A new nurse‑led resource series designed to empower and guide people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has been launched, offering practical support at every stage of the MS journey.
MS Australia and MS Nurses Australasia have released Back on Track ahead of World MS Day tomorrow (30 May), with this year’s global campaign again centred on the theme ‘My MS Diagnosis: Navigating MS Together.’
Developed by expert MS nurses with a combined 140 years’ of clinical experience — and enriched by lived experience insights from the MS community — the video and audio series aims to fill a long-standing gap in early diagnosis support.
Currently, one in three Australians living with MS does not have access to specialist MS nurse care.
The resource responds directly to the lack of accessible, practical guidance available in the early days and months after diagnosis, said project lead Dr Therese Burke, Registered Nurse, MS Specialist (pictured).
“Back on Track delves deeply into issues that might be causing some bother, and all the unknowns, which often don’t make it to the surface of the clinic consult or appointment because there are always so many important things to discuss.”
“We explore the challenges that arise in the first weeks, months and years of living with MS, and discuss ways of managing what can often feel like insurmountable challenges, so people living with MS can feel like they are gaining back some control.”
Member of MS Australia’s Lived Experience Expert Panel, Rachel Fallis said the resource could make a difference for people navigating life after diagnosis. “When I was first diagnosed, I had a lot of unanswered questions, and I was very worried about what my life was now going to be like.
“Having access to practical guidance from MS nurses who have a wealth of knowledge about MS would have helped me feel far less overwhelmed.”
Back on Track also helps bridge the workforce gap by providing high‑quality, nurse‑led support that people can access anywhere, said MS Australia CEO Rohan Greenland.
“Access to MS nurse care is critical. We know it delivers significant health benefits for people with MS, including lower disability levels, slower self-reported disease progression, less severe symptoms, reduced levels of depression and anxiety, and a higher quality of life.
“We simply do not have enough MS nurses in Australia, and we remain committed to advocating for greater government investment in the MS nurse workforce. At the same time, we are committed to educating and empowering our community, and Back on Track is a practical, hands-on guide to living your best life alongside MS.”
The resource highlights the unique skill set of MS nurses and focuses on empowerment at key moments in the MS journey, said MS Nurses Australasia President Meaghan Osborne.
“Back on Track addresses challenging topics — how to tell family and friends, explaining invisible symptoms, approaching a clinic visit, and setting up your support team,” she said.
The 4-episode Back on Track series is available here
Or available on Spotify Back on Track | Podcast on Spotify
