Annual Report 2011

2010

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The MS Society of Tasmania2010–2011 ANNUAL REPORT

2 MS TASMANIA 2010–2011 ANNUAL REPORT

Our VisionA Tasmanian MS Community that is engaged, informed, understood and supported.

Mission StatementThe Multiple Sclerosis Society of Tasmania is committed to enhancing the quality of life for people in Tasmania with MS and to reducing the impact upon their families and carers by:

Enhancing the identifi cation and awareness of the needs of people affected by MS;

The pursuit of best practice at clinical, whole of person and research levels;

Supporting advances in the management and prevention of MS;

Leadership and advocacy and

Enhancing our organisation.

ValuesRespect;

Integrity;

Empathy;

Working Together.

3MS TASMANIA 2010–2011 ANNUAL REPORT

Our Visions, Mission and Values 2

Chairman’s Report 4

CEO’s Report 6

Meet our Board of Directors 8

Client Services Report 10 i. Overview 10

ii. Case Management Standards 11

iii. Support Groups 12

iv. Programs and Projects 12

v. Raise Your Voice – We’re Listening – Client Survey 12

vi. Information is Power Seminar 13

vii. Research, Aids & Equipment 14

viii. GP Education 14

ix. MS & Employment Forum 15

x. Couples Program 16

MS Research at the Menzies Centre 18

Marketing and Development Report 20 i. Overview 20

ii. Little Red Box 21

iii. 24 Hour Mega Swim 21

iv. Red Diamond Cocktail Party 21

v. Mud Dash 21

vi. Prestige and WOW Raffl e 21

vii. MS Readathon and Novel Challenge 22

Client Profi le – Melissa’s Story 23

Recognition, Acknowledgements and Bequests 24

Corporate Services Report 26i. Human Resources 26

ii. Financial Result 28

iii. Risk Management 29

iv. Development of Overarching Investment Policy and Strategy 29

v. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Funding – 29transition to Unit Pricing

vi. Tas Quality Futures Reporting and Community of Practice Program 30

vii. Management Information and Financial Reporting Systems 30

Financial Reports 31 i. Directors’ Declaration 32

ii. Directors’ Report 33

iii. Auditor’s Report 34

iv. Statement of Comprehensive Income 39

v. Statement of Financial Position 40

vi. Statement of Changes in Equity 41

vii. Statement of Cash Flows 42

MS Facts 43

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The fi nancial year 2009/10 was a period of consolidation and introduction of new marketing programs aimed at ensuring that MS Tasmania has a sustainable future. The fi nancial outcomes were not as we would have liked which were due mainly to MS Fest and the Prestige Raffl e. Specifi c actions have been taken to address these important aspects of our operations.

As everyone knows the economic climate has been one where people have taken actions to focus on increasing their savings. In addition, the number of requests to provide donations to charities and others has created an environment where people have to carefully considered who they will support. What is very clear is that MS Tasmania has a very loyal donor base and that via the efforts of the call centre staff MS Tasmania has been able to retain and attract new donors.

This substantial stability in our funding sources, either through State Government, Donors, Bequests or Gifts has enabled MS Tasmania

to continue to maintain its high level of Client Service Programs to people with MS. For this we are very appreciative.

The year also saw continued Research work, whether it is as part of the International Study where over 70% of people with MS in Tasmania participated, or individual research projects undertaken with the support of the Neurologists at the Royal Hobart Hospital. MS Tasmania employs a Research Nurse to work alongside and with, clients and neurologists. This service particularly benefi ts MS Tasmania’s clients and encourages high level of participation in these important studies and trials.

MS Tasmania wants to position itself as an organisation that continues

to be relevant to its clients, neurologists, researchers and the general community. It has therefore embraced the values of Quality Improvement and has made signifi cant inroads into becoming a Quality Assured Organisation by June 2012. In addition, it championed two signifi cant projects one which focused on unmet demand and the other in respect to risk

I take pleasure in presenting this, the 52nd Annual Report of The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Tasmania

What is very clear is that MS Tasmania has a very loyal donor base and that via the efforts of the call centre staff

MS Tasmania has been able to retain

and attract new donors.


management. The key issues emanating from these studies have been further developed as part of the Strategic Plan.

The development of the fi rst Strategic Plan for MS Tasmania, which was a joint Management and Board initiative, is a signifi cant development in the professionalism of the organisation. The benefi ts of this fundamental work will be of substantial benefi t for guiding future operations and strategic directions.

MS Tasmania has a special relationship with the Menzies Institute and it is one where both parties obtain signifi cant benefi ts. Tasmania is very fortunate to have an Institute of such repute operating within the state and where its activities signifi cantly infl uence the lives of people throughout the world.

At the last Annual General Meeting the work of Harry Wilsdon was acknowledged by presenting him with the “Recognition of Service Award.”

As I engage in my daily activities I receive very positive comments about the work and staff of MS Tasmania which I know the Board truly appreciate. In addition the staff’s commitment to embrace new approaches in the provision of services is clearly evident in that they are constantly seeking to enhance the services provided to clients. This positive attitude augurs well in the role out of the Federal Government’s National Disability Insurance Scheme, where the client will have more control over the services provided to them.

I would like to acknowledge the contribution of CEO, Heather Francis for her time at MS Tasmania

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where she implemented many signifi cant changes. The Board and staff wish her well in her new role as CEO, Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation.

In closing this report I would like to thank my fellow directors for their support, contribution and advice during the fi nancial year. They are particularly committed to ensuring that MS Tasmania positively embraces change and looks at ways where service to clients is appropriate and supports the mission and values of the organisation.

Geoff ChapmanChairman, MS Society of Tasmania

I would like to acknowledge the contribution of CEO, Heather Francis for her

time at MS Tasmania where she implemented many signifi cant

changes.


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This year has been one where the organisation continued the momentum of change and the provision of additional programs for Tasmanians living with Multiple Sclerosis. The client programs, including a Research, Aids & Equipment forum, Information is Power forums, GP Education Sessions, continuation of our Couples program and an MS & Employment forum which were funded by Pharmaceutical Companies and Vodafone. MS Tasmania acknowledges the positive contributions for clients achieved from the funding of these specifi c programs and forums.

MS Tasmania continues to be closely associated with the Menzies Research Institute. MS Tasmania is also fully supportive of the clinical trials via the Royal Hobart Hospital that pertain to advancements and improvements with MS therapies and research into the condition.

The fi nancial result for the year was signifi cantly impacted by the outcomes from MSFest and the Prestige Raffl e. Lessons have been learnt and appropriate management action has been

taken. However, the value of net assets under management has improved by $96,362. MS Tasmania is in a sound fi nancial position with total equity value at $3,552,679; however continued focus on operational performance is of

paramount importance for fi nancial sustainability.

Over 55% of MS Tasmania’s revenue comes from Fundraising. It is therefore imperative that our fi nancial control systems are of a very high calibre. In order to ensure that this is the case, MS Tasmania engages its External Registered Company Auditors, Hove & Halys to conduct an independent audit after the completion of each raffl e and provide this information to the Gaming Commission. In the past fi nancial year the audit reports

clearly state that there are no operational or fi nancial issues with any of our fundraising campaigns.

The Corporate Services Unit has signifi cantly upgraded the fi nancial reporting and control systems associated with the fi nances of MS Tasmania. As a result the external auditor has commented very positively on the quality of the

This year has been one where the organisation continued the momentum of change and the provision of additional programs for Tasmanians living with Multiple Sclerosis.

MS Tasmania acknowledges

the positive contributions for clients achieved from the funding of these specifi c programs and

forums.


accounting fi les. This has resulted in a much smoother and effi cient audit review which obviously will be refl ected in the reduced cost of this governance control. In addition, the monthly reports that are provided to the Board are of a very high standard which Directors acknowledge and appreciate.

MS Tasmania has been able to retain the same investment levels during the fi nancial reporting period. The Society has also embarked, in conjunction with its bankers, the Commonwealth Bank, into the development of an investment policy framework which will guide future decisions in this important area of its operations, noting that earnings from investments constitute nearly 10% of total revenue. This important framework will be implemented during 2011/12 as a key element of the Corporate Service business plan.

MS Tasmania’s staff are its most important asset and it is very pleasing to see that during 2010/11 there were no resignations. This has had positive benefi ts to both clients and key stakeholders and has greatly assisted with the continued development and advancement of the organisation. The morale and connectivity of the staff is very evident and is positively commented upon by clients and external parties.

In this current economic environment it is important for MS Tasmania to take measured risks to enhance its fi nancial base as well as to be continually looking at new ways to be seen in the market place as a vibrant, well governed organisation that are prepared to tackle new challenges and constantly strive for improvement. The Marketing and Development Department have certainly embraced this concept and have come up with fresh events, some which have had an immediate impact, whilst others may take

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time to determine whether they will be embraced. These new programs increase our visibility and profi le in the community, with the MS brand

being one of the most instantly recognised of the not-for-profi t organisations.

