The Official Magazine of MS Australia – ACT/NSW/VIC www.msaustralia.org.au/actnswvic ISSN 1833-8941 Print Post Approved: Spring 2013 100003204 Spotlight on sex and intimacy Great ideas that will inspire you to exercise Stay employed With support, you can keep on working DISABILITYCARE FINANCIAL AUSTRALIA INFORMATION What happens next? Superannuation and insurance www.facebook.com/MSAustralia http://twitter.com/MS_Australia www.youtube.com/MSSocietyAustralia Editor: Toni Eatts Publisher: Multiple Sclerosis Limited 14 ABN: 66 004 942 287 Website: www.msaustralia.org.au/actnswvic Frequency: Published quarterly in March, June, September and December Advertising enquiries: Tel: (02) 8484 1316 Email: [email protected] Design: Byssus, (02) 9482 5116, www.byssus.com.au Photographs: The stock images published in Intouch are sourced from Thinkstock.com Printing: Webstar Print MS Australia – ACT/NSW/VIC ACT Gloria McKerrow House 117 Denison Street Deakin ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6234 7000 Fax: (02) 6234 7099 NSW Studdy MS Centre 80 Betty Cuthbert Drive Lidcombe NSW 2141 Tel: (02) 9646 0600 Fax: (02) 9643 1486 Victoria The Nerve Centre 54 Railway Road Blackburn VIC 3130 Tel: (03) 9845 2700 Fax: (03) 9845 2777 MS ConnectTM (information and services): 1800 042 138 (free call) Regional offices: Visit www.msaustralia.org.au/actnswvic and click on ‘Contact Us’. Privacy Policy: For our full policy document, visit www.msaustralia.org.au/actnswvic ISSN: 1833-8941 36 33 Disclaimer: Information and articles contained in Intouch are intended to provide useful and accurate information of a general nature for the reader but are not intended to be a substitute for legal or medical advice. Multiple Sclerosis Limited is not recommending medical or legal advice, and readers must seek their own medical or legal advice as might be appropriate. 30 Advertising disclaimer: Advertisements are provided to assist consumers to locate and purchase suitable products and services. Multiple Sclerosis Limited does not endorse any one product or service over another; nor do we receive any commission on sale of items. Consumers are encouraged to discuss the options for exchange or return at time of purchase with a specific supplier because Multiple Sclerosis Limited is not liable in the event the product is not satisfactory. MS Australia – ACT/NSW/VIC is a not-for- profit organisation that has been supporting and helping people with multiple sclerosis (MS) since 1956. Through an extensive network of centres, branches, support groups and health services, the organisation provides specialist programs to people with MS, their families, carers, friends and healthcare professionals. © Multiple Sclerosis Limited, 2013 2 intouch spring 2013 www.msaustralia.org.au/actnswvic www.msaustralia.org.au/actnswvic spring 2013 intouch 3 Contents CEO’s message FEATURES Welcome to the Spring 2013 issue 10 It’s here! of Intouch. DisabilityCare Australia − the First, I’d like to acknowledge the National Disability Insurance legacy and tremendous contribution Scheme – is open for business. made by Jeremy Wright, the founding CEO of MS Research Australia, and 12 My story: Keep on going to warmly welcome Dr Matthew Miles, Terri Laurence urges people previously from the University of NSW who have MS to become School of Medicine, to the role. Matthew involved in the community. is now leading the high level of research 14 Strategies for work activity and the record level of research expenditure. We’re firmly Learn some steps to take committed to ultimately finding a cure for MS and to eliminating the so you remain employed. disease’s impact on the lives of individuals and families. Until that day, we won’t rest; we’ll push ahead. Until then, our organisation 28 MS Awareness will continue to exist to improve lives and eliminate the compromises Month highlights imposed on them, and we’ll be sharing examples of how the Catch up with what changes are already leading to improvements in people’s lives. happened during the Kiss A number of important developments have occurred since the Goodbye to MS campaign. last issue of Intouch. In particular, from 1 July 2013, people who have a disability, and their family and carers, have started to move 30 Financial information: into DisabilityCare Australia (DCA), at four launch sites: the Hunter Employment and super area of New South Wales, the Barwon area of Victoria, in South What your rights are and how to Australia for children, and in Tasmania for young people. Importantly, access your superannuation commencing in July 2014, the DCA launch is being extended to Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. MS COMMUNITY Our organisation has two