Media & Advocacy
- Aged Care Funding Instrument Review
- MS Australia welcomes announcement of new disability standards
- Accessible housing initiative welcomed but still more work to be done
- Policy Issues Statement for 2010-2011
- Companion Card Scheme
- Keeping Cool Campaign
- Pension Increases Introduced
- Harmonisation of Disability Parking Schemes
- MS Australia's response to the federal budget announcement
- Parliamentary Inquiry - Better Support for Carers
- Response to the Vic Government’s Paper on the Victorian Aids & Equipment Program Redevelopment
- Australian first -University of Sydney Professor wins prestigious MS Award
- Ministerial Workforce Participation Roundtable in VIC
- MS Australia Federal Budget and Policy Issues Statement for 2009-2010
- New Equal Opportunity legislation - Family Responsibilities and Workplace Flexibility
- Submission to the Legislative Council General Purpose Standing Commitee No.2
- Launch of the Victorian Universal Housing Alliance
- Work Welfare Wills
- National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission Submission & Hearings
- Federal Parliamentary inquiry - Better Support for Carers. Submissions due 4th July
- National Advocates Program
Senate Inquiry into Consumer Access to Pharmaceutical Benefits
MS Australia has submitted to this Senate Inquiry highlighting key issues for people with MS with the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Productivity Commission Disability Care and Support Study
Last year the Prime Minister announced that The Productivity Commission would conduct a thorough feasibility study into the establishment of a national lifetime care and support scheme that could replace the current funding system for disability services. This study is an extremely important opportunity to examine the things that need to be improved in our systems and to move away from the underfunding and rationing of essential support services.
MS Australia will be making a detailed submission to this study highlighting the key lifetime support issues for people with MS and their families, and we would encourage people to make submissions themselves. We will provide updates about the progress of the study and advise about making submissions over the coming months.
The Commission will be putting out an initial discussion paper in May that will advise on the key information required in submission. The Commission recently put out a circular detailing the inquiry's processes and timelines.
To read the terms of Reference to the Study, go to www.pc.gov.au
Aged Care Funding Instrument Review
MS Australia has made a joint submission to this review with Brain Injury Australia and the Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance. The Federal Department of Health and Ageing are conducting the review to improve the way that funding is calculated for a range of aged care residents. We have told the review that the funding and services to younger people in aged care is inadequate and needs major reform. Read More 
MS Australia welcomes announcement of new disability standards
MS Australia has today welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of the new Disability Standards for Access to Premises, as a major step towards equality for people living with a disability.
Alan Blackwood, Manager of Policy and Community Partnerships for MS Australia said the initiative has potential to change the lives of millions of Australians who are living with a disability or caring for a family member with a disability.
“These Standards will provide better access to public buildings for people with a disability. They represent a major advance in making buildings more accessible,” Mr Blackwood said.
“They have been a long time coming and the Government has shown its continued commitment to disability issues by establishing these comprehensive standards. They provide more certainty to people with disabilities and will establish a strong set of guidelines for the building industry.
“Poor access is a major barrier to social inclusion for people living with disabilities like multiple sclerosis (MS) and other disabilities and affects people wherever they go.
“Poor access can prevent people gaining employment, moving freely about the community and engaging with other people.”
While the new Standards will take a while to take effect, MS Australia has welcomed the clear expectation now set by the government that being inaccessible is unacceptable.
Robert Pask lives with MS and once challenged representatives on his local council to spend a day in a wheelchair to experience first hand the problems getting around his area.
“The awareness of the need for good physical access does not dawn on most people until they are affected by disability in some way,” Robert said.
“This may mean not being able to find a toilet because the entrance to the building is inaccessible. Sometimes it means getting to an appointment or a meeting and not being able to get in.
“Back then, my Councillors refused the challenge. Perhaps now access issues will be more prominent in people’s minds.”
While the standards do not cover private dwellings, MS Australia also welcomes progress on this front and is encouraged by the fact that Parliamentary Secretary Shorten has convened a National Dialogue on Universal Design that has opened the way to continue to upgrade building regulations in this area
For more information or to arrange interviews with Alan or Robert please contact:
Prue Guillaume
Public Relations and Communications Manager
MS Australia – ACT/NSW/VIC
Ph: (02) 9646 0633
Mob: 0437 139 078
Accessible housing initiative welcomed but still more work to be done
A state government initiative which could see Victoria lead the nation in mandating a
Universal Housing building code has been warmly welcomed by MS Australia and the
Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance.
Read More
Policy Issues Statement for 2010-2011
Our new Policy Issues Statement for 2010-2011 is being launched by the MS Australia Policy Team this week.
