In addition to facilitating vital support services, MS Australia – QLD works to raise awareness of the key issues facing people with multiple sclerosis. Our goal is to advocate, educate and provide information to government, the community and corporations.
MS Australia – QLD has a number of Advocates who represents the interests of the MS community and champion policy issues, to encourage commitment from stakeholders to our goals.
Nationally, MS Advocates work together with members of Federal and State Governments to highlight a number of issues.
MS Australia Policy Issues Statement 2011 – 2012 includes:
• Employment Participation
• Assistive Technology
• National Disability Insurance Scheme
• Universal Housing Design
• Better Support for Carers
• Improving Health and Community Services
• Energy Use and Climate Change
• MS Research
For a copy of the MS Australia Policy Issues Statement 2011 – 2012, click here. Hard copies are available from MS Australia – QLD Advocacy Manager Natalie Walsh.
All members of the MS community can help raise awareness of these areas by taking part in our active campaigns. If you would like to lend your voice, please contact Natalie Walsh on 07 3840 0823 or complete the form on the right.
Employment Roundtable Discussion
Employment is a key contributor to quality of life for people with chronic illness. With the average age of diagnosis at 30, people with MS have built significant skills and experience during their career that they want to continue to build. However between 50 – 80% of people living with MS are unemployed within 10 years of diagnosis and over 500,000 workers are lost from the labour force due to chronic illness each year.
In March 2011, MS Australia – QLD brought together key stakeholders and key members of State and Federal Government to host its first Employment Roundtable Discussion to:
• promote awareness amongst key decision makers and stakeholders of the ongoing need to address issues relating to employment retention and chronic illness
• share perspectives and ideas with key decision makers and stakeholders; and
• highlight specific policy opportunities identified by MS Australia – QLD.
The gathering of key stakeholders provided an opportunity to share the policies and support that is available from the Federal and State Governments and various employment bodies to maintain employees with a chronic illness in work.
For further information regarding the Employment Roundtable Discussion, please
click here.
Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession
After an extensive campaign led by MS Australia – QLD, the State Government has introduced a new electricity rebate for low-income Queenslanders with multiple sclerosis who have a medical need to operate an air-conditioner to keep cool.
The government has dedicated $6.7 million over four years to the Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession scheme. This campaign has been greatly assisted by the letters that individuals took the time to write to their local MPs, sharing their stories of living with MS and the costs that are incurred to keep cool.
MS Australia – QLD lobbied for several months with Rights in Action, Parkinson’s Queensland, the Queensland Council of Social Services, Spinal Injuries Association and other organisations.
For more details about the concession, click here.
MS Ambassadors
Our MS Ambassadors share their experiences of living with MS and help to educate the local communities in which they live.
Our Ambassadors are inspirational speakers who share with their audiences an intimate knowledge of MS and the impact it has had on their lives. This group of passionate volunteers makes a significant and valuable contribution.
MS Ambassadors play a vital role in building relationships between MS Australia – QLD and corporate and community organisations.
If you would like to express interest in becoming an MS Ambassador, please call 1800 177 591.
