The Raw Nerve

In this special episode of The Raw Nerve marking  International Men’s Health Week 2026  (known in Australia as  Men’s Health Week ), host Jeremy Henderson speaks with Bruce Frost and Andrew Holt from Narooma and Pambula respectively, on the stunning far south coast of New South Wales, about friendship, community, the great outdoors and living with MS. Diagnosed on the same day in 2001, Bruce and A...

Join us for a special episode of the Raw Nerve Podcast as we celebrate the launch of an innovative MS Nurse-led resource designed to support Australians living with  multiple sclerosis (MS)  amid MS specialist nurse care shortages. MS Specialist Nurses or MS Nurses  are an integral part of the multidisciplinary team of specialist healthcare professionals providing support, education, advice, and c...

In this special episode of  The Raw Nerve , we speak with Jen Willis after her historic Mount Everest summit. As the first Australian living with MS to reach the top of the world, Jen speaks candidly about the mental and physical demands of the climb, the support network that helped make it possible, and how living with MS shaped the resilience and perspective she brought to the mountain. Useful l...

MS Australia Deputy CEO Dr Julia Morahan speaks with leading clinician  researchers  and MS experts  Professor Helmut Butzkueven  and  Associate Professor Anneke van der Walt  about the updated 2025 McDonald Diagnostic Criteria for multiple sclerosis (MS). The revised guidelines aim to diagnose MS earlier and more accurately, helping people access treatment sooner and improve long-term outcomes. T...

The episode transcript is unavailable at this time. Today’s episode spotlights the essential topic of continence, examining its effect on quality of life, including for people living with  multiple sclerosis (MS) . We feature an engaging conversation with  Continence Health Australia  and a powerful personal account from a  Lived Experience Expert Panel (LEEP)  member and share practical tips and ...

The May 50K  is fast approaching and today we explore its impact on  MS (multiple sclerosis) research , and how participants support important research advancements. Since launching in 2019, this fun and flexible fitness challenge for individuals and workplace teams has raised more than $25.5 million to support world-class research into the prevention, treatment and cure of  MS . Each May, thousan...

On today’s Raw Nerve, we present part two of an interview with Stephen Crawford, a Canberra-based artist and musician who lives with  multiple sclerosis  (MS). In part one, Stephen shared with us his uniquely individual story – starting with his childhood in Scotland and moving to Australia in the 1980s – and many fascinating anecdotes, with his signature dark humour, resilience, and positivity. S...

On today’s Raw Nerve, we present part one of an interview with Stephen Crawford, a Canberra-based artist and musician who lives with  multiple sclerosis  (MS). Stephen shares with us his uniquely individual story – starting with his childhood in Scotland and moving to Australia in the 1980s – and many fascinating anecdotes, with his signature dark humour, resilience, and positivity. Stephen create...

Join us for a special episode of the Raw Nerve Podcast as we celebrate excellence in MS Australia research, showcase exciting projects from our most recent MS Research Grant Round, and discuss the need for greater government investment in neurological research. MS Australia has invested millions into funding and facilitating MS research in Australia and around the globe. Outside of government, we...

Today’s Raw Nerve episode explores the major new report:  Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence and Health Economic Impact in Australia 2025 . Released at MS Australia’s  2025 Progress in MS Research Conference , the report reveals that a record 37,756 Australians are now living with multiple sclerosis (MS) – a 13.3% increase in just three years since 2021. The report is the third major publication on the...

Recorded live at MS Australia’s  2025 Progress in MS Research Conference  in Brisbane, Queensland, MS Neurosciences Nurse practitioner  Jodi Haartsen ’s brain health and self-care focused talk left audience members deeply moved and inspired. Moving into a new year and marking the first Raw Nerve Podcast episode for 2026, we are pleased to share Jodi’s brilliant  Community Day  Keynote and her help...

A special episode of the Raw Nerve recorded live at MS Australia’s  2025 Progress in MS Research Conference  in Brisbane, Queensland. Tune in to watch and listen to a wonderful panel of experts variously working in the multiple sclerosis (MS) space and living with MS, discuss  symptom  management and  mental health . MS has many symptoms, which can be variable, unpredictable, and invisible to thos...

