September 30, 2025 • 6 mins
Renee Capps lives with MS and worked at the MS Society. In this Highlight, Renee speaks with Peter Greco about the implications of the MS Society SA & NT going into voluntary administration and the important role they played after Renee’s diagnosis.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:13):
Some disappointing news, I'm sure. Distressing news for many, as
we found out that Mr. Sant went into voluntary administration
when they had spent some time working at the society
some time ago and is also a client. Rene, great
to catch up with you again and thank you for
your time.
S2 (00:27):
Thanks for having me, Peter.
S1 (00:29):
This would be a shock and would be quite a
distressing time. Often not knowing is worse than knowing the
bad news.
S2 (00:34):
That's right. Yes, I was very shocked when I received
an email from the Ms.. Society the day it went
into administration advising that that had happened. It was a
bit of a shock, and certainly my heart goes out
to all the clients and staff working there. I know
it can be a really hard thing to go through.
S1 (00:50):
There are some 70 staff at the stage when it
went into voluntary administration, and from nine different locations.
S2 (00:56):
The society was also had an employment arm, multiple solutions,
as I understand. They've both gone into administration. And so
there was a lot of staff employed through the employment
agency as well.
S1 (01:06):
So at this stage, I think it's kind of, you know,
we'll see what happens. I think it's kind of situation
normal with the administrators being appointed. And I guess they're
exploring all options to see what might happen as far
as the future goes. So how do you kind of
feel from it, both from a former employees point of
view and also, as you say, a client?
S2 (01:23):
Yeah, I just feel really disappointed. I'm happy to share
how I was supported by the Ms. society after I
was diagnosed with Ms. in 2008, and why those services
are really vital to the South Australian community. So after
I was diagnosed, I had quite a rough diagnosis in
the medical system here, with a very inexperienced registrar giving
(01:46):
the diagnosis that had no bedside manner and no information
to share. And it was a really scary, tough time
for me. And what I remember is the Ms. society
reaching out and getting me in for an information session,
and just how lovely and helpful and supportive the nurses
were in those early days when it was just so
scary for me and like talking me through the medication,
(02:08):
how to give myself injections, checking in on me all
the time and that support at that, like really vulnerable
time in my life. Like I certainly wasn't getting it
from the medical system, but I did get it from
the Ms. society, so it makes me really sad to
think people won't get that support.
S1 (02:22):
And I guess you've got the situation where those people
that were giving you support have done it with others,
so they kind of know how it all works. You're
a medical practitioner in a sense. It doesn't matter how
good you are, but if you're kind of a little
bit removed from it. Yeah, I guess the the attention,
if you like, is a little bit different.
S2 (02:37):
That's right. And of course, the other services they provided there,
like they had peer support networks, occupational therapy and physiotherapy
and those staff were experts in those fields. Like they
know the condition in and out. So they can really
tailor their approach rather as going now to other service
providers that maybe don't have that in-depth knowledge of multiple sclerosis.
It'll just make it a lot harder for the clients.
S1 (02:58):
Yes. That was one of the things that was talked about.
That might be something that might follow, is that the
services you might get sort of hived out to other organisations.
But as you say, that expertise in that field is
probably not going to be there.
S2 (03:11):
No. That's right. I mean, hopefully that obviously will be
support available, but I just don't think it will be
that really targeted support that the society could provide.
S1 (03:19):
What about the peer support. Because often, you know, when
something happens to us, we kind of think we're the
only one in the world that this is happening to. And,
you know, we feel very alone and lonely. What was
that peer support like.
S2 (03:31):
At my time when I was working there as well,
there were a lot of active peer support groups. I
believe they're all still running, and they had a staff
member employed to run those peer support groups. And she
was wonderful. And it was a lot of work for her.
But for people to have those connections with other people
going through similar experiences was just really vital. And I
think there are some online groups, so I hope they
(03:51):
can keep up and running. But it's really disappointing because
when you're going through things like this, it really does
help to have speak to someone else who's been through
a similar thing to you. You know, you can share
advice and have a cry with each other. Yeah, it's
a vital service.
S1 (04:07):
This is a very powerful, aren't they? You're kind of
living proof of it, that there is a life after
being diagnosed. I mean, it might be different, but there's
still a life and you can still make a lot
of it. And that would be a very powerful thing
and a reassuring thing for someone who's early going through diagnosis.