This is our flagship product that summarises a wide range of policy issues that require action by federal and state governments and others. We are actively campaigning on these issues over the next 12 months. Key issues include:
- Employment Participation
- Assistive Technology
- National Disability Insurance
- Universal Housing Design
- Better Support for Carers
- Improving Health and Community Services
- Energy Use and Climate Change
- MS Research
For a copy of the new Policy Issues Statement click here
Hard copies are available from the Policy Team.
Companion Card Scheme
A new National Website has recently been launched detailing the operation of the Companion Card scheme. A companion card allows 2 people to attend an participating event or use a service where one person is a cardholder, has a disability and requires a companion to access the community. The website details eligibility, participating businesses and application requirements.
Read more.
Keeping Cool Campaign
Heat intolerance is a major issue for people with MS. One consequence is that nationally on average people with MS run their air conditioners approximately 15 times more than average households. This translates to spending approximately 10 times more running their air conditioners than average households. Particularly for those on low incomes this is a serious problem and can for example cost between $400-650 across NSW and VIC (and between $300-400 in ACT, and up to $1000 in QLD).
More information on this issue can be found in our Keeping Cool Survey Report – a survey of approximately 2,300 households of people with MS completed in 2009, and contains essential information and data that forms the foundation for much of the work we are doing on this issue. This was the first survey of its kind internationally.
In recognition of this need to keep cool and the cost this imposes, especially on low income households, Michael Summers of the MS Australia Policy Team has been campaigning to get assistance to help those on low incomes pay the cost of electricity to run their air conditioners.
In Victoria this campaign resulted in the extension of the existing Medical Cooling Concession of a 17.5% discount on electricity bills to 6 months (November to April) in 2008. See the Victorian Dept of Human Services website for more details on eligibility and how to apply at: http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/concessions/entitlements/view-all/energy/medical-cooling or contact MS Connect - 1800 042 138.
After an 18 month campaign in NSW a new Medical Energy Rebate of $130 annually was established, effective 1 Jan 2010 for those on low incomes who need heating and cooling for medical reasons (including MS). This rebate has been increased since then, and you should check the NSW government website for the latest information and additional details can be found at http://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/energy/customers/rebates/medical-energy-rebate-questions. Or you can contact MS Connect - 1800 042 138.
Listed below are a number of key campaign-related resources and documents from the NSW campaign. Note that this is not a complete list, and if you would like more information please feel free to contact Dr Michael Summers, Senior Policy Advisor, (03) 9845 2730 or email at michael.summers@msaustralia.org.au.
NSW Discussion Paper – a key part of the NSW campaign done in August 2008 which outlines key aspects of what we were campaigning for.
NSW Budget Submission – essentially a summary of the NSW Discussion Paper, submitted to NSW Treasurer as part of the NSW Campaign.
NSW Govt Announcement of the new Medical Energy Cooling Rebate on 16/10/09.
MS and Parkinson's Media Release on new Medical Energy Cooling Rebate on 16/10/09.
Pension Increases Introduced
The pension increases announced in the 2009 Federal Budget come into effect on the 20th September. This welcome increase will see full single Aged and Disability Support Pensions, Carer Payment and Veteran Affairs pensions increase by $32.50 per week in the base payment and $2.50 in the pension supplement.
The Carer Allowance rate remains unchanged.
There are also changes to the withdrawl rate for pensioners earnning an income. The rate of withdrawl increases from 40c to 50c in the dollar for amounts earned over $71 per week. Government modelling provided to industry body National Disability Services shows that existing single pensioners will be better off under the new pension system (and receive the full pension increase) until they earn $304 per week in private income.
Transitional arrangements for existing income earning pensioners are in place.
For more information visit Centrelink www.centrelink.gov.au or the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs at www.fahcsia.gov.au
Harmonisation of Disability Parking Schemes
The Federal Government is fulfilling an election commitment by introducing an initiative to harmonise the myriad of disabled parking schemes across the country. They propose that schemes will continue to be administered locally, but with common eligibility criteria, permit design and parking concessions. MS Australia has made a submission to this consultation and has largely supported the harmonisation and highlighted the key issues raised by people with MS through the process.
Click here to read the MSA submission
Click here to read the Government's original discussion paper.
MS Australia's response to the federal budget announcement
Parliamentary Inquiry - Better Support for Carers
The House of Representatives Standing Committee of Family, Community, Housing and Youth recently handed down the final report of the inquiry into ‘Better Support for Carers’. Click here to read report
MS Australia ACT/NSW/VIC welcomes your feedback on the report. Please send your comments via email to Alan Blackwood (Manager Policy & Community Partnerships) – alan.blackwood@msaustralia.org.au
Response to the Vic Government’s Paper on the Victorian Aids & Equipment Program Redevelopment
MS Australia ACT/NSW/VIC responded on 26/2/09 to the Victorian Government’s Discussion Paper on the Victorian Aids & Equipment Program Redevelopment
Australian first - University of Sydney Professor wins prestigious MS Award
The winner of MSIF's biennial Charcot Award is Prof John Prineas, from the University of Sydney, Australia.
