MSWA Bulletin Magazine Winter 2023

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF MSWA
Winter 2023
mswa.org.au
INSIDE
Creating connections: MSWA Clients, staff and
carers came together in a flurry of creativity
to celebrate World MS Day on 30 May.
See inside for more photos at our Butler,
Bunbury, Rockingham and Wilson events.

WILSON CENTRE
29 Parkhill Way 9365 4888
Fax 9451 4453
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
For general feedback or complaints
please contact
Davina Sawyer 6454 3173 or
feedback@mswa.org.au
EDITORIAL WORKING GROUP
Nicola Washington, Tony Millar,
Emily Ace and Nicolette Murphy.
CONTRIBUTORS
Geoff Hutchinson, Carol Chong,
Dajana Tesevic, Vanishree Chetti,
Denise Vogels, James Beckett,
Tracey Hockey, Misty Reinkowsky
and Crystal Chan.
The Editorial Working Group
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 MSWA’s staff, advisors,
directors or officers.
NURSING SUPPORT
Our Neurological Liaison Nurses are usually the first point of
contact after the neurologist’s diagnosis.
COMMUNITY NURSE: 9365 4888
MONDAY TO FRIDAY (8.00AM - 4.00PM)
CLIENT ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
Our experienced teams will provide you with personalised support
throughout your service journey with MSWA. From helping you to
access funding, to working with you to get the most from your
selected services, our trained staff are here to help.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT 9365 4888.
OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:
COUNSELLING, PEER SUPPORT AND HEALTH EDUCATION
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
DIETETICS
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
OUTREACH
PHYSIOTHERAPY
SOCIAL WELFARE
SPEECH PATHOLOGY
NURSING
OUTREACH AT MSWA
If you live in Perth, Rockingham, Bunbury or Albany and are interested
in a trial to experience the Outreach community, get in touch with
SENIOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR MELISSA COOMBS
VIA OUTREACH@MSWA.ORG.AU
EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT
The MSWA Employment Support Service is the only specialist employment
service for people living with multiple sclerosis and other neurological
conditions in Western Australia. Our team can help you to stay in your
current job or find employment in the open labour market.
LEIGH MCCAFFREY, EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT SERVICES
MANAGER: 1300 865 209
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SERVICES MSWA OFFERS,
PLEASE VISIT MSWA.ORG.AU
WELCOME
Welcome to the Winter 2023 edition of Bulletin. We hope you enjoy the news, stories and
service information we have brought to you this quarter.
CONTENTS
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3

FROM OUR CEO
It’s hard to believe we are over
One of the new ‘seeds’ is our
In the theme of celebration, it
halfway through 2023, but
Client Advisory and Co-Design
was fantastic to see so many
when I reflect on the positive
Committee, which is now well
of you participating in our
progress we have made on so
underway and providing
World MS Day ‘paint and sip’
many fronts – it’s no wonder the
valuable insights.
workshops on 30 May. It was
time is flying by.
There are so many initiatives
now underway to improve the
way we do things at MSWA,
to better support and engage
our Clients, and also to create a
great workplace for our staff and
volunteer teams. Whilst we still
have so much we want to do, it is
very encouraging to see the ‘seeds’
planted for the future.
This is underpinned by the
feedback you have shared with us.
Thank you to all our Clients and
carers who took the time to
complete our 2023 Client Survey.
The insight you provide is key to
shaping our future direction and
where to prioritise our focus.
We also hosted our 2023 Client
forum in July, which provided the
opportunity to hear first-hand from
researchers on the important work
being undertaken at Edith Cowan
University and Perron Institute,
including information on the
various trials in progress.
This event was particularly welltimed,
with the Perron Institute
contributing to a groundbreaking
international study identifying
the first genetic marker for MS
severity, with these findings
published in the scientific journal
Nature in late June.
We congratulate Perron Institute
for its significant role in this
discovery, which not only furthers
our understanding of MS, but
holds the potential to revolutionise
the development of effective
treatments for long-term disability.
MSWA is proud to be a
longstanding supporter of the
Perron Demyelinating Diseases
Group and we commend Professor
Allan Kermode and Dr Marzena
Fabis-Pedrini – both of whom
receive funding from MSWA –
for the significant progress their
work has yielded.
uplifting to watch Clients
and staff from across the
organisation come together to
make new connections over
coffee, cake and creativity.
We are also thankful to Main
Roads Western Australia for
supporting us to light up
the night and many of
Perth’s bridges red to mark
the occasion.
The overwhelming feeling of
support and connection was also
felt at our Step Up for MSWA
event on 25 June, raising more
than $163,000. We now gear up
for our biggest event of the year,
the 2023 Ocean Ride (powered by
Retravision) that will take place
on Sunday, 12 November, as well
as the Stationary Cycle Challenge
between October and November.
So don’t wait, get on your bike –
stationary or otherwise – and start
preparing! We are eager to see if
MSWA Rockingham can defend
their 2022 title!
On a different but equally positive
topic, our national body Multiple
Sclerosis Australia (MSA) is set
to host the 2023 Progress in MS
Research Conference in Perth for
the first time ever, between 29
November and 1 December.
The three-day event is designed to
promote the exchange of scientific
thought, break down barriers to
neurological research in Australia,
and to provide research updates to
the community.
We are proud to partner with
MSA in delivering this conference,
which for the first time will feature
community sessions designed
for people with lived experience.
We will provide you with further
information around the conference
and how you can get involved in
the coming months.
Lastly, in the Autumn Bulletin
I wrote about an important
piece of work undertaken by the
Board to change our company
legal structure and update our
Constitution to better reflect the
complex organisation MSWA is
today, and as we look to the future.
I am proud to inform you that
our Financial Members voted
to approve the conversion
from an incorporated
association into a company
limited by guarantee and
adopt a new Constitution at
a Special General Meeting
on 29 June.
These changes are solely to
strengthen the governance of our
organisation and have no impact
on the services Clients receive from
MSWA, which remains a not-forprofit
charitable organisation.
This is an important milestone
in MSWA’s history, laying a
foundational piece from which
we can continue to focus on our
Purpose; ‘to provide benevolent
relief to people living and affected
by multiple sclerosis and other
neurological conditions, to
empower them to live their best
lives’. We would like to thank
all Financial Members who
engaged with us around these
important decisions.
In closing, I would like to thank you
all for your ongoing input, feedback
and support, whether that is as
a Client, carer, family member or
supporter. We wouldn’t be making
the inroads we are without it.
We can always do better, but
not without your input as to
how and where.
MELANIE KIELY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
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5

