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Collaborating with WHO on training package |
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Friday, 21 May 2010 11:49 |
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It is well documented that people with a disability are amongst the poorest of the poor - a situation which is compounded by the absence of appropriate wheelchairs. An appropriate wheelchair offers the disabled user greater health; increases survival rates; and provides greater opportunities for access and inclusion in community and economic life. Access to appropriate wheelchairs and the local staff trained to provide them are the two main challenges for wheelchair provision in countries with less resources.
Motivation Australia is proud to be collaborating with the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the development of a global training package aimed at teaching local staff the skills they need to provide wheelchairs.
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Island perspective: wheelchair provision in Kiribati |
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Monday, 29 March 2010 11:11 |
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 You are never far from the Pacific Ocean in Kiribati (pronounced Kiribas). In places the capital, South Tarawa, is only as wide as the road you're standing on (which also happens to be the only road).
Kiribati is a Micronesian nation consisting of 32 coral atolls and one island, spread over an enormous area of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Kiribati is listed as one of the Least Developed Countries by the UN. It's a fragile environment; unable to sustain much diversity of food (which leads to widespread diabetes) and extremely low lying making it one of the first nations likely to disappear when sea levels rise due to climate change.
Communication and transport are both problematic and can cause significant delays. It's also a particularly difficult environment in which to be a wheelchair user; rough and sandy ground, no accessible buildings, salt water corrosion and torrential downpours.
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National Leadership Workshop for Aboriginal People with a Disability |
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Monday, 10 August 2009 12:43 |
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Motivation Australia was delighted to participate in the recent National Leadership Workshop for Aboriginal People with a Disability, hosted by the Aboriginal Disability Network in Sydney. The Workshop provided an opportunity to hear first hand some of the challenges Aboriginal People and Torres Straight Islanders with a disability face in accessing culturally relevant services.
The workshop also highlighted the strengths of existing aboriginal disability networks and looked at positive strategies for improving services. Motivation Australia looks forward to building a partnership with the Aboriginal Disability Network, and is exploring ways in which we can offer support to assist in improving wheelchair mobility solutions. |
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Solomon Islands: Access to Mobility |
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Friday, 21 May 2010 11:38 |
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 The Solomon Islands are situated North East of Australia and made up of nearly 1,000 islands spread across thousands of kilometres of Ocean. The UN ranks the Solomon Islands on its list of Least Developed Nations. There are approximately 5,000 people who need a wheelchair in the Solomon Islands, most living in rural areas with limited access to roads. The remoteness and isolation of each island community makes the establishment of rehabilitation services for people with a disability very challenging.
In 2009 Motivation Australia established a pilot wheelchair service in the capital Honiara. In 2010 Motivation Australia will continue our successful partnership with the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Unit of the National Rehabilitation Hospital to extend wheelchair services to five provinces. Our partners would also like to increase the focus on gender equity and explore the reasons why more men have been able to access the pilot service than women.
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Building Capacity in Thailand |
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Friday, 26 March 2010 11:16 |
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Motivati on Australia and the Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation Centre (SNMRC) are working together to enhance wheelchair provision in Thailand.
In September 2009 and February 2010, Motivation Australia ran short courses in wheelchair provision for clinical and technial staff at SNMRC. The first course focused on providing staff with skills in wheelchair assessment, prescription, assembly, fitting and providing wheelchair users with instruction in wheelchair mobility and general health care. The second course took the staff skills further, enabling them to address the needs of children and adults who require supportive seating.
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Wednesday, 11 March 2009 00:00 |
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 Motivation Australia is working in partnership with the Ministry of Health Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Unit to initiate a programme to improve wheelchair provision in the Solomon Islands.
In February 2009 Motivation provided training to CBR Unit staff, equipping them with the clinical and technical skills needed to safely and effectively provide wheelchairs. Through the training eight wheelchair users received a wheelchair fitted for them, and training in how to use and maintain their wheelchair.
The CBR Unit is continuing to provide wheelchairs to wheelchair users living in the Honiara region, with remote support from Motivation Australia. The programme is part funded by the Planet Wheeler Foundation. Motivation has provided 45 wheelchairs to start the programme, and are seeking funding support to secure more wheelchairs. A support visit is scheduled for December 2009.
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