In February Motivation Australia’s Katrina McGrath spent some time in the Solomon Islands where she worked with the Prosthetic and Orthotic graduates recently returned from Mobility India and Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) personnel. Katrina spent time with Lower Limb Prosthetist…
Name: Anasavaia Liku Age: 30 Current role: Community Rehabilitation Assistant and Mobility Device Service Clinician Anasavaia (Ana) is a mother of three young children (aged 3, 4 and 6) and has received training through MA’s programmes in Fiji. Ana shared…
Celebrating the Conference Theme: ‘Pacific Leaders creating Sustainable Services’, delegates from nine countries in the Pacific region, inclusive of those who use, provide and manage services worked together to share ideas, discuss and learn about how to build inclusive rehabilitation…
In December last year, Motivation Australia’s Consultant Podiatrist Nalini Natesan, delivered two days of training on diabetic foot screening and wound care to community nurses. She returned to Tonga in March, with volunteer podiatrist Emma Winter and Motivation Australia’s Prosthetist…
Jedediah is a happy, active 2-year-old boy. We were welcomed into his family home just outside of Suva, Fiji by his father, Vilsoni, and grandparents from both his mother and fathers’ sides. It is obvious he has a strong and…
Name: Jope Liloma Age: 32 Current role: Wheelchair Technician at Frank Hilton Organisation in Suva, Fiji. Jope is one of four brothers and after not finding his way with university became a volunteer ‘Community Aid’ through the Ministry of Health…
The MA team were recently in Tonga to continue work on the Rehabilitation and Mobility project. So many exciting things have happened in Tonga over the last month! Tonga now has its first ever lower limb prosthestist and lower limb…
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…