In December, 2018 Motivation Australia consultant podiatrist Nalini Natesan together with Selini Soakai, head of Non-Communicable Disease nurses, delivered two days of training on diabetic foot screening and wound care to community nurses in Tonga. As part of the Tonga…
“Living in Tonga is a fantastic learning opportunity for me.” We recently caught up with MA’s Programme Manager, Ray Mines about what it’s like living and working in Tonga to make our current project happen. He shares the benefits and…
John Bule is a physiotherapist at Northern Provincial Hospital in Santo, Vanuatu. He trained at Fiji National University from 2013 – 2016, before returning to Vanuatu to work at Vila Central Hospital in Port Vila. John reports he was interested…
Motivation Australia, together with the Latter day Saint Charities (LDSC) have recently delivered wheelchair refresher training in three countries throughout the Pacific from September to November. Motivation Australia’s Katrina McGrath joined Chris Christensen a technical trainer from LDSC to co-deliver…
Last week Motivation Australia’s (MA) Claire Ibell spent time on the island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu, providing support to our partners at the Northern Provincial Hospital as part of the Pacific Mobility Device Services (MDS) project. Northern Provincial Hospital…
Life for people with disabilities in the Solomon Islands wouldn’t be the same without Elsie Taloafiri. A trained physiotherapist, Elsie is the Coordinator of the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Unit and Acting Director of the Rehabilitation Division. Motivation Australia’s Service…
Prosthetic, orthotic and wheelchair technician Tebakaro Aata has worked at the Tungaru Rehabilitation Services (TRS) in Kiribati for over 10 years. Tebakaro was working as a seaman in 2001 when he was involved in a motor accident that resulted in…
Motivation Australia is leading on a feasibility study to explore options for improving procurement of assistive products in the Pacific Region. Partnering with the Pacific Disability Forum and the Nossal Institute for Global Health, we will be speaking with stakeholders…
Mobility device service (MDS) providers in Vanuatu recently completed a one-day ‘Walking Aid Training Package’ with the support of Motivation Australia. John Bule, physiotherapist at Northern Provincial Hospital, and Claire Ibell, Motivation Australia Project Officer, jointly delivered the training to…
In August, Motivation Australia personnel Lee Brentnall and Ray Mines, along with Siosaia Vakasiuola and John (Sione) Po’uliva’ati(Tonga Ministry of Health physiotherapists) worked together to better understand the current situation for physical rehabilitation in Tonga. This included meeting with nurses,…
It’s amazing how quickly four years goes by. Motivation Australia is thrilled to have recently completed the Samoa Integrated Mobility Device Service (SIMDES) project which started in 2014. It seems like yesterday that the Samoan National Health Service, Nuanua o…
For over 20 years the National Orthotic and Prosthetic Service (NOPS) has improved the function and mobility of many clients through the provision of orthotic, prosthetic, wheelchair and walking aid services to clients with mobility disabilities. With the on-going risk…
Motivation Australia and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance recently collaborated to deliver an intermediate level, wheelchair training course for 20 Fijian, Ni-Vanuatu and I-Kiribati personnel in Suva, Fiji. Intermediate level wheelchair services provide wheelchairs with extra support for children and adults…
We met Ellen during the recent basic wheelchair service training where she was being fitted for a new wheelchair. At 39 years of age, Ellen is not new to the wheelchair prescription process. Unable to walk since being admitted to…
Diabetes and its complications are a large and ever-growing burden within the Pacific Islands. Polynesia and Micronesia have the world’s highest age-standardised diabetes prevalence rate of over 25%, with Melanesia not far behind at 15%¹. With this high prevalence of…
“I think I’ve learned so much during this two weeks of training, I strongly believe that it will help VSPD to improve our services” Motivation Australia recently facilitated a ten-day Wheelchair Service Training Package – basic level (WSTPb) in Vanuatu,…
Motivation Australia (MA) personnel have been involved in supporting wheelchair service provision in the Solomon Islands for many years. Last month MA trainers were pleased to return and continue to build on the capacity of personnel from the Rehabilitation Division…
Need for services Tonga’s civil society organisations, people with disabilities and disabling health conditions have expressed their need for improved rehabilitation services and appropriate mobility devices (including prosthetic and orthotic devices). The Ministry of Health recognise this demand and have…
Motivation Australia’s recent work in Kiribati has been across two projects; the Pacific Mobility Device Service (MDS) Project, and the Kiribati Amputation Prevention (KAP) Project. In February, Katrina McGrath was able to visit partners in Kiribati for: The final KAP…