Today, we explore the new  consensus recommendations to guide best practice management of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Australia and New Zealand , helping health professionals in these countries navigate a vastly changed and expanded MS treatment landscape. As reported  earlier this year , this new resource aims to help people living with MS and their care teams make informed decisions about treatme...

In this powerful episode, we delve into the new Australian documentary,  ‘ Changing Track ’,  a non-fiction drama that follows three unique athletes on their journey to chase a  Paralympic dream  after trauma and disability forced their lives onto a new course. We are joined by the film's creators:  Tristan Kenyon ,  Director and Writer, and  Timothy Kenyon ,  Director of Photography, Writer,...

In today’s episode, MS Australia Deputy CEO, Dr Julia Morahan and Head of Research, Dr Tennille Luker report on and unpack  ECTRIMS 2025  – the world’s largest MS treatment and research congress. The recent event attracted over 9000 international delegates and serves as a crucial platform for researchers, clinicians and healthcare providers to collaborate on, explore and advance novel life-changin...

On The Raw Nerve today, we spotlight MS carers and the important issues they face, as we mark National Carers Week 2025 . Host Jeremy Henderson is joined by  Lived Experience Expert Panel (LEEP)  members, Rebecca Small and Chloe Colles, who represent the important cohort of  people caring for family members with MS . While no two people experience MS in the same way, everyone needs  support , and...

Today’s episode spotlights  older people living with MS  and the important issues they face, as we mark  International Day of Older Persons 2025  which is celebrated annually on the first of October. We hear from MS Australia  Lived Experience Expert Panel (LEEP)  members, Vanessa Fanning and Gavin Harper, who represent the important cohort of older people living with multiple sclerosis. Internati...

Today on The Raw Nerve we're taking you to Parliament House in Canberra for the  Neurological Alliance Australia  (NAA) Day of Action held on 4 September 2025 with over 100 members of the neurological community and Parliamentarians in attendance. NAA Chair and CEO of MS Australia, Rohan Greenland  presented the government with a Blueprint designed to inform and guide the development of Austral...

Join us for a special episode on women’s health and MS, hosted by Dr Tennille Luker, MS Australia’s Head of Research, exploring diagnosis and lived experience,  mental health ,  work and chronic illness ,  pregnancy ,  midlife ,  menopause  and  MS research . MS is the  most common acquired neurological condition affecting young Australians  and is three times more common in women than men. The re...

MS Australia CEO Rohan Greenland sits down with Dr Lydia Makaroff, Chief Executive of the MS International Federation (MSIF), during her visit to Australia. Lydia shares insights from her first six months leading the MSIF. They explore the global challenges and opportunities in MS advocacy, including the importance of accurate prevalence data, capacity building in low-resource regions, and the pus...

The MS community is brimming with extraordinary people whose remarkable efforts inspire us all. Today on The Raw Nerve, we celebrate some of these outstanding individuals and discuss why and how to nominate someone special for the  2025 MS Australia Awards . We talk with the recipients of our 2024 Awards who have made incredible contributions for and out in the Australian MS community. You will he...

Today on The Raw Nerve we spotlight our newly launched  2025 Incubator Grant round , which supports out-of-the-box ideas aimed at opening new directions in multiple sclerosis (MS) research.  MS Australia has funded four exciting projects targeting MS research priorities – including causes and prevention, better treatments and cures via repair and regeneration of cells. Join us on the Raw Nerve, as...

On this episode of The Raw Nerve we mark  World Brain Day , an annual event observed on July 22, which aims to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide. What is  brain health for people living with MS ? How can you keep your brain healthy? Our brain is the most complex organ in our body, allowing us to sense, feel, think, move and interact with the world around us. The brain helps us to...

A reading revolution, the  MS Readathon  has been empowering kids and bonding families since 1978 and has made a huge impact on awareness raising of and fundraising for multiple sclerosis (MS) and literacy. What is the MS Readathon? How does it work and make a difference? What do kids, their families and teachers think about MS Readathon?  How can people participate ?   In this episode, Raw Nerve...

Together with the broader sector, MS Australia is  extremely disappointed with the recently released 2024-2025 NDIS Pricing Review . What is the Annual NDIS Pricing Review? What were we expecting or hoping for? What has been announced and why are we so concerned? What are the potential implications for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), the wider disability community, our  MS Member Organ...