MEMBER & CLIENT SERVICES
Welcome to the Winter Edition
of our Member & Client Services
Bulletin. The cold weather is
definitely here but spring is on
its way.
“The colour of springtime is in
the flowers; the colour of winter
is in the imagination.”
– Terri Guillemet
On Thursday, 6 July we held
our 2023 Client Forum at the
Telethon Speech and Hearing
Centre in Wembley. We had a
great turnout for this event, where
Clients were provided updates
on the latest research and trials
underway from our research
partners at Perron Institute and
Edith Cowan University. We also
UNRAVELLING THE MYSTERIES
OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS:
A GROUNDBREAKING GENETIC
BREAKTHROUGH
As featured on our front page,
heard from our own clinicians
World MS Day took place on 30 May
and we held a ‘paint and sip’ event
at our Butler, Bunbury, Rockingham
and Wilson sites. It was a fantastic
day where our Clients, carers
and staff came together to raise
awareness for MS and to show off
their painting talents.
While there were quite a few
talented artists, I was not one of
them! However, it was a great day
with lots of fun and great time
spent sharing stories and making
connections. The artwork will be
put together and displayed at our
centres and we are looking forward
to seeing it all pulled together.
Thank you to all involved in our
World MS Day working group
and to our wonderful Events and
Outreach team who did such a
good job organising this activity.
who provided information on new
services available through our
Physiotherapy and Occupational
Therapy teams. This annual forum
provides our Clients with the
opportunity to interact and ask
questions for more insight across
research and our services.
If you were not able to make it
to the forum, you can review
the presentations on our
MSWA YouTube Channel.
Scan the QR code to view.
As we close out on another
financial year, the NDIS has now set
the budgets for the year ahead. We
will be watching closely on what
changes will be implemented by
Minister Bill Shorten following the
NDIS review. We are hopeful that
we will see some positive action.
On page 8, MSWA Manager Client
Engagement Geoff Hutchinson
breaks down the ‘What we have
heard’ report released by the NDIS
in June, following the review’s
consultation period.
A key issue which remains a
challenge across the disability
sector – and indeed many other
sectors across Australia – is
workforce staffing shortages. The
challenges are not going away any
time soon, and the focus for MSWA
and our peers is to attract and
retain good people in the disability
sector. Despite these challenges,
MSWA has achieved some great
outcomes, including redefining
our Purpose, strategy and values,
and the implementation of new
systems, processes and services to
better support our Clients.
I would like to thank our dedicated
staff for their hard work and
commitment over the past year,
and our Clients for your patience
and understanding as we
navigated these challenges.
As always, your feedback is
important to us. If you have
anything you would like to
share, please reach out to us
via feedback@mswa.org.au or
call 6454 3173.
NICOLA WASHINGTON
CHIEF CLIENT
OPERATIONS OFFICER
Multiple sclerosis (MS), a complex
neurological condition affecting
millions worldwide, has long
perplexed medical researchers
seeking effective treatments.
However, there may be hope on the
horizon as the Perron Institute, in
collaboration with an international
study, achieved a major
breakthrough in MS research: the
identification of the first genetic
marker associated with MS severity.
This remarkable discovery not only
advances our understanding of the
disease, but also has the potential
to revolutionise long-term disability
treatments for those living with MS.
Published in prestigious journal
Nature, the groundbreaking
study involved an impressive
collaboration of over 22,000
individuals with MS from across
the globe. Under the leadership of
Professor Kermode, spearheading
this activity Demyelinating
Diseases Research at Perron
Institute and the Centre for
Molecular Medicine and Innovative
Therapeutics at Murdoch
University, the research team also
included Dr. Fabis-Pedrini, a Senior
Research Fellow funded by MSWA.
Both distinguished researchers
have been acknowledged as coauthors
from Western Australia for
their remarkable contributions to
this international study.
Excitement abounds in the
scientific community as Professor
Kermode shares his enthusiasm
for the results, stating that the
genetic marker discovery has
flung wide open the door to
understanding the intricate
mechanisms underlying MS. This
unprecedented insight paves the
way for developing treatments that
can significantly enhance recovery
and halt disease progression,
ushering in a new era of hope for
MS patients.
Dr. Fabis-Pedrini echoes the
sentiment, emphasising the
significance of identifying the
genetic variant linked to MS
severity. This crucial advance
not only holds potential for
new drug discovery, but also
aims to preserve the wellbeing
of people living with MS,
marking a major stride towards
improving the lives of those
affected by the disease.
The latest data underscores the
far-reaching effects of neurological
conditions on people's lives and
serves as a poignant reminder of
the need for continued dedication
to research and fundraising efforts.
The commissioned report by
MS Australia reveals that 33,335
Australians were living with MS in
2021, with 3,040 individuals based
in Western Australia, indicating
an increase from 2017 figures.
This growing prevalence
highlights the urgency of MS
research and support.
MSWA remains resolute in its
commitment to empowering
people to live their best lives
and providing the best possible
support. Over the past decade,
MSWA has contributed an
astounding $34 million to research,
bolstering hope for advancements
in MS treatments.
MARIANNE GREEN
MSWA SENIOR MARCOMMS
OFFICER (BRAND)
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7