Prof Prineas was selected from an outstanding field of candidates by an international panel of experts from MSIF's International Medical and Scientific Board, chaired by Professor Alan Thompson.
"The Charcot award recognises a life-time contribution to the world of MS and there could be no more deserving recipient. John Prineas has made a unique contribution to our understanding of the pathology of multiple sclerosis - over a number of decades, collaborating with colleagues on a truly global scale." Prof Alan Thompson, Chairman, MSIF International Medical and Scientific Board.
To read more about Prof Prineas and the Charcot award click here
Ministerial Workforce Participation Roundtable in VIC
Ministerial Workforce Participation Roundtable in VIC
MS Australia Federal Budget and Policy Issues Statement for 2009-2010
MS Australia has sought a range of initiatives to assist people with MS and their families in its 2008 Federal Budget submission. The submission addresses 4 main themes, Research, Employment and Financial Security, Health and Lifetime Care.
The submission details specific programs that need to be supported, including:
- Increased funding for MS research
- Increased employment flexibility and support to improve job retention and job seeking for people with MS and their family caregivers
- More effort required to keep young people out of nursing homes
- Stronger community support programs
- Universal disability insurance to provide more complete and accessible lifetime care
- Strengthened aids and equipment programs
Read the Federal Budget and Policy Issues Statement.
New Equal Opportunity legislation - Family Responsibilities and Workplace Flexibility
Changes to Victoria's Equal Opportunity Act (1995) have come into effect (from Sept 1) to give protection from discrimination to working carers and parents of young children who need workplace flexibility to balance work and family responsibilities. To have this recognised in the discrimination law is a great step forward.
More information and set of guidelines (Building eQuality in the workplace: Family Responsibilities - Guidelines for Employers and Employees) is available on the Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission website
Submission to the Legislative Council General Purpose Standing Commitee No.2
The NSW Parliament is conducting an inquiry into the operation of the Program of Aids for Disabled People (PADP). Aids and Equipment provide the means to independence for many people with MS and their families, and the PADP is of vital importance as MS Australia ACT/NSW/VIC has made a submission to the inquiry as have a number of people with MS and their families.
Click here to read the submission
click here to go to the Inquiry website
Launch of the Victorian Universal Housing Alliance
MS Australia is a member of the Victorian Universal Housing Alliance which was launched on the 29th July. The VUHA has been established to promote regulatory measures to increase Victoria's stock of universal housing - housing designed to be used by all people including people disabled by chronic illnesses to the greatest extent possible.
For more information on the Victorian Universal Housing Alliance, click on one of the links below:
To read the discussion paper, click here.
To read more about the Alliance Platform, click here.
Work Welfare Wills
WorkWelfareWills is a plain English web guide to legal issues around health and life changes. It was produced for use in Victoria only as some of the laws will be different in other states of Australia.
Chronic illnesses bring about lifestyle changes. This resource was designed by the Chronic Illness Alliance to help people with a chronic illness, their families and advisors, to make informed decisions about the future.
Click here for more information
National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission Submission & Hearings
The MSA Policy Team put in a submission to the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission on 30 May 2008, see the links below. Additionally, the Commission is holding hearings throughout Australia in June and July. If you are interested in attending and testifying at one of the hearings, please contact the policy team via Alan Blackwood. Dates for the hearings and other information about the Commission can be found on their website: www.nhhrc.org.au
MSA Submission to NHHRC - Read more
Continuous Care Model - Read more
Federal Parliamentary inquiry - Better Support for Carers. Submissions due 4th July
A new Inquiry has been announced by the House of Representatives Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth looking at the system of carer support in Australia. The inquiry is focusing on social and economic participation and the practical measures need to better support carers in their role. The MS Society will make a submission, however this is a great opportunity for carers and families to tell the inquiry their own ideas for improvements that come from direct experience of caring for a person with MS. Read the Inquiry Media release.
We have prepared a brief guide for families wanting to make a submitting to the inquiry. Read more.
National Advocates Program
The program is part of the existing MS Australia Policy and Advocacy program, and will engage a number of volunteer advocates who live with MS in each State and Territory who will take part in the policy development, network and campaign activity of the Policy team across all levels of Government to help ensure that public policies are supportive of the needs of People with MS & their families. Read more
For More Information Contact:
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Prue Guillaume |