The Society has totally embraced the need to strive to achieve Accreditation under the Quality Improvement Council’s Health and Community Services Standards and has set its focus on meeting this nationally recognised standard by June 2012. This, when achieved, positions MS Tasmania as a Quality Organisation and positions it advantageously amongst other organisation pending changes in funding emanating from the Productivity

Commission’s Report on Disability Care and Support.

The management and staff are fully supportive of the Strategic Plan set by the Board out to 2012 and are actively working on the agreed outcomes contained in the current business plans for 2011/12 which support longer term strategic direction of the Society.

In closing, I look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead as MS Tasmania continues to deliver quality services to Tasmanians living with Multiple Sclerosis and provide our support towards research for a cure.

Dale EastleyCEO

These new programs increase

our visibility and profi le in the

community, with the MS brand

being one of the most instantly recognised of

the not-for-profi t organisations.


Dr Geoff Chapman Dr Chapman joined the Board in December 1998. He has been the Medical Director of the Southern Tasmanian Division of General Practice, and a Director of the Board of the related state based organisation, Tasmanian GP Divisions. He also maintains a busy clinical workload in a group practice at Sandy Bay, following almost a decade as a solo general practice in central Tasmania.

Sharlene Brown Sharlene joined the Board in 2009, and is a previous Ambassador and Board Member of the WA Society. Sharlene is an experienced litigator, presently working as in house legal counsel specialising in telecommunications and energy. She brings corporate governance experience and legal knowledge to the Board as well as a passion to help others. Her most important position is ‘Mum’ to a delightful little boy, and like many others, lives day to day with RRMS.

Paul GrayPaul joined the Board in 2009. A police offi cer for over 34 years, serving 13 years at the rank of Inspector, Paul spent the last 10 years, prior to his 2009 retirement, managing the Tasmania Police Legislative Reform Program and Crime and Traffi c Policy. Having worked in a wide variety of areas within Tasmania Police, his service has been recognised by being awarded the Commissioner’s Medal and two clasps, the National Medal and clasp, and the Australian Police Medal. Paul is an Apex Life Member, and past District Governor, and is a Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellow.

David Hopkins David joined the Board in 2005. A trained lithographic artist and illustrator, in 1972 he established his own freelance consultancy in marketing, print and packaging with a client base that included many civic, mining and industrial corporations state wide.

He is an author, illustrator of many books and a range of greeting cards, stationery and giftware and for several years the Publisher-Editor of two national magazines. He is also a past District Governor of Lions Clubs International and is still active in service work projects. With over 56 solo art exhibitions to his credit he enjoys water colour painting and his works are represented throughout Australia and overseas. He is currently working on a defi nitive pictorial history of Tasmania to be published at the end of the year.

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Maggy HunterMaggy fi rst joined the Board in 2003. Previously an HR professional, Maggy has worked in a wide variety of workplace cultures. She brings to the Board valuable experience in the areas of employment, people management and development, workplace health, safety and risk management. Maggy also has experience as an MBTI practitioner with keen interest in organisational and personal development. She recently completed a Bachelor of Arts with Honours degree at the University of Tasmania majoring in Sociology and Philosophy and focused on Ethics and Care. Her daughter Kate was diagnosed with MS in her mid-20s. Kate has since traveled and worked overseas and is now happily married with two beautiful sons, George and Harry, both adored by their grandmother.

Margaret Hunyady-SutherlandMargaret has 32 years experience in the Advertising Industry with three years in Sports Administration. She owns her own business, speakup, providing coaching in public speaking and other related subjects. Margaret is also Immediate Past International President of POWERtalk International and a Fellow of International Training in Communication (ITC).

She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Rotary Club of Sullivans Cove and Women Chiefs of Enterprises.

David NowellDavid joined the Board in December 2007, bringing extensive fi nancial and administrative skills. He has held senior fi nancial positions in both the public and private sectors. He is currently the Director of Corporate Services at the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority. He also holds Directorships in other not for profi t organisations. David is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and a Fellow of the Society of CPAs (FCPA). He has a commerce degree and Masters Degrees in business administration (MBA) from Colorado State University and in commercial law (MComLaw) from Deakin University.

Paul StevensPaul has had thirty years of experience in school education, the last fi fteen of those in senior administration. In 2003 he transferred to the aged care sector and is currently in senior administration at Freemasons Homes of Southern Tasmania. Paul is also a qualifi ed aged care assessor and regularly visits aged care homes to assess compliance with the Commonwealth’s standards. Paul has been involved in many community organisations and he continues this through his participation with The MS Society of Tasmania. He is passionate about fi nding ways to assist those in the community who have special needs including youth, the aged and those who live with medical conditions of various kinds. Paul now lives at Coningham, having resided in the Huon and Channel region for the great majority of his life. His leisure interests centre on family, fi shing, football and farming!

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It was another busy and positive year in Client Services as we delivered quality services to our clients. This support encompassed clinical case management, specialised nursing, counseling and project work. In addition to this, we have also delivered a host of client focused programs and forums as well as facilitated support groups around the State, that you will read about further in this report. We are also very fortunate to have a dedicated role of Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator, who working within the Royal Hobart Hospital, supports MS clinical drug trials.

As our service is statewide, our Client Services team members travel to all regions of the State in supporting clients. The Southern and Northern based team members also work between both offi ces, ensuring that our clients and team members are all well supported.

The Client Services team also delivered education sessions to a range of external stakeholders, creating an awareness of the services that our Society can offer as well as an overview of Multiple Sclerosis and its management.

Our client support is delivered within holistic principles and is therefore within a framework of a self-management philosophy. This framework offers the opportunity to provide longer term support and encompasses physical and emotional well being. Our support also extends to family and/or carers of our clients who have MS. Self management principles are both nationally and internationally

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The Client Services team of the MS Society of Tasmania is pleased to present its report on activities for the year 2010-2011.


recognised and adopted as best practice for supporting people with chronic illness and empowering them to make decisions about their health and lifestyle in order to be as well as possible.

We have a strong partnership with the Department of Health & Human Services, who support and participate in meetings on self management, most particularly, with the “Stanford Model” of self management. We appreciate this positive relationship and fi nd it highly valuable in further embedding principles of self management into our client service delivery.

Our state Advocates program that is part of the National Advocates Program is also strongly supported within Client Services and our committed Advocates around the State are highly valued in their roles as they bring forth issues affecting people with MS to the attention of politicians and policy makers. Our Advocates had the opportunity to attend the annual National Advocates Conference held in Canberra. Feedback received from Advocates who attended illustrated how valuable this opportunity was for their professional development in advocacy work as well as the networking opportunities.

The Client Services team has also been highly committed to quality improvement processes and the ongoing review of our documents, service delivery model, systems and practices and has also undertaken some practical risk management exercises. This activity has moved us forward in the continuum of best practice within our service delivery. In addition to this, the Client Services team provides information and responses to the “Quality Futures Framework” reporting against the standards as required by the Department of Health & Human Services.

Client Services further provide comment on a range of submissions such as the Productivity Commission’s report into a National Disability Insurance Scheme. The team contributed to a submission made by the Neuro Muscular Alliance of Tasmania (NMAT) in August 2010 which outlined recommendations for a national disability insurance scheme and the needs of individuals with neuro muscular conditions, including the need for more timely and streamlined access to support, additional funding for support and

equipment, appropriate respite options for younger people and a case management approach whereby individuals accessing the scheme can be assessed and have ongoing contact with a case manager throughout the course of their disease. A staff member also attended the recent conference regarding the proposed NDIS to ensure that the team is informed of the progress towards implementing the recommendations made by the inquiry.

In order to have such a well skilled and professional team, the Society is highly supportive of professional development opportunities. Team members have attended the two major annual conferences being the Multiple Sclerosis Nursing Association Conference and the Case Management Society of Australia National Conference. Team members also participate in specifi c training opportunities encompassing counseling, clinical and case management streams. There have also been opportunities to attend a plethora of workshops, forums and conferences for sector specifi c training and awareness.

Case Management Standards

In addition to our principles of self management, the National Case Management standards further provide a strong foundation to ensure consistency and best practice in our client service delivery. The team has been working through these standards, overseen by our senior case manager. To date we have completed standards 1A to 1I: Case Identifi cation and Assessment, standard 2A to 2G: Planning, Standard 3A-3C: Monitoring, and the team is on track to completing the standards by the end of 2011. The standards have provided the team with the framework to review and update our policies and procedures as the team has progressed through the standards, and consequently we have completed an updated case management policy/procedure document, as well as begun work on updating other policies including community visits and client record management. The standards will continue to provide a benchmark for case management practice and the team will complete ongoing cycles of reporting against the standards to ensure that we are continuously improving.