CLIENT ENGAGEMENT TEAM
PARTICIPANTS IDENTIFY FIVE KEY
CHALLENGES IN NDIS REVIEW
As discussed previously in this
publication, the Government
announced a review into the
National Disability Insurance
Scheme (NDIS)… again.
1
Why is the National Disability Insurance Agency
(NDIA) an oasis in a desert?
This is a big one and something I am very happy
the report is highlighting. In short, this means that
the NDIA was never designed to support all people with all
4
Why aren’t NDIS markets working?
The early vision of the NDIA was to establish a competitive and free market where
providers competed for clients and produced improved quality, innovation,
or diversity of services for all participants in all locations. However, due to a
variety of reasons, this utopia hasn’t occurred yet.
Just two years after the completion
of the 2019 Functional and
Efficiency Review of the NDIA Act
– otherwise known as the ‘Tune
Review’ – the Hon Bill Shorten MP,
announced in October 2022 that
the Government would complete
yet another review of the Scheme.
The goal of the current review is to
look at the design, operations and
aspects of their disability, and not enough support remains
available for those who don’t fit into the NDIA structure. For
example, of the $31.3 billion the Government contributed to
disability services in 2021-2022, 93 per cent of it went to the
NDIS. This means that if you are not on the NDIS, such as
people over 65 with a disability who missed out on entering
the Scheme, your service options and available funding are
limited. MSWA has been working to highlight this issue to the
Government, so it's pleasing to see that it has been listed as
challenge #1 in this report.
One reason may just be time, as it will take time for the market to understand the gaps in the sector
and drive change. However, another may be that it isn’t a ‘free market’. As Economic Studies 101 tells
us, a market where the price is regulated by the Government isn’t ‘free’. As the report highlights, the
way price caps are set does not help providers respond to the needs of participants and encourage
innovation or competition in service delivery. It also makes it hard to invest in the capability of
workers which in turn limits providers' ability to bridge the worker gap currently engulfing the sector.
The shortage of skilled workers and the impact this has on service delivery has been well
documented here and in other Government reports. However, until we do something to address this
issue, the ability for a truly free market experience for participants will remain limited.
sustainability of the NDIS.
It will also look at ways to make
the market and workforce more
responsive, supportive and
sustainable. The review isn’t due
to be finalised until October 2023;
however, much like any great
summer blockbuster, they have
released a few snippets early to
allow us to catch a glimpse of
where things are heading.
Report Part A, or the ‘What we
have heard’ report as they call it,
highlights five issues co-chairs
Lisa Paul AO PSM and Professor
Bruce Bonyhady AM feel are the
most challenging, from feedback
provided from participants like
you. Report Part B or ‘What we
are going to do about it’, as I am
hoping they call it, will be
released later in the year. The full
report is available online at
www.ndisreview.gov.au or you can
keep reading to get the gist.
2
3
What does reasonable and necessary mean?
The bedrock of the NDIA was that individuals
would receive ‘reasonable and necessary’ support
based on their individual needs. However, there is no set
definition of what is ‘reasonable’ or what is ‘necessary’,
and critically how we keep that consistent while also
understanding everyone's individual needs are different.
Having lived in the NDIS world now for five years, this confusion
leads to some remarkably inconsistent and inequitable
decisions that impact participants' plans and service
opportunities. While I applaud any attempt at reframing this
often-used phrase, I am also concerned getting this wrong
could lead to an even less personalised approach. This is a
tough needle to thread for the NDIA, but one that could really
improve the outcomes for participants if they get it right.
Why are there many more children in the
NDIS than expected?
Not much to add to this takeaway other than to
highlight that 50 per cent of the 592,059 active
NDIS participants nationally are aged between
0 – 18 years of age.
5
How do we ensure that the NDIS is sustainable?
Or as I like to call it, ‘all of the above’. A sustainable NDIS (to me) would be one that
supports the needs of all participants, with prompt and necessary funding that
understands individual service requirements, is delivered by a skilled and motivated
workforce and supported by alternate funding options for requirements that fall
outside the scope of the Scheme. Once we get all that right, the NDIS can continue
to grow and assist without annual reviews being needed.
At 10 years in, I still maintain that the NDIS is a remarkable idea that will one day help all those living
with disability to access the type of services they deserve. However, it's also worth noting that at 10
years in, we’re not there yet.
The latest NDIA review seems to have identified challenges where a different answer will make a
difference to those on the Scheme. They also seem to be going about it the right way in seeking
feedback from participants and providers on how to fix these issues. On each page, they pose further
questions on how we can improve the Scheme.
I encourage you all to read the report and respond to the questions with your feedback on
how we can make the NDIS into the scheme we all want it to be at www.ndisreview.gov.au.
GEOFF HUTCHINSON
MANAGER CLIENT ENGAGEMENT
What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)?
The NDIS is a scheme of the Australian Government which
provides funding to eligible people living with disability.
The NDIS now supports over 500,000 Australians with
disability to access the services and supports they need.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) delivers the NDIS.
8
9

OUR STORIES
CHRIS’S STORY
As a father of three young girls,
Chris had spent the final weeks of
December 2016 working long days
at his fledgling electrical business
before enjoying a well-earned
break with his family.
But what he imagined to be a
time for spoiling his girls with
presents, long lunches and relaxing
in the summer sun turned into
the unimaginable overnight; a
AUSTRALIA’S
BRIGHTEST SPARK:
CHRIS MCENCROE
Years of steadfast dedication, selfbelief
and hard work has paid off
in spades for MSWA Client Chris
McEncroe, who over a sevenyear
journey went from lying in
a hospital bed on a ventilator to
bringing home not one, but two
medals for Australia at the 2023
Ambilympics held in Metz, France.
The competition attracted 400
competitors from 24 different
countries, with Chris the only
Australian representative
competing in a skilled trade
category: electrical engineering.
Chris, alongside his partner – and
recently qualified apprentice –
Poss, had two days to complete the
wiring for a mock house, complete
with an electrical switchboard,
to be judged on the accuracy of
delivering a set of plans. While Poss
hadn’t initially planned to compete,
her help was required to reach
some of the work which had been
set out at two metres high.
“I found it quite odd they didn’t
expect someone in a wheelchair,
and out of the eight competitors,
I was the only one,” Chris said. “I
asked how I could do the parts that
I couldn’t reach, so they let Poss
help me, which was pretty cool
because we go to do part
of it together.”
By the time the last second of
the clock ticked down on the
competition, Chris had a good
feeling his work had earned him a
place on the podium.
“I was pretty chuffed, because I
felt I was the most disabled out
of everyone, and yet it was only
me and another guy that actually
finished the task,” he said.
“The moment of getting the medal
was awesome, getting to go up
on stage and first to get the silver
medal, I thought alright that’s all
done and dusted.”
But little did Chris know,
each country is presented an
Outstanding Achievement
medal to award their strongest
competitor.
With Chris the only Australian
representative to medal at
the Abilympics, he was the
natural choice.
“My partner was waving the
Australian flag and helped push
me up on stage.”
“I would never have thought that I
would end up with a silver medal
for Australia a couple of years ago,
so I think it’s a real ‘feel-good’ kind
of thing.”
Chris highly recommended
anyone interested to showcase
their skills to get in touch with
contact@abilympics.org.au.
“It’s so positive for everyone,
particularly those in the disabled
community. It gives everyone
that ability to do something
they wouldn’t normally have the
opportunity to achieve.”
life-changing diagnosis and a sixmonth
stint in intensive care.
“I went to work on December 23,
totally normal and healthy,” Chris
remembers. “It hit me nearly two
hours into that day, I just started
getting weakness in my legs.”
“By lunchtime it had spread to my
arms, but weirdly I didn’t think
much of it. I didn’t expect anything
because I was a healthy guy.”
Having managed to finish the job
that day, Chris made his way home
and went to bed, not raising the
alarm with his family.
“I went to bed that night
and never walked again,”
Chris said.
“The next morning, I told my ex-wife
that I couldn’t get out of bed. I literally
could not move. The paramedics had
to drag me out of bed and took me
to Busselton Hospital.”
Due to the severity of Chris’
condition, he was quickly diagnosed
with Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
“I explain it as MS in reverse. It is the
same demyelination of the nerve
sheath, but in my case, I lost all my
nerve sheath overnight,”
Chris explains.
Unlike MS, Guillain-Barré affects
the peripheral nervous system – the
network of nerves located outside
of the brain and spinal cord.
“They flew me out to Perth straight
away, because when it’s that
severe, there is a real risk of going
into full cardiac arrest,” he said.
“I knew nothing about it at that
stage. I got to ICU, I remember
blacking out and then I was
basically in a coma for two weeks.”
What followed was six months in
Fiona Stanley’s intensive care unit
on a ventilator.
“Most ICU patients are totally
blacked out the whole time,
whereas I was totally responsive –
I just couldn’t breathe,” he said.
From the start, doctors told Chris
he may never fully recover, citing
that people living with Guillain-
Barré rarely made significant
recoveries past the two-year mark.
But giving up was never an option
for Chris.
“At two years, I was still having
help with everything. I could hardly
feed myself or do anything at that
point,” he explained. “If I went off
what the textbooks say, life now
would be pretty different.”
“I have just never given up. I’ve
been lucky that I haven’t had
to go straight back to work, I’ve
still been able to do my rehab
and that I have had MSWA,
they have done a lot for me.”
“The physios have been incredible,
to be honest – it makes me
emotional to think about it.”
Now seven years along his journey
with Guillain-Barré, Chris is close
to walking and is in the process
of applying for semi-robotic knee
joints which he trialed in Perth.
“The end goal is to use them
around the house with a walker
frame to start with, then crutches,
so that’s what we are working on in
physio at the moment,” he said.
As well as representing his
country on a global scale, the selfproclaimed
“rev head” is also in his
fourth season of racing go-karts,
which Chris modified himself, with
some help from his carers, to be
hand controlled.
“Funnily enough, I think go-karting
is what has done so much for my
upper-body strength. It’s as good
for rehab, as it is for mental health,”
he said.
Reflecting back, Chris said his
journey had opened his eyes to a
whole new world. But through it all,
Chris is an unstoppable force when
it comes to achieving his goals.
From all of us here at MSWA, a
huge congratulations to Chris
McEncroe on his incredible
achievement for Australia!
10
11

