Awards
Our awards from 2020;
Best Podium, Best Poster, Best Newcomer Presenter
and The Louise Kurczycki award for Best overall Presentation. (OCMSN award ceased in 2020)
Louise Kurczycki Overall Best Presentation
Louise was a passionate and talented Nurse Consultant and MS researcher whose pioneering work in tackling continence in people with MS created lasting change in the way bladder dysfunction is managed in MS.
Louise was an excellent clinician and well respected in both MS and Continence nursing specialities. Louise’s clinical skills and knowledge benefited many people individually living with MS as she empowered them to manage bladder dysfunction through her sensitivity, compassion and understanding. Louise’s commitment to continuous improvement and better understanding though research lead to the development of a screening tool that could be used in everyday clinical practice for the early identification and treatment of continence symptoms.
Louise was a truly inspirational speaker and used her remarkable presentation skills to teach and empower. Combining her wonderful humour, capacity for story sharing and a deep knowledge, Louise taught many and created a legacy that has endured in MS nurses globally.
Sadly, Louise passed away in late 2014, too early at 52 from advanced Breast Cancer. This award acknowledges the transformation in clinical practice Louise enabled through powerful capacity for exceptional presentations
2023 – The Auckland Maternity Project (Fiona D’Young, NZ)
2022 – The impact of COVID 19 on clinical trials (Melanie McMurtrie, VIC)
2020 / 2021 – Online Conference / AGM Only
2019 – Changing language to acknowledging patients perception of “Treatment” in MS Care (Tim O’Maley, QLD)
2018 – Nelson’s Unicorns- A very “unfairy’ story- A case study of patients with MOG-ab NMO (Stephanie Rout, NZ)
2017 – It started with a phone call- A case study of Persistent genital arousal disorder (Imogen Milner, NZ)
2016 – Alemtuzumab: Lessons from Social Media (Louise Rath, VIC)
2015 – MS Co-design project: a patient centred co-design project focusing on methods of communication between patients and care providers with the aim of increasing patient self-reports of suspected MS relapses. (Fiona d’Young, NZ)
Best Presentation Podium
2023 – Joint Winners – The Auckland Maternity Project (Fiona D’Young, NZ) & When 2 Worlds Collide – Violence in the Workplace (Karen Thomas, NSW)
2022 – The impact of COVID 19 on clinical trials (Melanie McMurtrie, Vic)
2020 / 2021 – Online Conference / AGM Only
2019 – Changing language to acknowledging patients perception of “Treatment” in MS Care (Tim O’Maley, QLD)
2018 – Nelson’s Unicorns- A very “unfairy’ story- A case study of patients with MOG-ab NMO (Stephanie Rout, NZ)
2017 – It started with a phone call- A case study of Persistent genital arousal disorder (Imogen Milner, NZ)
2016 – What is a ASHCT? (Edith Cinc, VIC)
2015 – MS Co-design project: a patient centred co-design project focusing on methods of communication between patients and care providers with the aim of increasing patient self-reports of suspected MS relapses. (Fiona d’Young, NZ)
Best Presentation Poster
2023 – Ocrevus Pre-Infusion Accelerate Clinic: A QI Initiative (Sharon Barlow, Karalyn Ernst, Anne Green, SA)
2022 – Long term use of Ocrelizumab: maintaining benefit, minimizing risk (Sharon Edwards, QLD)
2020 / 2021 – Online Conference / AGM Only
2019 – Burnout (Jane Kabanoff, NSW)
2018 – “I am woman hear me roar”- The link between under representation of women with MS and cervical screening (Sandra Connolly, WA)
2017 – MS – Bad to the bone. PWMS developing Osteoporosis (Rosie Hunt, WA)
2016 – Alemtuzumab: Lessons form Social Media (Louise Rath VIC)
Best Newcomer Presenter / Research and Innovation Prize
2023 – Taking Care of Carers: MS Plus Strategy (Bridie Phillips, Vic). Awareness Study Update (Renae Gamble, Vic)
2022 – Increasing access to education and support for people with MS in rural and regional locations: Interim report on a mixed method study and pilot program (Karina Dodd, NSW) – Additionally Karina was awarded the inaugural Research and Innovation Trophy
2019 – Live attenuated vaccines and DMT’s (Jess Deacon NZ)
2018 – Not awarded
Outstanding Contribution to
Multiple Sclerosis Nursing (2011-2019)
2019 Louise Rath (VIC)
Louise’s key focus of patient engagement, patient experience and development of health literacy documents ensures that MS patients in her service have the opportunity to ask questions, receive feedback and communicate with primary health care including GP’s. Patient experience in an acute MS service is now recognised as an equal pillar of care. Louise’s investment into ensuring the policies, guidelines and relationships built in the service are patient focused is the basis of this nomination.
2018 No Nominations
2017 Tim O’Maley (QLD)
2016 Imogen Milner (NZ)
Imogen initiated national Teleconferencing to support cohesion and promote dialogue within the small group of geographically challenged NZ MS Nurses. She also instigated a successful, well attended, Inaugural NZ MS Nurses meeting in Wellington in July 2016 where she shared information and learning with colleagues through a well prepared and researched presentation. Imogen managed to create an accessible MS nursing service, responsive to the needs of people with MS and their families as well as other MS Nurses and health professionals,
2015 Denise Menzies (WA)
Dee was passionate and committed to empowering people with MS through knowledge of their symptoms and connections to others. Dee developed multiple education tools for people living in rural communities, established nurse led clinics in these communities, and set up peer support programs. Dee was a strong advocate for vulnerable communities and people with MS, and ensured their voices were heard and they were empowered to maintain good quality of life while living with MS
2014 Jodi Haartsen (VIC)
Jodi’s passionate leadership and innovation in MS care facilitated the development of a patient centred service in Melbourne. This included after hours service for infusion treatments, nurse led clinics and integration of continence nursing and specialist psychology services in MS clinics. Jodi’s achievements in MS research in everyday clinical practice and ensuring MS nursing was integral to clinically embedded research through her work with MS Base on the MS Base Scientific leadership group and driving the MS medication safety registry study are a lasting legacy.
2013 Sharon Barlow (SA)
Sharon was instrumental in the development of an MS Nurse led clinic at the Flinders Hospital in Adelaide and secondly, the expansion of the MS service to be more inclusive of patients who needed their specialist help, but who had difficulty in accessing the clinic. Sharon was instrumental in revising policies and protocols to reflect this inclusivity, as well as improving education processes for patients and families and advocating for MS patients across the hospital and community system. Sharon developed strong ties with the MS Society staff and promoted holistic care across the disease trajectory in the hospital service
2012 Louise Hatter (WA)
Lou Hatter demonstrated dedication and commitment to her role, providing relevant accurate, timely information and supports for people affected by MS. Lou’s achievements towards this award include service as the MSNA WA State Delegate, co-writing the curriculum the MS Certificate of Nursing through SCGH, taking a lead role in the development of patient resources including nutritional guidelines for people with MS. Lou was instrumental in setting up in WA nurse led clinics and nurse led telehealth ensuring remote PwMS had access to care and support.
2011 Therese Burke (NSW)