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We have a strong partnership with

the Department of health & Human Services, who support and participate in

meetings on self management....


MS Clinic

The MS Clinic continues to see an average of 25 clients per week. We are fortunate to have such a streamlined clinic supported by the Department of Health & Human Services and our ably skilled specialist MS nurses. This support is highly valued by our clients and the triaging system provided by our nurses offers timely appointments with clients and their neurologists.

This is a great opportunity for our clients to also communicate and be supported by MS Society team members. The opportunities for clients to be able to be linked in with a range of allied health specialists further enhances this professionally run clinic that is nationally recognised as a clinic of best practice.

Our nursing team continues to have strong networks and liaise regularly with staff at the Mersey Community Hospital, Launceston General Hospital, Royal Hobart Hospital and the North West Regional Hospital.

Support Groups

The support groups provided by our Society are of immense value to our clients and their families and carers. These groups provide opportunities for our Client Services team to present information and arrange guest speakers in response to requests from group members, facilitate group discussion and spend time with clients to learn of current unmet needs and

issues, providing the opportunity for clients to gain support from the Client Services team as well as other individuals with a diagnosis of MS. As it can often be diffi cult for everyone to attend daytime support groups, ‘After Hours’ groups have

been established around the state to provide the opportunity for people with MS and their partners, who are working or otherwise unable to attend a support group during the day, to attend and gain information and support from others affected by MS and Client Services staff in a relaxed atmosphere.

CLIENT PROGRAMS

Raise Your Voice – We’re Listening Client Survey

The MS Society of Tasmania is dedicated to improving the lives of people with MS and their families so the Client Services Team disseminated a survey to our clients to ascertain what types of information and forums they would be interested in.

The survey, titled Raise Your Voice – We’re Listening was posted to all 646 clients on 24th January 2011. By the due date 196 completed surveys had been returned. This represented a response rate of 30%.

From the survey responses it was possible to identify the following clear trends:

• While 58% of respondents were interested in attending events and 66% wanted to receive information through electronic media, the most popular preference for receiving information was by mail – 80%.

• The majority of respondents expressed a preference for events that are casual and informal. There was also a preference for “events where I can just listen”.

• 58% of respondents were interested in learning how to access an online community or forum for people with MS and their carers

• Responses to the question about preferred times to attend events were fairly evenly distributed with a slight preference for weekday afternoons

• Topics that respondents showed the most interest in are:• Information on research • Information on treatment options • Fatigue management ideas • Exercise and MS • Eating for good health • Tips and strategies for coping with MS

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Working in close consultation with the employee and

their doctor is crucial, as is being

prepared to be fl exible in order to help the employee

to achieve.


The information acquired from this process has been made available to all clients and any other interested parties by way of a full printed report, an article in the quarterly newsletter and the MS Tasmania website.

The Client Services Team, in consultation with Management, has discussed the fi ndings of the survey and its implications for future project planning. While all project planning is dependent on resourcing, the Client Services team will endeavor to ensure that the preferences of the majority of clients are refl ected in the topics and method of delivery of future projects, and that projects are appropriate and benefi cial to clients.

In November 2010 and April 2011 information seminars for newly diagnosed clients were conducted across the state. The seminars, entitled Information is Power, were made possible by the generous sponsorship of Biogen Idec Australia Pty Ltd.

In the fi rst stage, at seminars in Hobart and Launceston, the Client Services Team and Dr Helen Castley presented an overview of basic information about MS, current treatment options and fatigue management. One segment that was particularly well received was the Peer Support session, when clients shared their own experiences of living with MS.

In April the Client Services Team conducted the second stage of seminar days. All clients of the MS Society were invited to these seminars and a total of 67 people attended in Hobart (23) Launceston (20) and Ulverstone (24).

During each seminar day guest speakers shared their expertise in a series of practical and informative presentations. The session entitled Eating for Good Health was presented by professional dietitians Sonia Valtas (in Hobart),

Emily Gatenby (in Launceston) and Sara Beyer (in Ulverstone). This presentation included general information on healthy eating and wise food choices, as well as exploring the implications of nutrition in managing MS.

The presentation entitled Exercise for Health and Well-being featured physiotherapists Karen Ashworth (Hobart), Scott Beeston (Launceston) and Edwin Roberts (Ulverstone), and included information about exercising to maintain fi tness, strength and fl exibility with MS.

Discrimination was the subject of the presentation at all three venues by Kim Hambly, Manager and Principal Solicitor at the Launceston Community Legal Service. Kim discussed Disability Discrimination Law and explained the jurisdiction of Federal and Tasmanian State authorities in this fi eld. She discussed the types of discrimination – both in the workplace and in other areas – and the grounds for applying anti-discrimination laws. Kim also outlined the avenues and processes of discrimination complaints, and the role of the Community Legal Service.

As well as the guest speakers, members of the MS Society’s Client Services Team also presented information sessions. Counsellors Sharon Wilkinson (in Hobart) and Nicky Snare (Launceston and Ulverstone) spoke on the subject of Stress Management and Dealing with Emotions, identifying the many stressors faced by people with MS and the warning signs of stress, as well as providing practical information on stress reduction and relaxation techniques.

Case Managers Lynsey Spaulding (in Hobart) and Helmuth Seidensticker (Launceston and Ulverstone) spoke about MS and Employment – Disclosure. Lynsey and Helmuth emphasised that the decision to disclose a diagnosis of MS to an employer and work colleagues is a personal choice, although there are some circumstances in which disclosure can be a requirement of the job. They outlined the advantages and disadvantages of disclosure and the issues to be considered when making the decision about disclosure.

The evaluations from all three days indicated a very high level of satisfaction among the participants. All the sessions stimulated a great deal of discussion and a positive response to both the content and the style of presentation, and 93% of the participants stating that they would recommend the Information is Power seminars to others.

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Information is Power SEMINAR SERIES


Research, Aids & Equipment

On 24th March 2011, the MS Society held a Research, Aids and Equipment Forum in Launceston, generously sponsored by Bayer Schering Pharma.

The Forum aimed to provide people with MS and their families with information about moving towards self-management, by acquiring up-to-date and relevant information about current and future research including clinical trials in Tasmania, and also to provide information about and practical experience of assistive aids and equipment.

All registered clients of MS Tasmania and their families were invited to attend the forum, which was provided at no charge to the participants. To allow for maximum participation, coach transport from Burnie and from Hobart was arranged at a small charge which a number of people chose to use.

One hundred and nine clients and supporters attended the Forum, with many people travelling from the South and North-West of the State. The inclement weather on the day did not deter people from attending and this was a clear refl ection of the level of interest in the Forum’s research focus.

Of those in attendance on the day, 92 people completed the evaluation form. The feedback on the day was overwhelmingly positive with 95% of the participants saying that they would recommend the Forum to others. The responses relating to each individual presenter were also very positive, with participants indicating a high level of satisfaction with the content and presentation style of every session.

There were four presenters on the day:

• Megan Varlow, Clinical Psychologist, MS Australia – Active Strategies to Manage Pain,

• Sue McGregor, Clinical Research Nurse, MS Society of Tasmania – MS Clinical Research in Tasmania

• Dr Jim Stankovich, Biostatistician, Menzies Research Centre – The Genetics of MS

• Associate Professor Bruce Taylor, Menzies Research Centre – MS Research in Tasmania – Looking Forward.

During the lunch break The Independent Living Centre of Tasmania presented an interactive display of assistive aids and equipment to enable clients to look at the latest items available.

GP Education

In late 2009, a gap was identifi ed in the educational opportunities for General Practitioners, particularly those from overseas, and GP practice nurses to learn about the complexities of MS.

To enhance the understanding of MS in the medical community, a series of three General Practitioner Education seminars were held across Tasmania, generously supported by sponsorship from Sanofi -Aventis.

The purpose of the seminars was to educate GPs and Practice Nurses about MS, including the latest research, diagnostic indicators, treatment options, the referral process and the support services provided by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Tasmania.

The seminars were organised in collaboration with the three General Practice networks – GP South, GP Northwest and GP North, a partnership that also has the benefi t of

strengthening the relationship between MS Tasmania and these organisations.

Across the three venues, Hobart, Ulverstone and Launceston, Associate Professor Bruce Taylor,

The feedback on the day was overwhelmingly

positive with 95% of the participants saying that they

would recommend the Forum to

others.

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who generously donated his time and expertise, addressed a total of 88 GPs and Practice Nurses on The Contemporary Management of Multiple Sclerosis. His presentation included information on the types of MS, symptoms, diagnosis and disease progression. He also discussed the incidence of MS in Tasmania and across the world, as well as current thinking on the causes of the disease and treatment therapies.

MS Society Nurses Teresa Warren and Kim McCarthy clearly described the referral process, and reinforced the presentation with a handout to summarise the process that GPs need to follow if they suspect a diagnosis of MS. MS Society’s Senior Case Manager Lynsey Spaulding was also in attendance at each venue, and the MS Society provided a table of resources and brochures for the GPs and Practice Nurses to take with them.