OUR COMMUNITY
PHYSIOTHERAPY
MSWA CLIENT FORUM 2023
EXERCISE WITH
THE RIGHT ADVICE
Clients gained insight from
Do you feel like you need more
MSWA’s neurological research
guidance with your physical
partners and MSWA clinicians on
activity and how it relates to
a range of developments at this
your needs?
year’s Client Forum on 6 July.
Back in May, the Physiotherapy
Associate Prof. Jennifer Rodger, of
Team promoted Exercise Right
Perron Institute for Neurological
Week 2023. Exercise Right Week
and Translational Science, opened
is an annual public awareness
the event with the findings of
campaign powered by Exercise and
her stimulating remyelination
Sports Science Australia (ESSA), the
research journey which captivated
governing body of our Accredited
the audience.
Exercise Physiologists. The theme
Prof. Moira Sim, Dr Travis
Cruickshank and Dr Mitchell
Turner, of the School of Medical
and Health Sciences at Edith
Cowan University, also presented
the results and future direction
for Exercise Right Week 2023 was
'The Right Advice', highlighting
the importance of seeking
individualised and tertiary qualified
advice for exercise, health and
sporting needs.
of their SPIN research program
(Systematic Profiling in
Neurological Conditions) and
how Clients can get involved.
Clients also heard about new
services now offered at MSWA,
including the Physiotherapy
Team’s Lymphoedema
Service, as presented by Senior
Physiotherapist Randall Rooney,
and Occupational Therapy’s
Supported Lying Service, presented
by Caitlin Ross, Rachel Karsakis and
Samantha Warne.
We also discovered more about
the role of MSWA’s accredited
exercise physiologists, and how
this role differs from that of
physiotherapists and physiotherapy
assistants. CMO Tony Millar then
highlighted the various fundraising
initiatives underway at MSWA,
which aim to put our Clients back
in the spotlight.
If you were not able to make it to the forum,
you can review the presentations on our MSWA
YouTube Channel. Scan the QR code to view.
What is an Accredited Exercise
Physiologist (AEP)?
AEPs are tertiary qualified allied
health professionals who adopt
evidence-based, person-centered
approaches to work with Clients
holistically. We use exercise as
medicine to treat, manage and
prevent chronic and complex
health conditions and disabilities.
Why is seeking the right
advice important?
In today’s digital world it can
be incredibly confronting and
overwhelming, with the copious
amounts of information available,
to commence safe and effective
exercise that is specific to you.
Seeking the right advice is
especially important for complex
chronic conditions, as your body’s
physiological reaction can
change depending on the
exercise prescription.
We’re all guilty of going to Dr.
Google when we’re unsure of the
right advice. But let’s face it, you
wouldn’t take your phone to a
mechanic, right? Following correct
information regarding your health
is important to ensure there is
purpose and reasoning behind
what you are doing.
So, what is the right advice?
Our Exercise Physiology and
Physiotherapy team will safely
guide you towards the best course
of action to address your needs
and goals.
We believe in ensuring your
experience is enjoyable and
realistic to build a sustainable,
positive and long-term relationship
with physical activity. Education,
empowerment and a holistic
approach are important aspects
we consider when working with
you as a team to create a plan that
is right for you.
ASHLEIGH CASTLEDINE
MSWA ACCREDITED
EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST
If you’re finding it hard to know where to start, or want to consult with
one of our team members, email ashleigh.castledine@mswa.org.au
12
13

COUNSELLING
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
SPEECH PATHOLOGY
DON’T THINK
ABOUT PINK
ELEPHANTS!
HOW TO MANAGE
NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
KAREN BROWN
MSWA COUNSELLOR
Negative thoughts are pushy
little mojo-stealing pirates. They
are persuasive, intrusive and
powerful. Our thoughts will
influence how we feel, which
influence what we do and how
we see ourselves.
It isn’t so much the thoughts that
are the problem, but what those
thoughts are allowed to become.
Negative thoughts that come
and go without settling in are no
problem at all. We all have them
from time to time.
The ones that cause trouble are
the ones that swagger in, claim
their place at the table and
outstay their welcome. Even more
boldly, they’ll run a convincing
argument that they must stay
to protect you from all sorts of
perceived harmful situations.
If only negative thoughts could
find their way out as easily as
they find their way in – but
negative thoughts don’t tend to
work that way. In fact, the more
we try to push them out, the more
they’ll push back. When we slam
the door, they’ll hustle through
the window. When we run,
they’ll chase.
Let’s try a little experiment.
What’s happened to your pink
Whatever you do, no matter what, elephants now?
for the next 10 seconds: DO NOT
How you manage negative
THINK ABOUT PINK ELEPHANTS.
thoughts is as unique as you are,
DO NOT think of pink elephants. and you will need to practice
Whatever you do, DO NOT think of finding the strategy that works
pink elephants!
for you.
What were you thinking about? I If you would like to explore your
bet it was about pink elephants. pink elephants further, the
That’s because we cannot just counsellors at MSWA may be
tell ourselves to not think about able to assist you. Just speak to
something. You must replace it your Client Liaison Coordinator
with something else.
or contact the counselling team
on 0455 453 620.
Now… THINK OF BLUE MONKEYS.
Imagine BLUE MONKEYS
EVERYWHERE so many
BLUE MONKEYS!
Here are just a few ideas to help you make a start;
there are many more.
Engage in a guided meditation or mindfulness exercise.
Find an activity that you enjoy to fully occupy your mind.
For example, walking, art, music, or my favourite, which is
to spend time with your pets.
Engage in a social activity with friends or family.
Write down your intrusive thoughts.
Recognise your thought as an intrusive thought and
acknowledge it.
Remind yourself that thoughts are just thoughts, and
there is no need to fear or act on them.
FINDING HIGH
VALUE IN LOW-COST
ASSISTIVE TECH
SAM WARNE, SARAH COUTINHO AND HEIKI FU
MSWA OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
Two of the most frequently asked questions of MSWA Occupational
Therapists (OTs) are ‘what does Assistive Technology (AT) mean?’ and
‘how do I know if AT is low cost?’. Often this is followed by ‘does a flat
screen TV count as AT?’.
The landscape of assistive technology is vast and overwhelming. Our
Clients often report feeling lost in a sea of suppliers advertising their
shower chair, adapted tap turner, cooling vest... (the list goes on) as
‘the best on the market’. Additionally, the means of purchasing lowcost
items vary based on each funding stream (National Disability
Insurance Scheme, Home Care Package and Community Aids and
Equipment Program).
The interactive Low-Cost AT Group, run by the MSWA Occupational
Therapy department, provides participants with:
/ Information on what low-cost AT is
/ How low-cost AT is funded, depending on the stream
and how to obtain it
/ Education on the different kinds of AT available, depending on
area of the home or diagnosis
/ A list of trusted suppliers
/ Interactive case studies to apply knowledge learned during
the workshop
/ An opportunity to view some low-cost items in person
We will also identify where you will need further support from your
Occupational Therapist in securing funding depending on the item.
Our first group will be conducted on Friday, 15 September at our
Wilson facility.
If you are interested in attending a Low-Cost AT group, please
contact our Occupational Therapy line on 9365 4854 or email us
at ot.groups@mswa.org.au. From there, one of our Occupational
Therapy Assistants will get in touch and discuss further details.
We also provide light refreshments and lots of laughter! We look
forward to seeing you soon and hope our low-cost group is of high
value to you.
FINDING
YOUR VOICE
Group speech therapy is a great
way to target your speech goals in
a natural setting.
An eight-week treatment block of
group speech therapy was recently
completed with a small group of
MSWA Clients.
In these groups, Clients came
together to work on speech, voice
and high-level language (memory,
attention, word-finding etc.).
This was also a great opportunity
to socialise, build connections and
have some fun, in a supportive but
relaxed environment.
Clients took part in voice exercises,
practiced clear speech strategies
and participated in fun language
activities such as Family Feud,
Taboo and Celebrity Heads.
Clients reported that the groups
were very enjoyable, and it was
great to have conversations with
other like-minded individuals,
whilst targeting therapy goals.
If you would like to attend future
speech groups, please contact
Speech Pathology via
speech.pathology@mswa.org.au
or by calling 9365 4888.
Acknowledge the emotions that are present.
14
15

