: 9365 4851
OUTREACH GROUPS
Wilson Outreach (Mon-Thurs): 9365 4830
Beechboro Lodge (Mon, Fri): 9377 7800
Southside Outreach (Fri): 9592 9202
Bunbury Outreach (Wed): 9791 2472
Albany Outreach (Fri): 9841 6657
BUNBURY OFFICE
9 Ramsay Street 9791 2472
BUSSELTON OFFICE
1/21 Cammilleri Street 9754 2320
MARGARET DOODY RESPITE HOUSE
Manager, Chris Rush: 9385 9574
FERN RIVER ACCOMMODATION
Manager, Liz Stewart: 9356 2747
HAMILTON HILL ACCOMMODATION
Manager, Jayne O’Sullivan: 9331 5780
TREENDALE GARDENS RESPITE &
ACCOMMODATION
Manager, Linda Kidd: 9725 9209
Contact Us
If you would like to comment
on anything you read in this
Bulletin please email
bulletin@mswa.org.au
or write to
MSWA, Locked Bag 2,
Bentley DC WA 6983
The Bulletin can also be viewed at
mswa.org.au/bulletin
Editorial Committee
Greg Brotherson (Editor), Marcus Stafford (CEO),
David Bugden, Sue Shapland, Ros Harman,
Libby Cassidy, Sandra Wallace, Narelle Taylor,
Leonie Wellington, Bhavna Jagtiani, and Dawn Burke.
The Editor welcomes unsolicited submissions.
All articles are subject to a reviewing process.
The views expressed are those of the Authors
and do not necessarily reflect the view of the
Society’s staff, advisors, Directors or officers.
From the desk of the CEO 3
A message from the General
Manager – Member Services 4
MSWA Camps for 2016 4
Letter from the Editor 5
Letters to the Editor 6
Bequests – Thank You 7
Round-up of research and
other items of interest 8-9
Healthy Feet 10
Our Health House 11
NDIS / NDIS My Way WA
Trial Sites Update - February 2016 12
MSWA leading the way for WA research 13
MSWA heads to Shenton Park 14
MS Mega Home Lottery 14
There’s an app for that! 15
Tips for successful communication 16
Zika Virus Alert 16
Shaping your own destiny 17
Shermar Moore 18
Outside 19
That’s life with Narelle 20
Volunteer update 21
Anytime Fitness Stadium Stair Race 22
Swimming for MS 22
Walking in memory –
Rotary Team Challenge 2016 23
A night under the stars 23
South West regional round up 24-25
Wilson Outreach news 26
Fern River - our 2015 in review 26
Southside Outreach news 27
News from Eastside and Northside
Outreach Groups at Beechboro Lodge 27
Albany Outreach news 27
NURSING Our nursing team is usually the first point of contact, after the neurologist,
for anyone diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. We’re committed to providing holistic support
so you have a greater understanding of what to expect from your condition.
Manager: Lou Hatter on 9365 4809
Hospital Liaison Nurse (S.C.G.H.): 9346 3333
Community Nurses: 9365 4812, 9365 4838, 9365 4870, 9387 4846 or 9365 4888
PHYSIOTHERAPY Physiotherapy aims to provide treatment interventions to develop and
maintain mobility and function. Our physiotherapists are experts in movement and function,
and work in partnership with Members to attain the highest possible level of independence.
Manager: Marilyn Sylvester on 9365 4837
Physiotherapy Office: 9365 4834
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Occupational therapists work with Members, and clients,
to enable them to continue their work and other interests for as long as possible, where they
may otherwise have been limited by their condition.
Manager: Sandra Wallace on 9365 4804
An occupational therapy contact can be reached on 9365 4888
COUNSELLING Some people need support to deal with the news that they have MS,
and the challenges that may present over time. Our qualified counsellors provide a safe
space for you to explore your concerns, in a safe and confidential environment.
Manager: Lisa Papas on 9365 4836
Support Counsellors: 9365 4808 or 9365 4811 Peer Support Program: 9365 4808
Welfare Officers & Funding Locators: 9365 4889 or 9365 4835
INDIVIDUAL OPTIONS We are able to supply limited in-home support such as
assistance with personal care for people with disability due to multiple sclerosis, to help
them remain in their homes. Care and supports are provided through a combination of
funding from the Disability Services Commission (DSC) and our own fundraising efforts.
We also manage DSC allocated individually funded care packages.
Contact us on 9365 4851 for more information.
CAMPS & RECREATION
MSWA provides separate recreation camps for Members, carers, and families, primarily
funded by Lotterywest, and for a nominal cost to participants. These camps provide a
break from daily routines, and strengthen friendships and support networks.
Coordinator for Camps & Recreation: 9365 4843
“Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.”
Chris Grosser
Without a doubt, 2015 was the year of creating opportunities
here at the MS Society. Opportunities to bring us closer to our
vision of a world free from multiple sclerosis, and our purpose
of helping people living with MS to get the best out of life.
In the last Bulletin, I spoke to you about our plans to grow our
strategic footprint, fund local research and prepare ourselves
for the NDIS.
And if 2015 was the year of opportunities, 2016 is the year
of action!
In January this year, we announced the results of our inaugural
MSWA Research Funding Round. Out of our record $1.5
million contribution to MS research nationally, half a million
dollars was set aside to fund Western Australian researchers.
This money is not just our way of showing support for local
researchers. The research is of the highest quality and
fits within the global effort. In the long term, it is our aim
to financially support and grow the talent in WA so that we
become leaders in MS research in Australia and are at the
heart of the search for a cure.
The calibre of applicants was truly outstanding and as a
consequence we have committed almost one million dollars
to fund five local researchers for the next two years.
We don’t have the medication to completely stop MS yet
but we have ones to slow its progression, so every piece of
research undertaken is very important. Learn more about the
researchers and their work on page 13 of this Bulletin.
We then rounded off January with the official announcement
of our plans to build a new high support accommodation
facility at the site of the old Shenton Park Hospital.
The $2 million facility will offer people with disabilities
accommodation with a private bedroom, lounge, kitchen and
bathroom, so they have the best of both worlds – around the
clock care and a great place to call home.
The facility will be positioned in a fantastic location with good
public transport links and means family and friends will be
able to visit easily.
I’m thankful to the State Government for the opportunity to build
accommodation that meets the needs of our Members in Perth.
Finally, in February I headed down to Bunbury to check on the
progress of our current build and to meet with Mayor Gary
Brennan as he joined me in turning the first sod on our new
$1.5 million Community and Health Services Centre.
It was a significant occasion, one I’m glad Members and staff
in Bunbury could be a part of.
The Centre fills an important need in the South West as we’ve
outgrown our current Bunbury Outreach Centre and the
demand for our services continues to grow.
The purpose built Centre will be a one-stop shop for the 234
Members in the region, including their family and carers, who
will all be able to access a wide range of services.
It will also be ‘open for business’ for people with other
neurological conditions who are in receipt of NDIS funding.
It is exciting times for the Society and our Members and it’s
important to acknowledge at this juncture that it is thanks to
the public’s continued donations and support as well as the
Mega Home Lottery that we have been able to put these plans
in place to build the new facilities.
We’re proud of our leadership position but we’re by no means
resting on our laurels.
Our strategic footprint will continue to grow with funds already
being allocated for a high support accommodation facility in
Albany and the preliminary identification of suitable land in
the northern suburbs.
The team across WA is committed to building a bright
future for people living with multiple sclerosis and other
neurological conditions in Western Australia. Thank you
for allowing us to be part of your journey.
2 Autumn 2016 The MS Society of Western Australia The MS Society of Western Australia Autumn 2016 3