The evaluations completed by the attendees were very positive, with all respondents indicating a high level of satisfaction with the overall presentation and content of the seminar. All respondents also felt that the event increased their understanding of the complexities of MS, diagnosis review and available treatment, and their knowledge of current MS research and trials and referral pathways.

MS & Employment Forum

The primary aim of the Forum was to provide current information and research fi ndings to a range of stakeholders and to create a greater awareness of MS and employment issues, as well as to inform participants of the practical supports available to both individuals with MS and their employers. We are thankful to Novartis Pharmaceuticals for seeing the value of this forum and providing the funding to facilitate this.

The Forum’s target audience was drawn from organisations including government departments, disability services, employment services, healthcare services, major employers and allied health professionals. A total of 40 people gathered in Hobart for the Forum. Minister Cassy O’Connor, Minister for Human Services, conducted the offi cial opening, and the participants then heard presentations by Dr Rex Simmons, Mr Stephen Jolly, Ms Robin Banks, Ms Roz Smart and Ms Alex Newton. In addition, a presentation by two clients of the MS Society and one employer gave personal insights into workplace experiences.

Dr Rex Simmons, Principal Research Fellow at Canberra Hospital, is the project manager for the Australian MS Longitudinal Study (AMSLS). Rex spoke about the processes, participation and projects of AMSLS and the structure of their database. Rex discussed the information gleaned from the surveys about the use of different therapies to treat MS, including data about the effectiveness of long-term adherence to prescribed therapies and the reasons why people stop using immunotherapy. Rex further presented on the AMSLS Economic Impact of MS Study that was conducted in 2003 and repeated in 2007-8. In this survey, which was the fi rst nationwide study of employment and MS, participants were asked to enter all personal fi nancial costs due to MS as well as baseline information including demographics, income and employment. Rex emphasised the importance of timely planning for future employment by people with MS, pointing out that planning left too late can prove to be ineffective.

Mr Stephen Jolly, Program Manager of the Employment Support Service at MS Australia, spoke about the impact of MS on employment and on everyday life, and gave information about the Disability Employment Services, Employment Support Service delivered by MS Australia.

Stephen discussed the symptoms of MS and the ways in which these symptoms can impact on a person’s everyday life in areas including physical independence, self-care, driving, social functioning, decision making, relationships and intimacy. He discussed the impact on employment as a result of symptoms including fatigue, cognitive function, mobility, visual disturbance, continence and heat sensitivity. Stephen identifi ed fatigue as the most common symptom of MS and among the most disabling. Stephen cited studies that named fatigue as the most common reason people with MS leave employment.

Ms Robin Banks is Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commissioner and Ms Roz Smart is the Senior Training, Education and Development Offi cer in the Offi ce of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner.

Robin spoke about the legislation governing Disability Discrimination and discussed the types of discrimination in the workplace, the grounds for applying anti-discrimination laws and the processes of discrimination complaints. Roz

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described her role and the training opportunities available in the area of workplace diversity and anti-discrimination.

The two clients of MS Tasmania generously shared their experience of MS and described the ways in which it impacted on their lives and their ability to continue working. They each talked about the issues surrounding disclosure of their diagnosis and went on to discuss the support that has been provided by their respective employers. They emphasised that a fl exible approach and a genuine desire to support an employee who has MS can go a long way towards keeping the employee in the workforce.

The employer spoke about supporting an employee with MS, and how this involves learning about the condition to maximise understanding of the challenges facing the employee. Working in close consultation with the employee and their doctor is crucial, as is being prepared to be fl exible in order to help the employee to achieve. An example of this fl exibility is the decision to reduce the need for the

employee to travel to remote areas, thereby minimising fatigue. A personal Support Program has been devised for the employee, with regular discussions with the supervisor and quarterly wellbeing reviews.

During the lunch break a Mini

Expo provided the participants with information on the services offered by the Centrelink Financial Information Service, Manpower, the National Disability Coordination Offi ce, the Anti-Discrimination Commission, WISE Employment and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Tasmania.

The participants of the MS and Employment Forum were invited to complete an evaluation form at the end of the day, and the feedback from these evaluations was overwhelmingly positive. Every speaker was very well received, with almost 100% of the responses ranking each presentation excellent, very good or good. Every respondent also indicated that they would recommend the Forum to others.

Couples Program

We are pleased to report that the 2010 Couples Weekend was again an enormous success. We thank Vodafone for their generous fi nancial sponsorship of this program.

After the successful fi rst part of this program run in October 2010, The MS Society of Tasmania has now delivered the second and fi nal session of the Couples’ Program for the Northern half of our State. In April this year eight couples travelled to the spectacular Cradle Mountain Chateau to participate in the Northern Couples’ weekend, funded by Vodafone Hutchison Australia, as part of an ongoing Couples’ Program designed by The MS Society of Tasmania’s Client Services team and with the generous support of The Federal Group.

The weekend was an opportunity to catch up with the other couples living with MS (although some couples had taken the opportunity of remaining in contact with each other over the past few months) and build upon the close supportive relationships that had been established.

This second session of the Couples’ Program follows on from the October weekend and continued the participating couple’s journey to build skills and enhance their relationships – working on strategies to build their capacity to live well with MS and to better understand each other’s needs.

The weekend started with a recap of the previous weekend program followed by group discussions asking the question “Has anything changed since we last met?” It was evident that the group had maintained a high level of rapport, and the individual group discussions were in-depth, showing a wonderful degree of honesty and participation from all concerned.

This was an extremely cohesive group and the new sessions on “What makes a good relationship?’ and the “Problem Solving Circle” were well received and created a great deal of discussion - The former being reported as particularly helpful.

Participants were asked throughout the weekend to provide feedback on both the fi rst and second parts of the program, so as to assist in the continual improvement of the program. The sessions dealing with ‘Sharing of the Object’

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Working in close consultation with the employee and

their doctor is crucial, as is being

prepared to be fl exible in order to help the employee

to achieve.


and ‘The Five Love Languages’ were rated the most useful sessions by almost half the participants. The opportunity to share and communicate with others in a similar position, and the chance to relax and have fun were also rated as a positive component of the program. When asked if the Couples Program encouraged them to continue to seek support from other couples living with MS all but three respondents said that they would continue to use the support network they had established over these two weekends for the foreseeable future, and all participants indicated that they would encourage others to attend future programs, providing further confi rmation to The MS Society that the program is appreciated and being run successfully.

As illustrated in the following comments from participants, the Couples Weekend was highly valued by our clients:

“I would encourage any couple, if given the opportunity, to do the Couples program. I believe it is a great tool for a good marriage and meeting others in

similar situations - A good way to make some great friends.”

“I would recommend it thoroughly as it has had a positive infl uence on our relationship.”

“Go for it! It’s worth doing! And a lot of fun with friends”

“Fantastic – If you get an opportunity to do it – DO IT!”

“If you are willing to share your inner thoughts the Couples Program can be very powerful and change your life in a wonderful way!”

“It’s brilliant – Do it !!”

The Client Services team look forward to providing a range of supports to our clients in the coming year and continually working toward our quality improvement processes that in turn provide a strong framework for excellence in service delivery.

Mary LangdonManager, Client Services

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Menzies Research Institute Research update 2011 This year has been another very successful year for the Menzies Research Institute MS Research Team. Many people will have seen the media reports regarding the discovery of new areas of the human genome that contribute to the risk of developing MS. This study coordinated by the University of Cambridge UK looked at the genetic make-up of 10 000 people with MS from around the world including around 150 Tasmanians. The genetic makeup of the MS cases was compared to a similar number of controls without MS. We found that around 50 areas in the genome were involved. These areas commonly tagged genes that were involved in the immune system. This research is very interesting in that it points to directions in which research and treatment should go. It doesn’t help us in diagnosing MS and we cannot use these genetic markers to determine an individuals’ risk of getting MS as they only have a small effect individually and altogether only represent around 5% of the risk of developing MS. The signifi cance of this research is in providing us with a direction to move forward in our quest to fi nd the cure.

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The signifi cance of this research

is in providing us with a direction to move forward in our quest to fi nd

the cure.


The AUSIMMUNE/AUSLONG study has also had a very successful year. This study funded by the US National MS Society and Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia (MSRA), has followed a group of people who had their fi rst episode suggestive of MS in 4 locations in Australia including Tasmania where around 80 people are involved. We have shown that both low Vitamin D and low sun exposure are associated with an increased risk of developing a fi rst attack. We have also recently shown that for women an increasing number of pregnancies is associated with a decreased risk of MS. This latter fi nding is very interesting as it relates to another study undertaken by one of our PhD Students (Steve Simpson). He studied the rates of MS in greater Hobart over the last 50 years and found that the number of people with MS was increasing but that this was largely due to an increase in the number of females with MS. This may refl ect that the average number of babies has decreased from around 4 in 1950 to around 2 from the 1980s onwards.

