This four-part series explores the challenges that come to the surface in the first weeks, months and years of living with MS, and discusses ways of managing what can feel like a cauldron of challenges. The presenting team discuss issues which rarely make it to the surface of clinic appointments, and remain as unanswered questions that may hinder living well with MS.
4 episodesÂ
‘Back on Track’ is a practical, hands-on guide to living your best life alongside MS.
The series has been developed by expert MS Nurses, based on lived experience from their combined 100 years of working in MS, and lived experience contributions from the MS community.
This four-part series explores the challenges that come to the surface in the first weeks, months and years of living with MS, and discusses ways of managing what can feel like a cauldron of challenges. The presenting team discuss issues which rarely make it to the surface of clinic appointments, and remain as unanswered questions that may hinder living well with MS.
Our goal is to educate and empower, and to put people living with MS in charge, and back on track.
Follow along with the Resource guide as you watch the videos.
The lead-up to an MS diagnosis can be incredibly fast for some people and slow for others. This episode focuses on the diagnostic process (why there are so many tests),how MS is diagnosed and common feelings at this time, managing when and how to disclose your diagnosis, how to manage work and study needs, how to organise and manage ongoing support and practical ways to communicate with your healthcare team and your family and friends.
This episode focuses on day-to-day decisions and finding balance after diagnosis—independence, navigating work or study, planning for pregnancy and parenting, managing difficult emotions such as fear and loneliness, managing mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression and managing the vast amount of information and decisions in MS.Â
This episode focuses on building an action plan with your MS team, including logistics and decisions about disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and medication adherance, complementary medicines. This episode also explores MS Brain Health and lifestyle modications to protect brain health over time, such as attention to diet and exercise, not smoking, managing mental health, cognition, sleep hygiene and stress. Tricky topics such as managing bladder and bowel issues are also discussed.
This episode focuses on living life to the full with MS by answering common lingering questions about travel and MS, managing hiccups and challenges, and ensuring ongoing support. This episode also explores symptoms in MS, working out what is new, how symptoms behave, and managing fatigue. Groups that can sometimes feel like they have been left out, such as children and adolescents, older people, males and menopause are also addressed. Genetics and family are also discussed with a focus on MS Brain Health.
Registered Nurse, MS Specialist
Australia Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, School of Nursing, University of Notre Dame, Sydney Campus
Dr Therese Burke is an internationally dual certified in Multiple Sclerosis (MSCN) and Rare Neuroimmunological Disorders (CRND) and is currently an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow in the School of Nursing at The University of Notre Dame, Sydney, Australia where she continues to be involved with neuroimmunological research.
Therese’s post-doctoral research explored the skillsets, support and education of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Nurses and focused on defining the role in Australasia. She is also active nationally in research and education for MS Nurses Australasia (MSNA Inc) and internationally as part of the International Organisation of MS Nurses (IOMSN). Therese has extensive research experience in many aspects of MS, particularly in understanding the lived experience and identifying ways to improve the quality of life and healthcare experience for people living with MS, as well as in clinical drug trial project management and investigator initiated clinical research.
Therese was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2023 Australia Day Honours list for significant service to medicine, particularly to MS research and to nursing. Therese is the current MS Nurse International Leadership awardee, an IOMSN International Nightingale recipient for 2025 and has recently been a member of the international working group to review MS Brain Health guidelines.Â
Therese is a member of the MS Australia MS Nurses Working Group and is a co-author of the MS Nurse Care in Australia Report.
Registered Nurse, MS Specialist
Manager, N-CRESS at Austin Health, Melbourne
Belinda works in both a clinical role as a MS nurse and in research management, overseeing MS clinical trials at a Victorian hospital. Belinda has been working with people living with MS for more than 18 years and supports them from the time of diagnosis and helps them to understand the unique complexities and challenges of MS.
Belinda manages a team of MS nurses who provide support to people living with MS and specialist MS Nurse education through preceptorship programs for new MS Nurses and by helping them develop a broader understanding of MS care and clinical trials skills by providing training by observation in their large multidisciplinary clinic.
Belinda works closely with other services, general practice, local community, national and international partners. As part of her role, Belinda is actively engaged in MS research including management of the research program and oversight of clinical trials. Belinda has also been involved in research that explores the delivery and value of MS nurse care in Australia and is a co-author of the MS Nurse Care in Australia Report.
Belinda was the recipient of MS Australia’s 2025 MS Advocacy Award, recognising her more than 18 years of contribution to improving MS care through clinical leadership, education and national advocacy focused on better outcomes for people living with MS
Belinda is the Chair of MS Australia MS Nurses Working Group.
Registered Nurse, MS Specialist
Nurse Consultant- Multiple Sclerosis, Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia
Sharon is a highly experienced clinician, holding qualifications in both nursing and social work, with a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Rehabilitation from Flinders University.
Her career has focused on improving outcomes for people living with multiple sclerosis, including roles as Senior Nurse Educator and Senior Social Worker at the MS Society, and as an MS Nurse Consultant at Flinders Medical Centre, where she helped establish South Australia’s first MS service and one of Australia’s pioneering nurse-led MS clinics.
Sharon is widely recognised for her dedication to education, research, and professional development, having presented at MS Nurses Australasia conferences, served extensively on the MSNA Executive Team, and received Life Membership. She has been honoured with the MS Australia 50 Years President’s Medal for her outstanding contributions to the field.
Sharon is a member of the MS Australia MS Nurses Working Group.
MS Nurse Practitioner
Queensland Health & Administrative Secretary MSNA
Tim was one of the first MS Specialist Nurses and the first MS Nurse Practitioner in Australia. He works as a MS Nurse Practitioner across two Queensland hospitals with his MS nurse-led and patient-focused clinics. Â
Tim provides nursing services to patients from the time of diagnosis and across their life span and has worked with some patients for over 20 years. He works with a range of other clinicians including Neurologists, GPs, nurses and allied health.Â
As a nurse practitioner Tim provides patients with a wide range of services including assessing, planning and treating MS symptoms, prescribing (some) symptomatic therapies and ordering pathology and some radiology. Â
Tim further contributes to the work of MS nurses through support, mentoring and education for other MS nurses and pioneering the development of web-based education for people living with MS.Â
Tim is a member of the MS Australia MS Nurses Working Group.
This resource was developed in partnership with MS Nurses Australasia, the peak body for MS nursing in Australia and New Zealand.
The Back on Track series is based on the PhD research of Dr Therese Burke. MS Australia would like to thank Dr Burke for her work in leading the development of this series including writing the service script. We would also like the thank all the MS Nurse presenters for giving up their time and sharing their expertise.
We would also like to thank the members of the MS Australia Lived Experience Expert Panel who reviewed and provided feedback on the script.
If you any queries about the Back on Track or you would like to ask further questions about the issues raised, please contact MS Australia at advocacy@msaustralia.org.au
MS Australia’s Member Organisations provide a range of supports and services for people living with MS including information and advice, peer support groups, NDIS services, employment services, short and long-term accommodation and aged care services. For more information about services and supports available in your state or territory, visit MS Plus for ACT, NSW, VIC and TAS; MS Queensland for QLD; and MSWA for WA, SA and NT.
The launch of ‘Back on Track’ marks World MS Day 2026, with this year’s global campaign once again focused on the theme ‘My MS Diagnosis: Navigating MS together’. The World MS Day ‘Diagnosis’ theme highlights the importance of timely, supported diagnosis and navigating the critical early stages of life with MS. With one in three Australians living with MS lacking access to specialist MS Nurse care, this innovative new MS Nurse-led video and audio resource is designed to empower and guide people through their unique MS journey.