DIETETICS
CHECK IN
ON YOUR
NUTRITION
7
8
Plan ahead
Plan out your meals for the week and shop in
advance to achieve a balanced diet. This also
avoids impulse purchases and last-minute
unhealthy meals. As the cost of food increases,
this can also save money!
Eat a rainbow
Choose a range of different coloured fruits and
vegetables to fill up on healthy fibre, get a range
of vitamins and minerals, boost gut health,
manage weight and reduce chronic disease risk.
How healthy are your eating and shopping habits? Here is a helpful checklist compiled by MSWA Senior
Dietitian Misty Reinkowsky with practical advice to improve your nutrition.
1
2
3
Choose seasonal produce
Eating fruit daily, in
particular the citrus fruit
in abundance in Western
Australia at the moment,
helps keep our immune
systems working efficiently.
Add in some Omega 3s
Omega 3s are fatty acids
which have been shown to
help reduce inflammation in
the body. The best sources
of Omega 3s are fish, fish
oil, cod-liver oil and other
seafood, but you can also find
them in plant food such as flaxseed,
walnuts, chia, pecans and flaxseed oil.
Add nuts!
There is an ever-growing
body of evidence which
suggests the daily
consumption of nuts has an
association with decreased
disease risk and improved
quality of life outcomes.
Adding raw, unsalted almonds, walnuts,
brazil nuts, or a nut mixture to your diet is a
great and healthy way to boost the quality of
your diet. Remember a serve of nuts is
approximately 40 grams.
4
5
6
Choose healthy fats
Unsaturated fats from foods
like nuts, seeds, avocado
and Australian Extra Virgin
Olive Oil are beneficial in
small amounts, as part of a
healthy diet.
Eat mindfully
Increase enjoyment and
awareness of your
meal/snack. Limit distractions
at mealtimes, chew food well
and pay attention to how full
you feel. Stop eating once you
feel satisfied, even if your plate
isn’t empty. You can keep the
leftovers for the next meal.
It’s all about balance
Choose whole foods first. Limit
processed foods, choose mostly
plant foods and eat a variety of
food from the five food groups
for optimal health. These are:
/ Vegetables
/ Fruits
/ Meat and alternatives
/ Grain foods
/ Dairy and alternatives
HEALTHY SALMON
PATTIES RECIPE
Prep: 35 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Servings: 5
Ingredients:
/ 400g can no-added-salt
pink salmon, drained
/ 300g sweet potato
/ 3 spring onions (including green tops)
/ 1 red capsicum
/ 1/2 cup reduced-fat cheddar cheese
/ 10 slices sundried tomato
/ 1 egg
/ 1 tbs parsley, dried
/ 3 tsp lemon rind
/ 1 tsp dill, dried
/ 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
/ Pepper
/ 2 tsp canola oil
Method:
1. Peel and dice sweet potato, place
in a saucepan with water and cook
until soft.
Recipe sourced from: livelighter.com.au/recipe/511/salmon-patties
2. Grate cheese, dice spring onion,
sundried tomatoes and capsicum.
3. Drain potatoes and mash until smooth.
4. In a large bowl combine salmon,
sweet potato, spring onion, sundried
tomatoes, capsicum, egg, cheese,
lemon rind, parsley, dill and pepper.
5. Form 10 even patties and roll in
crumbs, coat well. Place in refrigerator
for 20 minutes to chill.
6. In a fry pan heat canola oil and pan fry
each patty until golden brown on both
sides and cooked through.
7. Serve two patties per person.
16
17