The Tasmanian MS Longitudinal Study that started in 2003 and followed a group of Southern Tasmanian people with MS for 3 years has also continued to provide interesting results. In particular we have shown that the risk of having an attack of MS decreases as a person’s Vitamin D level increases. This fi nding, again by PhD Student Steve Simpson, has produced a lot of interest and has been the catalyst behind the development of Vitamin D intervention studies in MS. These studies are still awaiting funding.

We are continuing to focus on the areas of genetic and environmental factors that predict the onset and progression of MS. We will be continuing the AUSIMMUNE/

In particular we have shown that the risk of having an attack of MS decreases as a

person’s Vitamin D level increases.

AUSLONG study until every participant has reached their 10 year point. This will be the longest and largest study of its type and we will be able to provide signifi cant information as to the factors that lead to progression in early MS. We will continue to analyse the signifi cant data set from the Tasmanian MS Longitudinal Study and we are continuing to collaborate on the international and national MS genetic studies.

Additionally we have been successful in attracting several important clinical drug studies to Tasmania. Of particular note the most recent of these studies has focussed on treatments for Primary Progressive MS for which there has been no treatment to date.

We have now established a successful MS Research Team at the Menzies with very close links to the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) and Launceston General Hospital (LGH) and in particular the MS clinic at the RHH and MS Tasmania. We again cannot do this research without the continued support of people with MS in Tasmania and their families and we would like to once again thank them for their generous and enthusiastic participation in our work. It is truly a partnership.

Bruce Taylor on Behalf of the MS Research TeamMenzies Research Institute University of Tasmania

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This has been quite a year with natural disasters, shrinking economy and increased cost of living. However we have still been able to progress with multiple new fundraising programs which will assist us into the future in this competitive market.

The MS Society of Tasmania is privileged to be supported by incredibly loyal and generous donors and participants in our fundraising programs which enable us to deliver this awareness whilst continually fundraising.

Another key achievement of the Marketing and Development Unit has been the success of social media and a signifi cant increase in general media. Our Facebook reach is now over 7000 and Twitter is going strong. Our general media has been thorough through Newspapers, TV and Radio. This activity has seen the blind test charity brand awareness grow from 10% to 29% in the past year.

General raffl es are progressing well with profi tability up and minimal staff turnover. These results are a testament to the telemarketing team, their hard work and commitment.


With new benchmarks and programs being set for the 2011-2012 fi nancial year the Marketing and Development Team will be focusing on driving the new programs and closely monitoring the fi nancial performance of current programs resulting in new and innovative ways to raise funds to support the provision of services to people living with MS, while continuing to build awareness and understanding across the broader community.

The Marketing and Development Team was able to create and progress many programs which are outlined further on. Future fundraising programs include the Red Diamond Network and the Mud Dash Hobart whilst building on favorites such as the MONA MS Melbourne Cup Luncheon, the MS High Tea, Kiss Goodbye to MS and Direct Mail campaigns.

The Little Red BoxThis campaign consists of a fl at pack money box that is distributed to households, businesses and schools. The money boxes when full can be deposited in any MyState Financial Branch.

Hobart and Launceston Mega SwimsAfter two successful, inaugural events we are looking forward to growing these events in 2012. These events raised approx $30,000 for Go for Gold Scholarships which Tasmanians living with MS will be able to apply for.

7HOFM Red Diamond Cocktail PartyAs the setting for the draw of our Prestige Raffl e and with entertainment from The Diamonds of Burlesque and Grace Doubtless, this was a very enjoyable evening and is booked in to be repeated next year for the draw of the WOW raffl e.

TDT10 Mud Dash for MSThis inaugural event held at Forth in North West Tasmania saw 150 participants enjoy a muddy but fun fundraiser. This event is scheduled to be repeated next year and a similar event to be staged in Hobart.

Prestige and WOW Raffl esWhilst the prestige raffl e results were disappointing in its inaugural year it has been decided to persist with this program by introducing the WOW Raffl e. This raffl e prize consists of 7 x fi rst prizes, 7 x $10,000 holidays to the 7 Wonders of the World and will be drawn at the Cocktail Party on March 16, 2012.

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MS Readathon2011 is the 32nd year of the MS Readathon encouraging Aussie kids to read for a reason. The MS Readathon is Australia’s premier reading-based fundraiser which is also one of MS Australia’s largest fundraisers.

The MS Readathon was started to build awareness and understanding of MS within our communities; to encourage Aussie kids to read and improve their literacy outcomes; and to help the MS Societies to provide care and support services for Australians living with MS.

In 2010, the MS Readathon saw 1483 Tasmanian school students read over 20,000 books and raise $105,000 in sponsorship money for people living with MS.

There were some impressive individual and school results:

• Sarah Dixon, 18, was the highest fundraiser in Tasmania for the third year running, raising an impressive $6,005.

• Princes Street Primary School took out the top honours of being the highest fundraising school ($3,344) as well as having the highest number of entrants (53).

• Emily Lewis received a special achievement award for her outstanding six year contribution to the MS Readathon raising $2709 during this time.

The 2011 program saw a shift to an online program in order to reduce some costs associated with the program. At the beginning of the year all schools were sent a DVD which contained a message to the school Principal from Simon McKenna, the 2011 Australian of the Year. These DVDs also contained a school presentation and outlined some exciting new school incentives – participating schools that achieved 10% of their student enrolment registered and raising at least $10 each went into the draw to win 10 Apple iPads.

There were 647 students registered and 66 participating schools, which was signifi cantly less than in previous years. With declining levels of participation the future of the MS Readathon is unclear.

The Novel ChallengeThe Novel Challenge was launched in April 2010 to attract a new adult demographic to the reading event, and 26 Tasmanians registered to help those living with MS. The event raised approx $105,256 nationally in its fi rst year. After such a positive start, the event returned in 2011 with 33 people registering to read in Tasmania. The Novel Challenge has provided an additional means of engaging our communities in supporting those living with MS and raising awareness of this mystery disease.

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Stuart HarrisManager, Marketing & Development


Mel

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She was working at a Bakery when she fi rst noticed a few odd things happening in her body. She started losing her balance and found the heat of the ovens to much. Therefore a career change was necessary, so she changed jobs and began working for the Education Department as a school attendant. She loved working outdoors and continued this as a Postie delivering mail for Australia Post. However, her odd symptoms kept increasing and she found her body couldn’t cope with what her job required. During this period she was seeing her doctor but her symptoms were put down to sporting injuries. Eventually she had an MRI and was diagnosed with MS at age 31. The only thing she knew about MS was the MS Readathon from primary school.

After a period of adjustment, Melissa is now a lot more accepting of her MS. She has recently started using a wheelie walker and a walking stick and fi nds she can now get around a lot easier. Melissa can no longer work due to her fatigue and mobility issues with her left leg – as she puts it “my leg doesn’t do what I want it to!”

Since having to spend more time at home, she has developed a love for gardening, something she was never interested in before. 3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, lots of chickens and roosters and a miniature bull also keep Melissa pretty busy these days. She is also doing up a Mighty Boy Subaru and loves to tinker about on the motor bikes and around the house when she can’t sleep at night.

Melissa has an amazing attitude towards living with MS. She says “You deal with what you have. I was lucky in doing what I wanted when I was younger. I got to use my legs and there are lots of others out there that haven’t.”

Looking towards the future Melissa would love to get into disability support work, and work with kids especially, to give something back to others who need it.

Whilst her uncertain future living with MS causes her family to worry, Melissa remains positive and says “I’m not living with MS, MS is living with me!”

Client Profi leMelissa grew up loving sport, particularly soccer and indoor cricket, and she loved riding her motor bikes. Little did she know that her life would change at just 31 years of age.


PatronThe Hon Peter Underwood AOGovernor of Tasmania

Honorary NeurologistsDr Bruce Taylor FRACP

Dr Stan Siejka FRACP (dec.)

