MSWA Bulletin Magazine Spring

A message from the General Manager –
Member Services
SUE SHAPLAND RN, BN
“Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose
the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life.”
Dr. David M. Burns.
I thought this quote has many applications. Too often we
strive for perfection and are critical of ourselves or others if
things are less than perfect rather than celebrating success
or achievement. I absolutely believe we are never too old to
learn new things; in fact, research encourages us to do so to
stave off the impact of ageing!
This could also apply to the National Disability Insurance
Scheme (NDIS). This massive social reform requires a huge
commitment over the next 3-4 years to register approximately
460,000 eligible Australians with the Scheme. While this is
occurring, the funding is essential to those who have been
registered thus far and renewing their plans annually. All the
while the NDIS is evolving and no doubt this will continue
for several years to come. It’s not a perfect Scheme yet, but
the difference it is making for people living with disability is
heartwarming. Of course, here in WA we are still awaiting the
decision of which version we will be adopting, but thankfully
this isn’t delaying the roll out of new sites.
We recently had some great news for MSWA - Marcus our
CEO is staying on! This was really welcomed by Members
and staff alike. With so many exciting plans for the next 3 or
more years, his leadership will be a real asset, as it has been
for the past 15 years.
The official opening of our Bunbury Hub took place in August,
allowing us to proudly show off this fantastic facility. I would
like to acknowledge grants received from The John and Beryl
May Henderson Foundation and Lotterywest, which assisted
with costs relating to the installation of the air conditioning
and furniture fit out.
The plans for our proposed Butler premises have been finalised
and will soon go out to tender. I think each time we build, we
improve on the design and layout and I am really looking
forward to seeing this development take shape. We already
have a list of potential residents for the accommodation facility.
Time flies as we keep saying, but this year we see some
milestones which bring that home. Fern River will be 20 in
December, Beechboro is 14 and Treendale has been open for
five years!
An exciting announcement regarding the MSWA research
funding for 2017/18: we have committed $2.6 million, another
record amount. This latest funding allocation also includes
a four-year commitment to support two exciting research
positions in WA. The Perron Institute for Neurological and
Translational Science, previously WANRI, will establish two
roles, an MSWA Professor of MS and an MSWA Professor of
Neuroplasticity which will benefit MS and other neurological
conditions. $500,000 will be committed to research into
progressive MS, through MS Research Alliance and the
International Progressive MS Alliance.
We recently had confirmation that another treatment has
received PBS approval for relapsing remitting MS. Ocreluzimab
is an infusion which has also shown some promise for
progressive MS and we hope this will also be approved.
When I started at MSWA in 2003 there were just four disease
modifying therapies available for MS and they were new to
the scene and the long-term benefits were unsure. We now
have 12, giving greater choice and the opportunity to change
therapies when needed to better manage disease activity,
and long-term benefits are well documented.
If you need any information about MS, managing your
symptoms, or the latest therapies or research please
contact one of our MS nurses through our main number,
9365 4888 or email us at Get-in-touch@mswa.org.au.
Our Member Services Team is here to support you.
MSWA BULLETIN SPRING 2017 | 7