Ep85 Celebrating MS Changemakers: The 2026 MS Australia Awards

<p>In this episode of <em>The Raw Nerve</em>, Host Jeremy Henderson, Head of Advocacy for MS Australia, and Co-Host <a href="https://www.msaustralia.org.au/about-us/our-people/board-of-directors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sharlene Brown</a>, Chair of the MS Australia Awards Committee, spotlight the 2026 MS Australia Awards and remarkable people driving change, compassion and progress across the Australian multiple sclerosis (MS) community.</p><p><a href="https://www.msaustralia.org.au/awards#form" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">As nominations open</a> for the 2026 MS Research Award and MS Advocacy Award, Jeremy and Sharlene, who has lived with MS for 24 years, speak with 2025 MS Australia Awards recipients about recognition, why nominations matter, and how the awards highlight quiet achievers whose work uplifts, empowers and inspires people affected by MS.</p><p>Guests include Belinda Bardsley from <a href="https://www.austin.org.au/multiple-sclerosis-related-disorders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Austin Health</a>, 2025 <a href="https://www.msaustralia.org.au/awards/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MS Advocacy Award</a> recipient, who reflects on <a href="https://www.austin.org.au/news/celebrating-excellence-in-ms-advocacy-belinda-bardsley/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">her passion for MS nursing</a>, early education and <a href="https://www.msaustralia.org.au/supports-and-services/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">support</a> after <a href="https://www.msaustralia.org.au/how-is-ms-diagnosed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">diagnosis</a>, the <a href="https://www.msaustralia.org.au/bot" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Back on Track</a> resource, <a href="https://www.msaustralia.org.au/nurses/foundations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Foundations of MS Nursing Course</a> and equitable access to <a href="https://www.msaustralia.org.au/nurses/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MS nurses</a>. <a href="https://discover.utas.edu.au/Bruce.Taylor" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Professor Bruce Taylor</a>, <a href="https://www.msaustralia.org.au/news/tasmanian-neurologist-professor-bruce-taylor-honoured-with-2025-ms-research-award-from-ms-australia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2025 MS Research Award co-recipient</a>, discusses decades of <a href="https://www.msaustralia.org.au/research/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">research into MS</a>, consumers’ growing role in research and the possibility of making MS preventable. <a href="https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/helmut-butzkueven" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Professor Helmut Butzkueven</a>, also a <a href="https://www.msaustralia.org.au/news/ms-australia-honours-melbourne-neurologist-professor-helmut-butzkueven-with-2025-ms-research-award/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2025 MS Research Award co-recipient</a>, shares how data, clinical care and the <a href="https://www.msbase.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MSBase Registry</a> are improving <a href="https://www.msaustralia.org.au/treatments/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">treatment</a> decisions and outcomes for people with MS. Jan Miles, representing <a href="https://www.msaustralia.org.au/news/queensland-family-awarded-ms-australias-highest-honour-for-outstanding-service-to-the-ms-community/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the Miles family and Team Walk for Jess</a>, reflects on receiving the 2025 <a href="https://msaustralia.sharepoint.com/sites/CompanyData/Shared%20Documents/National%20Communications/Podcasts/Podcast%2085_MS%20Australia%20Awards/%E2%80%A2%09https:/www.msaustralia.org.au/news/honouring-a-passionate-ms-advocate-john-studdy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><u>John Studdy</u></a> Award and the family’s grassroots fundraising and awareness in Queensland.</p><p>Together, the conversation