Life MembersThe Hon Brian Miller AM JP (1969)

Mr Noel Kirby (1983)

Miss Freda Mary McClea (1992)

Mr Robert Fay (1992)

Miss Jean Russell (1992)

Recognition of Service Mr Graeme Badcock, 2000

Mrs Doris Leonard, 2000

Mrs Elizabeth Robb OAM, 2000

Mrs Marion Roberts, 2000

Mrs Fay Turner, 2000

Mr John Tyquin (dec.), 2000

Southern Cross Television, 2000

Interhash 2000, 2000

Teddy Bear Club, 2000

The Advocate, 2000

The Examiner , 2000

The Mercury, 2000

WIN Television, 2000

Schering Ltd, 2001

Merck Serono 2001

Miss Nikki Mathers, 2001

Mrs Sue Armes, 2001

Mrs Olive Parker, 2001

Mrs Maureen Poke, 2001

Miss Jean Russell (dec.), 2001

Mr Joeseph Ratcliffe, 2004

Dr Bruce Taylor, 2004

Mr Jack Wivell, 2005

Mr Alan Davis (dec.), 2006

Ms Marlene Pegus, 2007

Ms Helen Connor-Kendray, 2008

Dr Stan Siejka (dec.), 2009

Mrs Jane Hope, 2009

Mr Harry Wilsdon 2010

BequestsThe MS Society of Tasmania truly appreciates the generosity of people who nominate our organisation as a benefi ciary to their Estate. By leaving a bequest, you are helping us to continue to provide much needed support for Tasmanians living with MS every day, while our search for a cure continues. We are deeply grateful for the forethought of the following people who have chosen to leave a gift to The MS Society of Tasmania in their will.

The research activities and support services provided by The MS Society of Tasmania have been greatly assisted and strengthened through this wonderful bequest funding.

Thanks 7HOFM

9/11 Bottle Shops

Alexanders Restaurant

Aspect Tamar Valley Resort

Bayer Schering Pharma

Bellerive Yacht Club

Big Bargain Bottle Shop

Billie-Jo Fashions

Biogen Idec Australia Pty Ltd

Cargo Bar Pizza Lounge

City Park Grand Conference Centre

Circular Head Rural Health Services

Commonwealth Financial Planning Limited

Community Rehabilitation Unit

Cool Wine

Co-Op Toyota

Department of Health & Human Services

Diamonds of Burlesque

Di’s Catering Service

Endota Spa

Flora Gondwana

Fullers Bookshop

Glenorchy Civic Centre

Glenorchy Community Health Centre

General Practice North

General Practice North West

General Practice South

Grace Doubtless

Grandvewe Cheeses

Grand Mercure Hadleys Hotel

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Harvey Norman Electrical Hobart

Henry Jones Art Hotel

High Performance Training

Hobart Aquatic Centre

Hobart City Council

Hove & Halys - Chartered Accountants

Independent Living Centre

IMC Link

Iris Computing

LA FM

Launceston Aquatic

Launceston City Council

Launceston Cycling Classic Inc.

Lexus of Hobart

Lion Nathan

Lions Club of Kingborough

Lions Club of Glenorchy City

Lions Club of Hobart Town

Lions Club of Clarence

Lions Club of Sandy Bay

Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

Magnolia Cafe

Menzies Research Institute

Miss Naomi Searle

MONA

Mr Brian Schilling

Mrs Larissa Bartlett

Mrs Connie Holmes

Ms Kirsty Pilkington

Multiple Steps Forward

Myer Community Fund

MyState Financial

Neuro Muscular Alliance of Tasmania

Nutrimetics

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd

Page Seager Lawyers

Pennicott Wilderness Journeys

Plum Restaurant

Polly Shoes

Professional Charters

RACT Travel

Red Bean Cafe

Renata Boutique

Rotary Club of Central Launceston

Routleys Menswear

Ack

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gem

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The MS Society of Tasmania would like to extend our

heartfelt thanks to all those who made donations

through community

fundraising and workplace giving.

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

Ruby Fruit Photography

Salamanca Inn

Sanofi -Aventis

Sargison’s Jewellers

The Squires Bounty

SeaFM Devonport

Scouts Tasmania

Shanley & Shanley Design

Sole Obsession

Tadpac Print

Tasmania Distillery

Tasmanian Gourmet Gifts

Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

TDT 10

Terry White Pharmacy

The Advocate Newspaper

The Beachway Hotel

The Branch Christian Church

The Examiner Newspaper

The Hotel Grand Chancellor

The Mercury Newspaper

The Old Woolstore

The Tailrace Centre

Ulverstone Surf Lifesaving Club

Vodafone

Wandering Quilters

Zone 3


Introduction

The 2010/11 fi nancial year has been an exceptionally busy one for the Corporate Services unit as we continue to refi ne and develop policy, system and processes that provide a robust governance structure to support the Society in pursuit of its mission. This structure is provided with an overarching focus on continuous quality improvement in whatever task it is that we undertake and a contemporary approach to the principles of risk management.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all members of the Corporate Services unit for the role they play in providing such a high level of professional and dedicated business support to our internal and external stakeholder. Members of the team are widely respected by their peers and colleagues in other organisations and I commend to you their willingness to give freely of their time in the many instances where they have volunteered at events, selling raffl e tickets on weekends and generally going the ‘extra yard’. Many members of the team do those little things that make a big difference but tend to go unnoticed as they quietly go about ‘volunteering’ as part of their role, I know one of the key drivers for this selfl ess contribution is the very reason the Society exists and that is to support our clients and the service delivery work of our Client Services team. So thank you to my team and their families.

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I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all members of the Corporate Services unit

for the role they play in providing such a high level of professional and dedicated

business support to our internal and external stakeholders.


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“I have done many courses during my 40 years being in the workforce & found this one, particularly

the facilitator to be the most empowering.”

“Excellent course. Great opportunity – Thank you. Can use in professional and private life.”

“Attendance at this program will improve my performance at work.”

“I am confi dent I have the skills and knowledge to apply the learning in my workplace.”

“I believe I will receive support from my manager to implement what I have learnt.”

Human Resources

The MS Society has a staff of 33 in head count and approximately 22 full time equivalents state-wide. For the 2010/11fi nancial year the Society recorded a ‘0%’ turnover. I guess some could say that is history now given that we have had 4 resignations since the start of this fi nancial year. Nonetheless it is a statistic worth recording as part of this report and one that we can perhaps look back and learn from in future years and given that loss of key staff was and identifi ed risk as part of our risk management exercise referred to above.

People and Culture – Staff Development Communication Style Workshops focused on organisational Values

In January and February this year, and again in April and May (due to popular demand), High Performance Training developed and facilitated a series of 2 day workshops designed around communication styles, recognising your own, the perception of others and dealing with challenging communication styles. These workshops were developed with a focus on the Society’s Vision, Mission and Organisational Values of Respect, Integrity, Empathy and Working Together. All in all we had 24 staff attend these workshops.

Training facilitator Christine Storm delivered this training at the Society’s offi ces. The fi rst session involved exercises around why people might be challenging, developing skills around the L.E.C.P.T. process (Listen, Empathise, Clarify, Problem Solve, Take action) listening and perception and recognising communication style profi les, both self and others. At the conclusion of the fi rst session, staff were asked to complete their own self assessment on their communication style and also to complete 6-8 questionnaires on others in the training. The assessments involved a series of 18 questions, the answers to which were assessed independently by High Performance and feedback provided to individuals at the second session. There were many ‘light bulb’ moments as to why people fi nd dealing with person X more challenging than person Y. It mostly comes down to whether you have an Analytical, Driver, Amiable or Expressive behavioural style, how successful you are in recognising your own style and that of others and your skill and fl exibility in adopting your own style to achieve outcomes. Invaluable insight and tools were also provided as to how different behavioural styles will respond in different situations and also considerations for developing people with different styles of communication.

The vibe and feedback around the session has been excellent. Quantitative and qualitative data received by way of formal evaluation sheets completed by all staff who attended indicate some of the outcomes and feedback from the sessions depicted in data and comments below:


-250,000

-200,000

-150,000

-100,000

-50,000

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

Net Surplus/(Deficit)

2011201020092008200720062005

Financial Result

Whilst the fi nancial result for the year shows a net defi cit of (218,157) this is primarily a function of the worse than anticipated fi nancial performance of the Prestige raffl e and a Nil fi nancial return from MSFEST 2011. The result was further impacted by lower (than previous years) income from bequests and major donations combined with the effect of the economic instability and competition for the charity dollars on our direct mail campaigns.

None the less, the Society is indeed in a sound fi nancial position and has been able to continue to provide services above and beyond what we receive Government funding for and as you will see from the Financial Report, the total equity position of the Society has improved on the previous year and the current ratio as a measure of general liquidity is healthy at 2.65 : 1. At no stage during the year did the Society need to rely on borrowings to fund operations.

Risk Management

In March 2011, members of the Board along with senior staff undertook a risk management assessment of some of the key business risks (we believed) were facing the Society at that time. For the purpose of this review, business risk was defi ned as:

“An event or action that has the potential to prevent MS Tasmania from achieving its objectives or executing its strategies successfully”

This review was facilitated by an external risk management consultant who has also worked extensively with other MS organisations on their risk management processes. Various key business risks were identifi ed by participants in the assessment and the results of this review were presented to the Board in May, 2011 and included a snap shot of each business risks inherent risk profi le (being either Low, Moderate,

Signifi cant or High) prior to effective controls being implemented and then the residual profi le once controls were implemented and in some cases improved upon.