NURSING
WATER, LIFE, THE UNIVERSE
AND EVERYTHING! – PART 4
For part four of this series, we explore the important role water
plays in digestive and urinary system health.
ROCHELLE BROWN
MSWA NEUROLOGICAL LIAISON NURSE
Chronic Constipation
Dehydration is one of the leading causes of chronic constipation. The food we eat
makes its way through the body via the stomach to the large intestine (colon). If
you don’t have enough water present in your body already, the colon soaks up
water from the waste products present in the colon. This results in hard stool
which is difficult to pass. An over-full bowel due to constipation can press on the
bladder, reducing the amount of urine it can hold or make you feel like you
need to pass urine urgently.
Severe constipation is one of the most common causes of faecal incontinence.
Hard bowel motions are difficult to pass and may cause a partial blockage higher
in the bowel. This results in watery bowel motions flowing around the constipated
stool without warning, which can be mistaken for diarrhoea.
Adequate Hydration vs Infections
A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your urinary system -
your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. The majority of UTIs are associated with
the lower urinary tract i.e. the bladder and urethra. Increasing water intake will help
women avoid UTIs. This widely held belief was backed by an independent study
published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Women are
at a greater risk of developing a UTI than men due to their shorter urethras.
UTIs don’t always cause signs and symptoms in men and women.
However, when they do, they may include:
/ A strong, persistent urge to urinate
/ A burning sensation when urinating
/ Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
/ Urine that appears cloudy
/ Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored, a sign of blood in the urine
/ Strong-smelling urine
/ Flank pain (the area between the upper abdomen and the back)
/ Pelvic pain, in women — especially in the center of the pelvis and around the
area of the pubic bone
If you suspect you or someone you know may have a UTI, it is important to
see a doctor as soon as possible, as there could be serious consequences
if the infection spreads to your kidneys.
In part five of our hydration series, you can learn more about
continence and ways to help manage bladder and bowel dysfunction.
Kidney Stone Disease
The incidence of kidney stone disease is rising worldwide. Currently, increasing
fluid intake is recommended as the most ideal prevention. However, to date
there has been inconsistent evidence surrounding optimum volumes
and types of fluid that affect stone formation.
Stone formation has been directly associated with a lack of fluid intake and
is by far one of the most common causes of kidney stone formation. Kidney
stones are formed from minerals and salts present in the urine, which combine
to create hard deposits inside the kidney. This is likely due to the effect low
fluid intake has on the production of urine, which results in concentrated urine
and therefore an increase in the concentration of these minerals and salts in
the urine. Over 80 per cent of kidney stones are made up of calcium oxalate,
whereas uric acid stones make up 8 – 10 per cent of stones worldwide.
As we highlighted in the previous articles in this series, our bodies use some
of the water that we drink for necessary processes, like digestion, and we
also lose water through sweat. Urine volume is therefore not identical to fluid
intake. For this reason, people who are prone to kidney stones may be directed
by their doctor to increase their fluid intake.
You might have seen advertisements in magazines or on social media
promoting different types of water and listing their health benefits. So, you
may ask if there is a ‘best’ type of water to prevent the formation of kidney
stones. The answer is simple: there is no scientific data that demonstrates
that one type of water is better than another in preventing kidney stones.
The key to preventing kidney stones is to increase and maintain an
adequate urine volume.
Soft Drinks
With this information in mind, you might think it is OK to
include soft drinks towards your fluid intake. But beware!
Research shows dark soft drinks such as cola have been
shown to increase the risk of kidney stones. So, if water is not
your ‘thing’ we recommend reading Gemma’s article Stay
Hydrated this summer in our Summer 2023 Edition of Bulletin for her
tricks of the trade on how to increase your fluids in a fun and tasty way.
If you have recurrent kidney stones, you may need to follow a special diet.
First, your doctor will run tests to find out what type of stones you form.
From these, your doctor or dietician can determine which diet changes
might be right for you.
References:
Kidney Stone Prevention: How Much water Should You Drink? K. McCallum (Jan 2023)
The role of fluid intake in the prevention of kidney stone disease: A systematic review over the
last two decades. Turk J Urol. (Nov 2020) 46 (Suppl 1): S92–S103. DOI: 10.5152/tud.2020.20155
Can drinking more water help women fight urinary tract infections? D. Sparks. (Oct 2018)
Effect of Increased Daily Water Intake in Premenopausal Women With Recurrent Urinary Tract
Infections A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Internal Medicine. T. M. Hooton, et al. (July 2018)
Faecal Incontinence: Constipation. Continence Foundation of Australia. (Aug 2021)
18
19

OUR STORIES
It’s this social aspect that John
finds so important, which is
beneficial for both Clients and
volunteers alike. He encouraged
anyone thinking of volunteering to
get involved, as it is an opportunity
to connect with the community,
improve wellbeing and give back.
NURTURING A
DECADES-LONG
VOCATION WITH
MSWA
“I’d just like to see more people do
it; get people out of the pattern
that they have in their lives, look
around and do something positive,
something you are capable of
doing” he said.
“As you get older there is less
things you can do, that’s part of life,
but meeting people – there is no
restriction on that.”
This year, John was recognised
with a nomination in the
WA Lifetime Contribution to
Volunteering category of the
When John Robertson first
started volunteering at MSWA,
“I started doing eight hours a week,
which lasted a year until I was
“While some of the ladies couldn’t
do things physically, they knew
2023 WA Volunteer of the Year
awards for his incredible work.
Google was a new kid on the
block, the assembly of the
International Space Station had
only just begun and you still
couldn't use your landline and
internet at the same time!
Safe to say, in his 24 years of
officially retired, but then I just
kept going,” he said. “What was
half a day a week became one day,
then two.”
“As you can see, it’s a fairly big
property [at Wilson] and when I
started it was all scrub at the back.
how to grow plants and they gave
me a lot of ideas to grow plants
from cuttings – so that is where
many of the plants around the
place have come from.”
“It gets to be like family after a
while, with the Clients.”
“John’s unselfish and noble actions
in his work boots and gloves leave
a trail of radiant garden beds at our
Wilson facility for all staff, Clients,
and visitors,” said MSWA Lead
Manager of Property Development
and Construction Steve Corbett.
dedicated service, John has borne
witness to many changes – but his
passion for the people at MSWA
has never faltered.
Initially, his volunteer work as a
handy man and gardener was to
bridge the year-long gap between
his retirement from the mining
industry and access to the pension
at age 65.
What he didn’t expect was for this
new venture to become a vocation
he was so passionate about.
There were always things to do,
but I also found it was such a good
place to work.”
“Being a volunteer, there was no
pressure on me to do things,
but I felt a moral obligation to
do things.”
His time volunteering has
proved a valuable learning
experience, with many MSWA
Clients helping to grow his
knowledge over the decades.
“A lot of the Clients here,
particularly the ladies with MS,
knew more about gardening than I
will ever know,” he said.
John said MSWA had always made
him feel welcome and “accepted
as one of the troops”, being able
to join in with Client activities,
lunches and morning teas.
Above all else, John’s most
important duty is to connect with
Clients – and he is always prepared
for a chat.
“One thing they told me at the
start is, if any of the members want
to talk – talk,” he said. “They are
always more important than the
job I’m currently doing.”
“You meet a lot of people and talk
to them. There are a lot of people
that want me to come and look
after their garden,” he laughed.
“For the past 24 years, John has
been available to help MSWA
with surrounding gardens
through seasons of heat and rain.
Being a volunteer, John is not
paid; not because he’s worthless –
he is priceless!”
“The longevity of his selfless acts of
kindness in MSWA gardens make
it a better place. His touch extends
to the inside of the building, with
staff able to fill vases with healthy
vibrant flowers from our very own
gardens in meeting rooms, offices,
and reception areas.”
"We learnt long ago John is
the backbone of our successful
landscapes, and MSWA would be
lost without his devoted efforts.”
VOLUNTEER WITH US AT THE
2023 MSWA OCEAN RIDE!
Come and join us bright and early
as we send off all our fantastic riders
completing the 10km Family Ride,
30km, 50km, 70km, 100km, 120km
and 140km courses.
With volunteering locations in Fremantle, Scarborough,
Hillarys and all the way along the course, there's something
for everyone! Job roles include helping setup and pack
down, registering participants, marshalling riders along the
course and helping hand out medals, fruit and water.
Join the team by contacting
events@mswa.org.au or call us on (08) 6454 3131
20
21

