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Motivation Australia programmes
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Motivation Australia is a not for profit disability and development organisation that works in partnership with local organisations to enhance the quality of life of people with mobility disabilities in the Asia Pacific region.
At the end of 2012, Motivation Australia received a grant from FaHCSIA's Practical Design Fund to work with Yolngu communities in East Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory of Australia. 
Motivation Australia recently completed a training and support visit to our partners in Papua New Guinea. One of the key activities of the visit was training; 19 local staff members successfully completed Basic Wheelchair Service Training. Trainees learned how to provide appropriate wheelchairs for adults and children who need a wheelchair for mobility, but do not need additional support to sit upright.
Basic level wheelchair training was held in the Kingdom of Tonga in November for participants from Tongatapu and the Outer Island Groups of Ha'apai and Vava'u. The training was made up of a clinical training section - incorporating the WHO Wheelchair Service Training (basic level) course material; and a technical training section, which focused on the skills needed to assemble, adjust, maintain and repair wheelchairs.
Motivation Australia staff were shocked to hear this week that the building of our partner in Kiribati Tungaru Rehabilitation Service (TRS) had burnt to the ground. Fortunately no one was injured, but all tools, machinery and mobility products were lost.
In July, Motivation Australia's Ray Mines and consultants Huy Nguyen and Kaori Oka (ISPO Australia Outreach) carried out a feasibility study investigating the provision of Mobility Devices (wheelchairs, supportive seating and Prosthetics and Orthotics) in Vanuatu. Adding a wheelchair user's and a Prosthetist Orthotist's perspective to Motivation's study team was very useful. 
Motivation Australia was pleased to work with the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE) on their first WHO Wheelchair Service Provision (basic) training course.
Last month saw Motivation Australia complete a mentoring and support visit to work with the team at ASSERT in Dili, East Timor. Last year ASSERT participated in piloting the World Health Organisation's intermediate level Wheelchair Service Provision training course. Since then, ASSERT have been working with children and adults who need additional support to sit upright in their wheelchair.
Motivation Australia was recently contracted to work with MacDonnell Shire Aged Care Service to provide training to increase the local Community Support Workers' (CSWs) capacity to provide effective support for people with a mobility disability living in their community.
Motivaton Australia and the National Disablity Council of Samoa (NOLA) recently carried out a feasibility study in Samoa - to explore the existing wheelchair and prosthetic services currently available in Samoa.
For two weeks in November Motivation Australia's Lauren Houpapa (Occupational Therapist) and Ray Mines (Wheelchair & Seating Designer) worked with national staff of the Solomons Islands CBR (Community Based Rehabilitation) unit in Honiara to trial the new Wheelchairs For Kids wheelchairs.
Late last year, the building of our partner in Kiribati - the Tungaru Rehabilitation Service (TRS) had burnt to the ground. Since that time, Motivation Australia has been working closely with TRS to offer what assistance we can. TRS have moved their service to a temporary location; and requested assistance to re-stock their tools, equipment and materials to enable them to continue proving a low tech orthotics service; basic and intermediate wheelchair provision; and their physiotherapy programme. Motivation Australia secured funds through the Church of the Latter Day Saints, Rotary and private donors - to purchase hand and power tools, materials for wheelchair modifications, prosthetic repair and orthotics fabrication. The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics have helped considerably in sourcing this equipment, and procuring donations in kind from Australian suppliers. Together - we have been able to help TRS on the slow path to recovery.
Motivation Australia recently worked with the Mango Tree Rehabilitation Centre in Tonga to mentor staff through a seating clinic; providing wheelchairs for children with more complex needs. The focus of the clinic was to further develop the knowledge and skills of a technician, and an Australian volunteer physiotherapist working at the Mango Tree.
On Monday 3rd December the federal government announced the successful recipients of FaHCSIA's Practical Design Fund. We are pleased to announce that Motivation Australia have been successful and will receive a grant to carry out a project in East Arnhem Land in partnership with ARDS (Aboriginal Resource Development Service) and local groups. This is the beginning of an exploration for Motivation Australia and our partners into what the NDIS will mean for Indigenous Australians with disabilities.
June saw Fiji National University (FNU) school of physiotherapy students and lecturers participate in Fiji's first WHO Wheelchair Service Provision (basic) training course. The WHO training package focuses on developing the skills and knowledge of personnel involved in wheelchair service provision for adults and children who have a mobility disability - but can sit upright without additional postural support.
The WHO has just launched the WHO Wheelchair Service Training Package (basic level). This training package is the first in a series that is focused on developing the skills and knowledge of personnel involved in wheelchair services around the world. Motivation Australia is closely involved in the development of the training with CEO Kylie Mines coordinating the working group. She is also the Co-Editor of the package along with Chapal Khasnabis from the Disability and Rehabilitation team at WHO.
Motivation Australia was pleased to be involved in a Motivation project in Haiti, in conjunction with Handicap International and Healing Hands for Haiti.
Australia recently carried out a feasibility study in Tonga, following an invitation from 
Motivation Australia and the National Community Based Rehabilitation Unit held the first Peer Group Training (PGT) residential course in the Solomon Islands in June this year.