“An event or action that has the potential to prevent

MS Tasmania from achieving its objectives or executing its strategies successfully”

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Surplus/Defi cit Trends2005 – 2011


Since this initial review, the management team, along with members of their business units are continuing to work on the refi nement and development of controls and processes in place associated with these risks in order that we can reduce the residual risk rating of each which is defi ned by the consequence of and likelihood of occurrence of each. It is also incumbent upon us that we continue to highlight and address new risks as we (and others) believe warranted. An example of this is the current Overarching Investment Policy and Strategy that the Corporate Services unit is working with Commonwealth Financial Planning in developing and implementing which will provides us with a rigorous and quality governance structure and protection around the management of our diverse asset portfolio, which includes our Share holdings in various ASX companies.

Development of Overarching Investment Policy and Strategy

Given the current economic conditions existing world wide and the Society’s current exposure to this via its share holdings, it is imperative that we have a robust framework by which to guide our investments and indeed the expected earnings from those investments with clear delegations for those in decision making roles regarding those investments. Recognising that share investments and wealth management is not a core business of the Society, Commonwealth Financial Planning have been engaged as our business partners and

fi nancial planning experts to help frame a policy which will clearly articulate the expectations of earnings from our investments, the type and mix of such investments according to our ethics, values and risk appetite. Ignorance of the global economic issues is not an option when the Society has exposure through such investments and the development of this policy, subsequent review of current holdings and ongoing funds management within the fi nal policy approved by the Board is a clear demonstration of the Society observing due diligence principles and mitigating this area of risk. It is expected this policy will be fi nalised in the fi rst half of the 2011/12 fi nancial year with the early 1st stage steps having already taken place.

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Funding – transition to Unit Pricing

The Society’s acknowledges the support of DHHS and the provision of recurrent funding of $410,749 for the 2010/11 fi nancial year. These funds are facilitated by way of our current Disability Services Funding Agreement with the Department. The purpose of this funding is to provide fi nancial assistance to the Society to provide coordination and development activities to assist people with a disability to maximise their independence and participate in the community through working with the individual family and/or carers in care planning and/or facilitating access to appropriate services. The funding

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Bequests

Rent/Interest/Other

Pharmaceutical Sponsorship

Government Assistance

Fundraising

2011201020092008200720062005

Income Sources 2005 – 2011


also assists the Society to provide information and referrals regarding services and equipment for people with a disability and development of community awareness about issues affecting people with a disability. Currently the Society is block funded for the provision of these services and whilst our recurrent funding indexation for the 2011/12 fi nancial year has been decreased from 3.3% to 2.25%, as a result of state budget cuts, the move to a unit pricing model for our recurrent funding will undoubtedly compel the Society to fi nd further effi ciencies in the way we delivery services to our client cohort as the Government seeks to achieve greater effi ciencies from Non Government Organisation (NGO) services purchased by DHHS with equity around the funding allocation and clarity in relation to the expectation in regards to services delivered by those NGO’s. It is likely that the Society will transition to this new funding model sometime from January 2012 and this will provide the catalyst for a signifi cant shift in our management reporting framework and thinking about the way we demonstrate the services delivered and results achieved from the price the government is prepared to pay. This ultimately will prepare our thinking for the delivery of services that are driven by consumer choice about which service provider a client uses use under the proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Tas Quality Futures Reporting and Community of Practice Program

The Society has received positive feedback from the Community Sector Quality and Safety team (DHHS) in relation to the 2 applicable standards required to be reported against during the 2010/11 fi nancial year, those being:

• Standard 3 – Workforce; and

• Standard 4 – Incidents and Feedback.

This means that the Society has now been graded as ‘compliant ‘against all 4 of the 6 standards reported on since the inception of the Quality and Safety Standards Framework for Tasmania’s Agency Funded community sector in July 2009. In addition to demonstration of compliance against the framework, the Society undertook a project partner role in a Community of Practice project which was funded under the DHHS Strengthening Community Organisations Fund (SCOF)and coordinated by Quality Management Services (QMS)Tasmania. The objectives of the project were to bring together

community sector organisations that share an interest and focus on chronic disease. Participant organisations in the Community of Practice worked together to build a continuous quality improvement culture within their organisation and if desired, to prepare them for external accreditation against the Quality Improvement Council’s 6th Edition Health and Community Services Standards. The Society underwent a Gap Analysis against these standards (conducted by QMS) in November, 2010 which indicated that whilst in general most standards were already being MET or MET IN PART, there is always room for improvement! The Corporate Services unit will continue to work alongside our service delivery unit in implementing and addressing the gaps identifi ed in this review as we work towards external accreditation against these standards.

Management Information and Financial Reporting Systems

The Corporate Services unit has worked extensively in developing the quality and quantity of information provided through to our Board of governance, internal and external stakeholders to guide the decision making processes around the Society. The quality of the information provided and the accounting systems and processes in place have been positively commented upon. The unit is responsible for successful audit of our various raffl e campaigns and reporting against these to the Gaming Commission, annual acquittal of the Society’s DHHS funding agreement and preparation and presentation of the annual fi nancial accounts for audit each year and dissemination to stakeholders.

The Corporate Services team works in a collaborative manner with our Marketing and Development unit in implementing and reporting on results (on a weekly basis) and have developed leading indicators and rostering tracking tools which assist us in identifying trends early in a campaigns life cycle to enable corrective action to take place (if necessary). I sincerely acknowledge the work of members of my team, Amanda Ashley-Jones and Sue Anderson for the quality of work they provide in this area and their desire to always continue to improve our processes and systems.

Vivienne JonesManager, Corporate Services

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ices


PLEASE NOTE: The notes form part of these fi nancial statements. A full audited set of the Financial Statements of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Tasmania for the year ended 30th June 2011 are available by request to:

Chief Executive Offi cer15 Princes StreetSandy BayTasmania 7005Telephone: 03 6220 1111

Multiple Sclerosis Society of Tasmania(A Company Limited by Guarantee) ACN 009 484 093

Directors’ Declaration 32

Directors’ Report 33

Independent Auditor’s Report 36

Auditor’s Independence Declaration 37

Statement of Comprehensive Income 39

Statement of Financial Position 40

Statement of Changes in Equity 41

Statement of Cash Flows 42

Fina

ncia

l Rep

ort


Directors’ DeclarationFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2011

The Directors of the Society declare that:

1. The fi nancial statements and notes, as set out on pages 39 to 42 of this Annual Report are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001:

(a) comply with Australian Accounting Standards; and

(b) give a true and fair view of the fi nancial position as at 30 June 2011 and of the performance of the Society for the year ended on that date.

2. In the directors’ opinion there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Society will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable.

This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.

On behalf of the Directors

Geoff Chapman

Chairman of Directors

Dated this 30th day of September 2011


Directors’ Report YOUR DIRECTORS PRESENT THIS REPORT ON THE SOCIETY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2011.

Directors

The names of each person who has been a director during the year and to the date of this report are:

Geoff Chapman Margaret Hunyady-Sutherland

David Hopkins David Nowell

Margaret Hunter Paul Stevens

Sharlene Brown Paul Gray

Directors have been in offi ce since the start of the fi nancial year to the date of this report unless otherwise stated.

Company Secretary

The following person held the position of the Society’s secretary at the end of the fi nancial year:

Heather Francis

Meetings of Directors

During the fi nancial year, 8 meetings of directors were held. Attendances by each director were as follows:

Board Meetings Number Eligible Number Attended

Geoff Chapman 8 7

David Hopkins 8 7

Margaret Hunter 8 6

Margaret Hunyady-Sutherland 8 5

David Nowell 8 8

Paul Stevens 8 7

Sharlene Brown 8 7

Paul Gray 8 6


Principal Activities

The principal activities of the Society during the fi nancial year were to ensure the preservation, maintenance and improvement of the independence and self-determination of people with multiple sclerosis and people with physical disabilities by providing appropriate support services for them, their families and care givers.

No signifi cant changes in the nature of the Society’s activities occurred during the fi nancial year.

Financial Results

The Society’s comprehensive income for the year ended 30 June 2011 was $96,360 surplus (2010 Surplus $449,614).

Review of Operations

The Society’s total income for the year was $1,958,440 (2010 $2,151,356).

Signifi cant Changes in State of Affairs

No signifi cant changes in the Society’s state of affairs occurred during the fi nancial year.

After Balance Date Events

No matters or circumstances have arisen since the end of the fi nancial year which signifi cantly affected or may signifi cantly affect the operations of the Society, the results of those operations, or the state of affairs of the Society in future fi nancial years.

Future Developments

The Society expects to maintain the present status and level of operations and hence there are no likely developments in the Society’s operations.

Environmental Issues

The Society’s operations are not regulated by any signifi cant environmental regulation under a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory.

Proceedings on Behalf of The Society

No person has applied for leave of Court to bring proceedings on behalf of the Society or intervene in any proceedings to which the Society is a party for the purpose of taking responsibility on behalf of the Society for all or any part of those proceedings.

