History

Early in 1971, two people with multiple sclerosis (MS) wrote to the MS Society in New York, with a request for information about the disease, and asked how to start a Society in Western Australia. Following a meeting of fourteen people in 1972, the MS Society of Western Australia was registered.

In 1973 the Constitution was accepted and the Society was incorporated under the provisions of the Associations Incorporation’s Act. The Society was formed by people with MS who came together to support and provide services to each other-essential services which were not available elsewhere.

Since that time what has changed significantly is the size of the task. From humble beginnings, the Society has become a major provider of services to people with MS in Western Australia. In June 1979, a small house in East Perth was rented and a "Day Centre" was started. The Society employed an administrator and an occupational therapist on a part time basis. In that year $4,200 was generated through fundraising.

By 1981, the Society was spending $120,000 on services for people with MS. This amount increased sevenfold over the next ten years, with $865,905 being allocated to Member Services in 1991. In 1987, the Society had moved to its own "purpose built" home in Wilson, having generated most of the income for the building through its own fundraising, while increasing the amount of funds allocated to services.

In 1989 a Respite House was opened in City Beach, and by 1991 Outreach Groups had been established in Joondalup, Rockingham and Lockridge.

In 1996, the Society demolished its respite house in City Beach and, with the assistance of a grant from the Disability Services Commission, replaced it with a purpose built Federation-style house. Also in 1996, negotiations began for what was to become Fern River, the Society’s first twenty-four hour care facility for people who would otherwise be living in a nursing home.

Today the MS Society of Western Australia employs over 180 healthcare professionals (69 full time equivalents) and assists more than 1,600 people with multiple sclerosis, and their families and carers. These services include respite, physiotherapy, in home care, nursing, occupational therapy and social work.

In 2007-08 the MS Society of WA contributed the highest allocation of funds to research of all Australian States and Territories per capita. It also increased delivery of services to key areas by over 20%.