ACCOMMODATION & OUTREACH
OUTREACH
Christmas in July
MSWA Beechboro Outreach got into
the holiday spirit with a Christmas in
July celebration featuring the musical
stylings of local musical artist Drea.
The non-alcoholic mulled wine was
a hit!
Sanctuary Planting Day
The green thumbs at Wilson Outreach got their hands
dirty to plant the newly installed vertical gardens in the
refurbished Sanctuary Garden.
Together, Clients and staff transformed the space with a
vibrant mix of flowers, ornamentals, ferns and edible plants.
A big thank you to the Facilities Team for making it possible.
Casino Royale
Clients at MSWA Wilson Outreach were feeling lucky
after the Atrium was transformed into a casino in July.
From blackjack to roulette, everyone was a winner at
Casino Outreach!
International Nurses Day
MSWA Bunbury Outreach hosted Senior Neurological Nurse
Nimisha Baird as guest speaker for International Nurses Day,
who shared her story with Clients.
OUTREACH AND
ACCOMMODATION
HAPPENINGS
If you live near Perth, Rockingham, Bunbury or
Albany and are interested in a trial to experience
the Outreach community, get in touch with
Senior Community Outreach Coordinator
Melissa Coombs via outreach@mswa.org.au
Outreach opening times
Wilson Mon, Tues, Wed + Thurs 8.30am – 2pm
Beechboro Mon + Fri 8.30am – 1pm
Rockingham Tues, Wed + Fri 8.30am – 1pm
Bunbury Wednesday 9am – 12pm
Albany Friday 9am – 12pm
Mother’s Day High Tea
MSWA Bunbury Outreach also hosted
a special Mother’s Day High Tea in May,
featuring an impressive raffle made possible
through Client and staff donations.
ACCOMMODATION
MSWA Butler Accommodation Staff Appreciation
The hard work and dedication of the MSWA Butler
Accommodation team was recognised with a
morning tea in July, where staff were presented
with appreciation gifts.
22
23

OUR COMMUNITY
CREATING CONNECTIONS
WORLD MS DAY 2023
Creativity and conversation
flourished across four MSWA
locations in recognition of
World MS Day on May 30, with
more than 140 Clients and staff
coming together for a special
‘paint and sip’ event.
Professional artists Fiona Rafferty
and Clare Davenhall, from the
Bunbury Regional Art Gallery,
and Miles Carpenter and Joanne
Bowman, from the Fremantle Arts
Centre, led participants at Bunbury,
Rockingham, Wilson and Butler to
create a painted masterpiece on
puzzle pieces.
Our Facilities Team is now hard
at work bringing these individual
artworks together to create ‘the
full picture’ of each location;
showing that despite our unique
personalities and differences, we
are one connected community
here at MSWA.
As well as the joy of taking some
time to be creative, it was great
to see new connections and
friendships formed throughout
each session.
Scan for the full gallery
of images from MSWA’s
Paint and Sip events
LIGHTING UP
THE NIGHT FOR
WORLD MS DAY
In honour of World MS Day,
the Mounts Bay Bridge,
Joondalup Drive Bridge,
Tonkin Highway Sky Ribbon
and Northbridge Tunnel shone
red into the early hours on
May 30 in a show of support
for people living with MS.
MSWA Board Director John
Patmore and other members
of our community sent in these
snaps of the landmarks proudly
shrouded in red.
MSWA Board Director John
Patmore admires the Mounts Bay
Bridge lit up red for World MS Day.
24
25

OUR COMMUNITY
STEPPING
UP TO THE
CHALLENGE
FOR MSWA
Scan for the
full gallery
Commonwealth Bank representatives Karen and Adrian present their
generous donation to MSWA Chief Marketing Officer Tony Millar.
The Ruggiero Foundation, our 2023 highest fundraising team.
The 2023 MSWA Step Up - Powered by Commonwealth Bank event
was a great success, with over 800 participants and $163,885 raised for
people living with neurological conditions.
The event, held in the Central Park Building, saw participants climbing
the steps of Perth’s tallest building.
The atmosphere on the day was electric, with families, friends and
colleagues cheering on their loved ones as they took on the challenge.
Our top fundraisers were recognised on the day, with top individual
fundraiser, Nicholas Ruggiero, raising an impressive $5,675, assisting
his team – the Ruggiero Foundation – to also claim the highest
fundraising team title, raising over $24,000.
Colin Ottaway took out the most steps climbed with a huge 24 climbs
– that's over 24,000 steps!
TURNING CURLS INTO
CASH FOR MSWA
There is nothing hairdresser
Shenae Wilson won’t do for her
friends, especially when it comes
to one of her best friends, Cherone,
who lives with MS.
In May, Shanae transformed her
Wangara salon into a fundraising
hub – offering patrons blow outs
and hair styling services, with 100%
of the proceeds donated to MSWA.
“Cherone was diagnosed around 15
years ago, but thanks to MSWA and
all of the money they have invested
in research, the treatment she
receives means she lives a pretty
normal life,” Shenae said.
Shenae’s support continued on
into June, where she and her
husband Travis climbed the
Central Park tower in the Step
Up for MSWA event.
“I did the double up, my husband
did the multi climb eight times
and my girlfriend did it three times.
I’m obviously the most unfit one,
because the second time was hard
enough!” she laughed.
We also must give a special mention to our very own MSWA staff
In all, Shenae raised $1825 through
member and Client Tracey Hockey, who with the support of her son,
her salon fundraiser and almost
Keenlan, took to the stairs five times!
another $1000 with her husband
The event would not have been possible without the support
for Step Up.
of our sponsors and volunteers, including Commonwealth
“Just get involved – it helps so
Bank and Central Park. We are grateful for their ongoing
many people and it’s always great
commitment to supporting West Australians living with
to support a cause, so why not
neurological conditions.
choose something that means
Overall, the 2023 MSWA Step Up – Powered by Commonwealth
something to you and make a
Bank event was a fantastic day, filled with inspiration, challenge and
difference?” Shenae said.
community spirit.
“I have seen firsthand the
We thank all participants, volunteers and sponsors for making it such
difference MSWA’s investment in
a success!
research has made and how they
help people living with MS live
DANNIELLE MCCONNELL
Colin Ottoway on his
MSWA Client and staff member Tracey
MSWA SENIOR EVENT COORDINATOR
longer and fuller lives.”
26
way to 24 climbs!
Hockey with her son, Keenlan.
27

