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 we want to talk about what it’s like to care for a family member living with MS.

Today’s guests:

• Rebecca Small cares for a family member with MS and sees how it impacts on a daily basis. Working as an Occupational Therapist in particular supporting people with Neurological Conditions including MS, Rebecca understands how MS impacts functional capacity. Rebecca also has significant experience with supporting people with MS to remain at home, complete home modifications and use complex assistive technology alongside advocating for carer support to align with their goals.
• Chloe Colles is a Disability Support Service Manager with a large not-for-profit organisation in Tasmania, where she is leading the expansion of services into new regions with a strong focus on person centred support and sustainable growth. Prior to this, she held an Executive Officer role supporting residents with neurological conditions and brain injuries, where she developed her skills in executive leadership.

Chloe brings professional experience from the National Disability Insurance Scheme, particularly in planning as a Local Area Coordinator. She has managed teams of support workers, overseen NDIS provider registration and auditing requirements, and delivered support coordination services.

Alongside her professional career, Chloe is a carer for her mother, who lives with multiple sclerosis (MS). In this role, she has navigated the NDIS system firsthand — supporting her mother to access the scheme, connecting her with service providers, reviewing her plan, and advocating for her needs.

With a deep passion for disability awareness and a strong commitment to supporting others, Chloe combines her executive leadership experience, professional expertise, and lived experience as a carer to bring a valuable perspective to her role as an MS Australia LEEP member.