The Society was not a party to any proceedings during the year.


Indemnifying Offi cers Or Auditor

During the fi nancial year, the Society paid insurance premiums to insure the Directors and Offi cers past and present to the extent available by law. The terms of the insurance contract preclude disclosure of further details.

No indemnities have been given or insurance premiums paid during or since the end of the fi nancial year, for any person who is or has been an auditor of the Society.

Dividends

The Society’s memorandum specifi cally prohibits the payments of a dividend or a bonus by way of profi t to members of the Society.

Auditor’s Independence Declaration

The auditor’s independence declaration for the year ended 30 June 2011 has been received and can be found on page 7 of the directors’ report.

Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.

Geoff ChapmanChairman of Directors



Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Multiple Sclerosis Society of Tasmania We have audited the accompanying fi nancial report of The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Tasmania, which comprises the balance sheet as at 30 June 2011 and the income statement, statement of recognised income and expenditure and cash fl ow statement for the year ended on that date, a summary of signifi cant accounting policies and other explanatory notes and the directors’ declaration.

The Responsibility of the Directors for the Financial Report

The directors of the company are responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the fi nancial report in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards (including the Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the Corporations Act 2001. This responsibility includes designing, implementing, and maintaining internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the fi nancial report that is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies; and making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.

Auditor’s Responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the fi nancial report based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. These Auditing Standards require that we comply with relevant ethical requirements relating to audit engagements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the fi nancial report is free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the fi nancial report. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the fi nancial report, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the Society’s preparation and fair presentation of the fi nancial report in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Society’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the fi nancial report.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is suffi cient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Independence

In conducting our audit, we have complied with the independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001. We confi rm that the independence declaration required by the Corporations Act 2001, provided to the directors of Multiple Sclerosis Society of Tasmania on 14 September 2009 would be in the same terms if provided to the directors as at the date of this auditor’s report.


Auditor’s OpinionIn our opinion, the fi nancial report presents fairly, in all material respects, the fi nancial position of Multiple Sclerosis Society of Tasmania as of 30 June 2011, and its fi nancial performance and cash fl ows for the year then ended in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 and the Australian Accounting Standards (including Australian Accounting Interpretations).

HOVÉ & HALYS

A. I. HOVE FCARegistered Company Auditor (No. 15382)Hove & Halys Chartered Accountants29 Salamanca PlaceHobart TAS 7000



Auditor’s Independence Declaration Under Section 307C of the Corporations Act 2001 to the Directors of Multiple Sclerosis Society of TasmaniaI declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, during the year ended 30 June 2011 there have been

i) no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements as set out in the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit; and

ii) no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.

HOVÉ & HALYS

A. I. HOVE FCARegistered Company Auditor (No. 15382)Hove & Halys Chartered Accountants29 Salamanca PlaceHobart TAS 7000



Statement of Comprehensive Income FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2011

Notes 2011 2010 $ $

Revenues 3 1,958,440 2,151,356

Fundraising prizes (175,193) (109,081)

Employee expenses (1,322,775) (1,201,224)

Postage, printing & stationery (168,365) (102,090)

Telephone expenses (44,282) (40,092)

Depreciation and amortisation expenses 2 (60,896) (60,983)

Other expenses (405,086) (319,828)

Defi cit (2010 Surplus) before Income tax expense (218,157) 318,058

Income tax expense 1(a) 0 0

Net Surplus (Defi cit) from after Income tax expense (218,157) 318,058

Other comprehensive income:

Net gain on revaluation of property, plant and equipment 220,000 91,784

Net fair value (loss)/gain on re-measurement of investments in listed shares available for sale 94,517 39,772

Other comprehensive income for the year 314,517 131,556

Total comprehensive income for the year 96,360 449,614

Defi cit (2010 Surplus) attributable to members of the Society (218,157) 318,058

Total comprehensive income attributable to members of the society 96,360 449,614

The accompanying notes form part of these fi nancial statements.


Statement of Financial PositionAS AT 30 JUNE 2011

Notes 2011 2010 $ $

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash and Cash Equivalents 5 750,277 54,280

Trade and Other Receivables 6 142,296 90,155

Financial Assets 8 75,790 944,348

Other Assets 9 69,767 46,098

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 1,038,130 1,134,881

NON CURRENT ASSETS

Financial Assets 8 855,296 742,570

Property, Plant and Equipment 10 2,097,371 1,921,402

TOTAL NON CURRENT ASSETS 2,952,667 2,663,972

TOTAL ASSETS 3,990,797 3,798,853

LIABILITIES

CURRENT LIABILITES

Trade and Other Payables 11 90,920 35,626

Short-term Provisions 12 142,383 128,140

Other Liabilities 13 159,607 142,059

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 392,910 305,825

NON CURRENT LIABILITIES

Long-term Provisions 12 45,208 36,711

TOTAL NON CURRENT LIABILITIES 45,208 36,711

TOTAL LIABILITIES 438,118 342,536

NET ASSETS 3,552,679 3,456,317

EQUITY Accumulated Surplus 17 992,547 1,294,183

Reserves 16 2,560,132 2,162,134

TOTAL EQUITY 3,552,679 3,456,317


Statement of Changes in Equity FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2011

Note Retained Asset Bequests Capital General Total Earnings Revaluation & Major Reserve Reserve Reserve Donations Reserve $ $ $ $ $ $

Balance at 30 June 2009 1,372,682 810,384 590,968 72,442 200,000 3,046,474

Surplus attributable to the Society 318,058 0 0 0 0 318,058

Revaluation increment 0 91,784 0 0 0 91,784

Total revenues, expenses 2 0 0 0 0 0 0and valuation adjustments attributable to members recognised directly in equity

Transfers to reserves (396,557) 0 396,557 0 0 0

BALANCE AT 30 JUNE 2010 1,294,183 902,168 987,525 72,442 200,000 3,456,318

Balance at 30 June 2010 1,294,183 902,168 987,525 72,442 200,000 3,456,318

Surplus attributable to the Society (218,157) 0 0 0 0 (218,157)

Revaluation increment 0 314,517 0 0 0 314,517Total revenues, expenses and valuation adjustments attributable to members recognised directly in equity 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

Transfers to reserves (83,479) 0 83,479 0 0 0

BALANCE AT 30 JUNE 2011 992,547 1,216,685 1,071,004 72,442 200,000 3,552,678


Statement of Cash FlowsFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2011

Note 2011 2010 $ $

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

Fundraising 1,070,061 1,040,118

Government Assistance 410,755 486,142

Pharmaceutical Company Sponsorship 18,641 69,152

Interest 32,553 28,096

Rent Received 97,357 92,704

Other Infl ows 0 27,898

Bequests 66,580 87,987

Book Sales 11,063 5,492

Payments to Suppliers and Employees (including service providers) (1,846,004) (1,757,232)

Net Cash provided by Operating Activities 18(a) (138,994) 80,357

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Proceeds from sale of Property, Equipment & Motor Vehicles 11,795 0

Payments for Shares (18,209) 0

Payments for Property, Plant and Equipment (27,153) (35,322)

Net Cash used in Investing Activities (33,567) (35,322)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Repayment of Borrowings 0 0

Deposits in Term Investments 868,558 (88,779)

Net Cash used in Financing Activities 868,558 (88,779)

NET INCREASE/ (DECREASE) IN CASH HELD 695,997 (43,744)

Cash at the beginning of the fi nancial year 54,280 98,024

Cash at the end of the Financial Year 18(b) 750,277 54,280


Multiple Sclerosis affects the central nervous system

by interfering with the transmission of nerve impulses

throughout the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.

Tasmania has the highest incidence of MS in Australia.

The MS Society of Tasmania responds by providing

nursing care, counselling support, information and

resources to those affected by MS across the state.

This support also extends to family, friends and carers

of those affected.

MS is neither contagious nor directly inherited, although

studies indicate that genetic factors may make certain

individuals more susceptible to the disease.

Symptoms of MS may include extreme tiredness

(fatigue), impaired vision, loss of balance and muscle

co-ordination, slurred speech, tremors, stiffness,

bladder and bowel problems, diffi culty walking, short

term memory-loss, mood swings, and, in severe cases,

partial or complete paralysis.

An estimated 2.5 million people in the world are living

with MS, including around 20,000 Australians.

MS affects three times as many women as men.

The average age of diagnosis of MS is 30 years of age.

Despite intense, world-wide research, the cause of MS

is still unknown and there is no cure.

MS

Fact

s

Head Offi ce15 Princes StreetSandy Bay TAS 7005Tel: 03 6220 1111

Northern Regional Offi ce18/2 Innocent StreetKings Meadows TAS 7250Tel: 03 6343 1240

Freecall1800 676 721

www.mstas.org.au

Annual Report 2011

Documents

Transcript of Annual Report 2011