S2 (04:21):
I've had a really a really good journey. Like I've
have had some medications that I don't know if they've
changed the course of it, but I have no disability.
I'm living well with M.S. and yeah, that is something
that's important to share to other people that might be
going through a similar thing. It doesn't mean drastic change
to your life at all. It can just be something
you incorporate and live well with, like I have been.
S1 (04:41):
And even things like you just, you know, sort of
are being kept abreast of a different, uh, breakthroughs in
the area of medical science and that sort of thing.
If you're kind of in the system, you're probably more
likely to find out or, you know, maybe a different
regime of what you eat or, you know, when you
drink and that sort of thing, that all those sort
of things can probably help as well.
S2 (05:00):
Yeah. That's right. And, you know, get monthly newsletters from
the Ms. society and always look out for new medications
or new advice. And it's really important to watch out
for those things.
S1 (05:10):
That's the Ms. Society of Saint Anne of course often
people in country areas and and this is talk about
the Northern Territory. They can feel virtually and geographically isolated too,
can't they. So again, that being able to to reach
out to somebody is so important.
S2 (05:24):
Yeah. That's right. And I think that's why the peer
support is especially important for those regional and remote groups
who perhaps don't have a large support network to rely on.
S1 (05:33):
Yeah. So I guess we can only sort of keep
our fingers crossed and hope that we'll see the services
continue in some form, and whether there's a white knight
or whether the administrators can find a way to kind
of get through this and, you know, resume normal transmission,
if I could put it that way in the near
or medium future might be the thing that we can
all hope for.
S2 (05:53):
Yeah, we can only hope, Peter. But yeah, that that
would be the ideal state if something did come on
and enabled them to keep going.
S1 (05:59):
All right. Well, we did approach the society for a comment.
They understandably said no, not at this stage. We want
to work through all the possible solutions. So we'll give
them obviously that courtesy and hopefully in the future we
might be able to get people back to talk about
some of the changes that take place and maybe some
of the benefits that come from this. If that's at
all possible, Renee, you take care. Thanks so much for
(06:20):
speaking to us. You certainly sound in fine form.
S2 (06:22):
Thanks, Peter, and yeah, thanks for having me on again.
It was really good to chat.
S1 (06:25):
Yeah, that's the Renee Katz there who spent some time
working at MSD and also as a client. So great
to join us.
Some disappointing news, I'm sure. Distressing news for many, as
we found out that Mr. Sant went into voluntary administration
when they had spent some time working at the society
some time ago and is also a client. Rene, great
to catch up with you again and thank you for
your time.
S2 (00:27):
Thanks for having me, Peter.
S1 (00:29):
This would be a shock and would be quite a
distressing time. Often not knowing is worse than knowing the
bad news.
S2 (00:34):
That's right. Yes, I was very shocked when I received
an email from the Ms.. Society the day it went
into administration advising that that had happened. It was a
bit of a shock, and certainly my heart goes out
to all the clients and staff working there. I know
it can be a really hard thing to go through.
S1 (00:50):
There are some 70 staff at the stage when it
went into voluntary administration, and from nine different locations.
S2 (00:56):
The society was also had an employment arm, multiple solutions,
as I understand. They've both gone into administration. And so
there was a lot of staff employed through the employment
agency as well.
S1 (01:06):
So at this stage, I think it's kind of, you know,
we'll see what happens. I think it's kind of situation
normal with the administrators being appointed. And I guess they're
exploring all options to see what might happen as far
as the future goes. So how do you kind of
feel from it, both from a former employees point of
view and also, as you say, a client?
S2 (01:23):
Yeah, I just feel really disappointed. I'm happy to share
how I was supported by the Ms. society after I
was diagnosed with Ms. in 2008, and why those services
are really vital to the South Australian community. So after
I was diagnosed, I had quite a rough diagnosis in
the medical system here, with a very inexperienced registrar giving
(01:46):
the diagnosis that had no bedside manner and no information
to share. And it was a really scary, tough time
for me. And what I remember is the Ms. society
reaching out and getting me in for an information session,
and just how lovely and helpful and supportive the nurses
were in those early days when it was just so
scary for me and like talking me through the medication,
(02:08):
how to give myself injections, checking in on me all
the time and that support at that, like really vulnerable
time in my life. Like I certainly wasn't getting it
from the medical system, but I did get it from
the Ms. society, so it makes me really sad to
think people won't get that support.
