The Health Economic impact of Multiple Sclerosis in 2021 report revealed a significant increase in the number of people living with MS in Australia over the last four years. 

An increase in the number of Australians living with MS corresponds with an increase in the total costs for people with MS in Australia, with total costs for all people increasing from $1.751 billion in 2017 to $2.449 billion in 2021. 

The Final Reports of both the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Review and the Disability Royal Commission made a range of recommendations to reform the NDIS and broader disability sector. Funding these reforms is crucial to ensure people living with disability have access to the supports and services they need.  

MS Australia’s submission provides funding options that will improve the lives of people living with MS and reduce the economic impact of MS on the Australian health, disability, social services and aged care systems, including: 

• Research: Funding for a National MS Biobank and the establishment of a Neurological Mission within the Medical Research Future Fund  
• Data: Funding for the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to identify the current neurological data gaps and opportunities  
• MS Nurses: Funding to increase access to MS nurses by employing an additional sixty-five MS nurses across Australia and a MS nurses pilot project in Tasmania  
• Disability: Increased funding for: 

• • Implementing the recommendations of the NDIS review including NDIS assessment and planning processes and early intervention pathways 
  • Upskilling, recruiting, training and maintaining a National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) workforce  
  • Improved living supports including more specialist disability accommodation 
  • Foundational disability supports for those not receiving a NDIS package 
  • A single, nationally consistent assistive technology program 
  • An immediate increase in the rates of the Disability Support Pension, New Start Allowance and JobSeeker Payments 
  • Implementing the recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission. 

• Aged Care: Funding to support the implementation of Recommendation 72 of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety to ensure the aged care system meets the needs of people living with disability