EVENTS
2023 MSWA OCEAN RIDE
POWERED BY RETRAVISION
Canine star, Stan.
Lotteries Marketing Officers Vanessa
and Sam on confetti control duties
Hananeh, Brodie and Hayley
celebrate wrap up on set.
The 2023 MSWA Ocean Ride is
coming up quick and promises to
be a day filled with excitement,
with a distance for everyone!
This year's ride will again take place
on the beautiful Western Australian
coastline in November, with the
Stationary Cycle Challenge also close
to pedalling off, providing our MSWA
Clients the opportunity to take part
in their physiotherapy sessions!
Whether you are an experienced
rider or a newcomer, the MSWA
Ocean Ride is the perfect
opportunity to challenge yourself
and raise funds for a great cause.
As you prepare for the ride, it's
important to remember that this
is not just a cycling event – it's a
community effort to show our
support for West Aussies living with
neurological conditions.
Every kilometre you ride and every
dollar you raise will make a real
difference in the lives of those who
need it most. So: train hard, stay
focused and get ready to make a
positive impact!
THANK YOU, PHARMACY 777
Staff and Clients will receive
free registration; be the first
know by registering your
interest on our website,
mswaoceanride.org.au.
Mark your calendars, gather your
friends and family, and get ready to
join thousands of other riders for a
day of excitement, adventure and
giving back.
From all of us at MSWA, we want to thank longtime
supporters Pharmacy 777 for their passion
and commitment to our cause, with the team
The 2023 MSWA Ocean Ride will be
held on Sunday, 12 November 2023.
DANNIELLE MCCONNELL
MSWA SENIOR EVENT
COORDINATOR
raising an astounding $47,240 for West Australians
living with neurological conditions as part of the
HBF Run for a Reason.
We were blown away by this effort, which also saw
Pharmacy 777 take home the crown for highest
fundraising team across the whole event.
Congratulations and thank you for making a lasting, positive impact on our community.
LIFE ON SET: A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES
MSWA’s marketing department, led by the lotteries team, has been hard at work behind the scenes pulling
together another incredible Mega Home Lottery campaign, due to launch on Monday, September 4!
There will be some familiar faces featuring on screens across WA this time around, as we have packed our
commercials full of MSWA staff, with MSWA Client Hayley Long playing a starring role. There was even a
canine actor on set – much to everyone's excitement!
There will be three more incredible properties up for grabs during this campaign and we had plenty of fun
checking out the amazing features while on set.
Here is a little sneak peek of what is to come – make sure you keep an eye out for the campaign launch
on mswalottery.com.au.
MSWA Client Hayley Long.
READATHON
The MSWA marketing team
has sure been busy, with team
members Hananeh Arzavi, Laura
Radicevic and Deb Packer visiting
Providence Christian College in
August to talk to students about
MS Readathon!
For the month of August, every
book you read will raise money for
kids and their families impacted by
multiple sclerosis. Find out more
at www.msreadathon.org.au
Our star extras from lotteries,
recruitment and marketing.
SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE TO US
Do you have a story about living with a neurological condition in WA
that other MSWA Clients might like to read? We invite you to share
your experiences with us.
Email your submission to bulletin@mswa.org.au for consideration.
SUGGESTIONS, COMPLAINTS AND COMPLIMENTS
We want to hear from you. Your feedback helps us to understand
what is working well and where we can improve.
You can raise a concern or acknowledge the support an MSWA staff
member has provided by telephoning the Complaints Liaison and
Compliance Coordinator, Davina Sawyer on 6454 3146, via email
feedback@mswa.org.au or writing to Quality and Compliance;
Locked Bag 2, BENTLEY DC 6983.
What a rig!
Alternatively, you can speak with the coordinator of your services.
For more information, visit mswa.org.au/about-mswa/contact-us.
28
29

OUR COMMUNITY
NEWS IN BRIEF
SAVE THE DATE
Thriving with Multiple Sclerosis
MSWA Client Rob Cridge recently
took on the challenge of giving a
TEDx talk in Kinjarling (Albany), as
part of the ‘Imagine’ themed event.
Rob talks about how making
small changes in your life can, and
will, lead to positive outcomes in
the future, how to become more
engaged in life and how to not
sweat the small stuff.
Rob’s list of achievements is
pretty amazing and you can
watch his inspiring talk here:
https://youtu.be/dq2gt-CK0lo
“I was diagnosed with Multiple
Sclerosis... and it is the best thing
that ever happened to me.”
Rob Cridge
‘Tuff’ Love - Drag News feature
Rob isn’t the only star in our midst,
with die-hard Ducati fanatic
and MSWA Client Chris Morgan
featured in Drag News Magazine
in May.
Margaret Doody Respite
The skilled drag racer talks about
House Mural
his passion for motorbikes,
his plans to compete for a
Perth-based artist Liv Robinson
championship and how MS won’t kindly donated her time and
hold him back.
talents to produce a four metre
mural to spruce up Margaret
“When I race my world comes down
Doody Respite's courtyard.
to a very specific group of actions
that I try to refine and perfect.
To make the under-the-sea
Nothing can distract me. It is a world themed masterpiece more special,
of looking for the perfect run and a Liv bought the artwork to MSWA
world where I no longer have MS.” Wilson Outreach, guiding Clients to
Chris Morgan
add the finishing touches.
Read the full story at
We hope our Clients visiting respite
dragnews.com.au/tuff-love/
will enjoy the new scenery!
May 50K
A team of MSWA employees and Clients showed their support for the
MS community by participating in the May 50k.
Together, they fundraised $1,307 for the cause, logging an
impressive 1,015km!
A huge congratulations to the team for getting involved and thank you
to all who supported with their generous donations.
UNDERSTANDING MS
NEWLY DIAGNOSED INFORMATION EVENING
Expressions of interest
Have you been diagnosed with MS in the past 2 years? Do you want to
know more about MS and hear from others living with MS? This information
evening is run by MSWA twice a year and is free for Clients and family
members/support people.
In addition to connecting with peers, this session provides insight into our
MS Peer Support program, Employment Support Service and includes a
Q&A opportunity with the MSWA Allied Health Panel.
Register your interest to dajana.tesevic@mswa.org.au or call 0429 267 970.
From diagnosis to risk factors and symptom-management, the
Understanding Multiple Sclerosis course is for anyone wanting to
learn more about MS.
The award-winning online course was developed by the Menzies Institute for
Medical Research to improve understanding and awareness of MS.
To date 37,000+ people from more than 170 countries have enrolled.
The six-week online course allows you to study at your own pace. Best of all – it’s completely free.
The next course will begin on 11 September, 2023.
Visit ms.mooc.utas.edu.au to enrol.
DIGESTING THE SCIENCE OF MS (FOR AGES 6 – 16)
Expressions of interest – September/October school holidays
This workshop is an opportunity for children and families to attend a free, interactive
science-based activity session to learn about MS in an engaging and fun way.
Navigate the nervous system and discover how MS affects the body, while
having fun and connecting with your loved ones. Register your interest to
dajana.tesevic@mswa.org.au or call 0429 267 970.
“The event was great for my kids! They really enjoyed the excellent resources.
My 7-year-old… has been able to understand more and ask more questions.”
20 – 26 AUGUST
21 – 27 AUGUST
4 – 8 SEPTEMBER
8 SEPTEMBER
11 SEPTEMBER
21 SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
7 – 14 OCTOBER
23 – 29 OCTOBER
29 NOV - 1 DEC
Speech Pathology
Week
Brain Injury
Awareness Week
Women’s Health
Week
World Brain
Day
Understanding MS
course begins
World Alzheimer's
Day
Mental Health
Awareness Month
Mental Health
Week
Occupational
Therapy Week
Progress in MS Research
Conference
30
31

WORLD MS DAY