launch sites that are demanding our 23 Community fundraising: attention, and we’re also not only maintaining our existing services Thank you for your hard work. but improving them. This maintenance and improvement are good for people who have a disability, and rest assured we don’t think our 24 Volunteers in action: work is done – we’re striving to remain abreast of developments. Meet people who are helping As the details of the scheme unfold, we’ll remain actively involved to make a difference. to ensure that the needs of people who are affected by MS can be met. Our regional staff members will help our clients navigate the new 26 Peer support: Sharing the MS journey system, and we also want to collect feedback in order to influence any changes that might be required. So be sure to go to page 10 for 27 Support Group profile: an update about how DCA is being implemented. Our organisation The Esperanza Peer is at the forefront, not waiting for changes to happen: we’re Support Group preparing now for what has already begun. For some years, MS Australia – ACT/NSW/VIC has been offering the MS Employment Support Service (ESS) to clients living in Victoria. HEALTH & WELLNESS The team members are poised to soon be operating in Sydney, 12 32 Take charge of your health: and we have plans to expand the service even more. For an insight Invest in a cooling vest. into the help the ESS can provide, take a look at the ‘MS and 33 Ideas for exercise: Employment’ feature on page 14. Be inspired by these activities. It makes for happy reading! 36 Spotlight on: sex and intimacy Robyn Hunter REGULARS CEO, MS Australia – ACT/NSW/VIC 5 Your say 6 News 9 MS insights Look out for this symbol for 13 Q&A information and articles that 19 MS Readathon and Bequests are specifically relevant to 20 Events family members and carers 22 Family and carers CARERS of people who have MS. 39 New resources 2 intouch spring 2013 www.msaustralia.org.au/actnswvic www.msaustralia.org.au/actnswvic spring 2013 intouch 3 Editor’s note Many people dream of the day on which they’ll retire from the workforce, but very few want to be forced into early retirement because of illness or injury. Sadly, when people are diagnosed with MS, one of the numerous worries they face is that they’re afraid they’ll have to leave their job. Although MS symptoms can definitely have an impact on your working life, they won’t necessarily cost you your job. In fact, if you’re supported to address how the symptoms affect your working life, you’re able to remain employed for many years. You not only remain productive and financially secure; you find that the support burden is taken away from your family and the government – a good result all round. This is one of the reasons that MS Australia − ACT/NSW/VIC is determined to assist people who have MS to remain at work. It provides help via the MS Employment Support Service (ESS): a small, committed team led by Stephen Jolly, the Manager, and Joanne Airey, the Senior Employment Support Consultant. The ESS has been established in Victoria, is expanding into Sydney, and is planning to operate in NSW and the ACT. Having had the pleasure of meeting Stephen and Joanne and hearing how passionate they are about ensuring that people who have MS can access all the help they need in order to keep working, I urge you to read the feature on page 14. When you work, you get so much more than a wage, so if you’re struggling in your job, consider seeking support and assistance. Toni Eatts Editor Remember: You can now receive Intouch via email. If you’d like to receive the magazine and MS Research Australia’s Next newsletter via email, please either email [email protected] or fill in and return the form on the front of the packaging this issue was mailed in. Follow us online www.facebook.com/MSAustralia http://twitter.com/MS_Australia www.youtube.com/MSSocietyAustralia Win an Audi A1 or gold bullion to the value of $33,000 Win first prize in our latest Art Union and you’ll have the choice of a new Audi A1 1.4 hatch valued at $36,800 or gold bullion to the value of $33,000 to spend on whatever you choose! Join Club MS and enter our exclusive draw to win 2 oz of GOLD BULLION. Ticket prices start at only $15 so you’ll have the opportunity to both win one of these incredible prizes and help MS Australia – ACT/NSW/VIC in providing vital support to people living with MS! The competition will be drawn on 20 September. Giving Life Back For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.msraffles.org.au or FreecallTM 1800 287 367 4 intouch spring 2013 www.msaustralia.org.au/actnswvic www.msaustralia.org.au/actnswvic spring 2013 intouch PB Thank you for sharing your stories, tips and feedback.