MSWA Bulletin Magazine Summer 2022

FROM THE DESK
OF THE CEO
MELANIE KIELY
CEO
It is an absolute honour to be
writing this, my first Bulletin
communication with you as the
new CEO of MSWA. I am aware
of the responsibility of guiding
this amazing organisation and
its team as we support Western
Australians with neurological
conditions to live their best lives.
I am also conscious of the role
we can play in supporting the
research community to find cures
and ways to slow down or better
manage symptoms.
My predecessor Marcus Stafford has
led the organisation with focus and
passion and hands it over in very
good shape. My job is to work with
the Board and the team to define
how we make an even greater
impact for the people we exist
to support.
My first and most significant goal
is to listen – to listen to you, our
Clients, to hear what gaps exist in
supporting you. I’m listening to
ways we can invest our resources
to support you better and where
we need to help shape the
future for Western Australians,
and indeed all Australians, living
with neurological conditions.
I am aware we have positioned
ourselves with the tagline ‘We
Know Neuro’. I want to understand
what that means for you, what
opportunities exist to have an even
greater impact, and how we can
adapt to really meet all your needs
and specialise in this area.
I am conscious we are nothing
without the passion and dedication
of our amazing staff who go out
every day to homes, community
centres and our MSWA Services
Centres, to help our Clients. The
ongoing efforts of our entire
workforce is incredible. All our
support staff in rostering (who make
sure the right carer is with the right
Client at the right time – no small
feat), infection control, the call centre,
property management and every
other part of our organisation. There
are too many to mention, but in my
first week I have been so touched by
their passion for what we are here
to do and their willingness to give
their best and more. My job is to
work with them to set the direction,
remove any barriers and empower
them to be their best.
Of course, as we are all acutely aware,
this is all going on in an uncertain
COVID-19 world. The pressure this
is placing on all our teams and
Clients is evident. The team and I
are working very hard to make sure
we have plans in place should the
number of cases surge. Our biggest
challenge will be the availability
of staff as infections rise. We are
comforted by the slow, but clearer
guidance coming through the State
Government now, which is helping
our planning. To get through this, we
will all need to work together. I know
our frontline teams are meeting
with our Clients now to put in place
‘partnership’ plans – to understand
what is important to each of you and
what other family or community
resources are in place to support
you and our staff – to supplement
MSWA resources if that is needed at
any point in time. The key is to make
sure you are safe and getting the
essential care you need, and that our
staff are supported to do this while
also keeping safe.
In short, I am so honoured and
humbled to have this role and
I look forward to meeting you,
listening to you and learning
from you all as we navigate
the present and the future.
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