S1 (02:22):
And I guess you've got the situation where those people
that were giving you support have done it with others,
so they kind of know how it all works. You're
a medical practitioner in a sense. It doesn't matter how
good you are, but if you're kind of a little
bit removed from it. Yeah, I guess the the attention,
if you like, is a little bit different.
S2 (02:37):
That's right. And of course, the other services they provided there,
like they had peer support networks, occupational therapy and physiotherapy
and those staff were experts in those fields. Like they
know the condition in and out. So they can really
tailor their approach rather as going now to other service
providers that maybe don't have that in-depth knowledge of multiple sclerosis.
It'll just make it a lot harder for the clients.
S1 (02:58):
Yes. That was one of the things that was talked about.
That might be something that might follow, is that the
services you might get sort of hived out to other organisations.
But as you say, that expertise in that field is
probably not going to be there.
S2 (03:11):
No. That's right. I mean, hopefully that obviously will be
support available, but I just don't think it will be
that really targeted support that the society could provide.
S1 (03:19):
What about the peer support. Because often, you know, when
something happens to us, we kind of think we're the
only one in the world that this is happening to. And,
you know, we feel very alone and lonely. What was
that peer support like.
S2 (03:31):
At my time when I was working there as well,
there were a lot of active peer support groups. I
believe they're all still running, and they had a staff
member employed to run those peer support groups. And she
was wonderful. And it was a lot of work for her.
But for people to have those connections with other people
going through similar experiences was just really vital. And I
think there are some online groups, so I hope they
(03:51):
can keep up and running. But it's really disappointing because
when you're going through things like this, it really does
help to have speak to someone else who's been through
a similar thing to you. You know, you can share
advice and have a cry with each other. Yeah, it's
a vital service.
S1 (04:07):
This is a very powerful, aren't they? You're kind of
living proof of it, that there is a life after
being diagnosed. I mean, it might be different, but there's
still a life and you can still make a lot
of it. And that would be a very powerful thing
and a reassuring thing for someone who's early going through diagnosis.
S2 (04:21):
I've had a really a really good journey. Like I've
have had some medications that I don't know if they've
changed the course of it, but I have no disability.
I'm living well with M.S. and yeah, that is something
that's important to share to other people that might be
going through a similar thing. It doesn't mean drastic change
to your life at all. It can just be something
you incorporate and live well with, like I have been.
S1 (04:41):
And even things like you just, you know, sort of
are being kept abreast of a different, uh, breakthroughs in
the area of medical science and that sort of thing.
If you're kind of in the system, you're probably more
likely to find out or, you know, maybe a different
regime of what you eat or, you know, when you
drink and that sort of thing, that all those sort
of things can probably help as well.
S2 (05:00):
Yeah. That's right. And, you know, get monthly newsletters from
the Ms. society and always look out for new medications
or new advice. And it's really important to watch out
for those things.
S1 (05:10):
That's the Ms. Society of Saint Anne of course often
people in country areas and and this is talk about
the Northern Territory. They can feel virtually and geographically isolated too,
can't they. So again, that being able to to reach
out to somebody is so important.
S2 (05:24):
Yeah. That's right. And I think that's why the peer
support is especially important for those regional and remote groups
who perhaps don't have a large support network to rely on.
S1 (05:33):
Yeah. So I guess we can only sort of keep
our fingers crossed and hope that we'll see the services
continue in some form, and whether there's a white knight
or whether the administrators can find a way to kind
of get through this and, you know, resume normal transmission,
if I could put it that way in the near
or medium future might be the thing that we can
all hope for.
S2 (05:53):
Yeah, we can only hope, Peter. But yeah, that that
would be the ideal state if something did come on
and enabled them to keep going.
S1 (05:59):
All right. Well, we did approach the society for a comment.
They understandably said no, not at this stage. We want
to work through all the possible solutions. So we'll give
them obviously that courtesy and hopefully in the future we
might be able to get people back to talk about
some of the changes that take place and maybe some
of the benefits that come from this. If that's at
all possible, Renee, you take care. Thanks so much for
(06:20):
speaking to us. You certainly sound in fine form.
S2 (06:22):
Thanks, Peter, and yeah, thanks for having me on again.
It was really good to chat.
S1 (06:25):
Yeah, that's the Renee Katz there who spent some time
working at MSD and also as a client. So great
to join us.
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