Pacific Mobility Device Services project

Three Ni-Vanuatu men are assembling a wheelchair, on top of a blue, wooden table.

Vanuatu Wheelchair provision in Santo

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…

Two men lean over a table, reading an assembly manual. Both of them are pointing to the page. Next to them on the table are parts of a wheelchair and some tools.

Fiji: Wheelchair service training

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…

An older man sits in his wheelchair, and is leaning over to the side to look at the brakes. A technician is crouching down next to his wheelchair and talking to him about how to use the brakes. The photo is taken from behind, outside in front of a blue garden wall with trees.

Basic level wheelchair training in Vanuatu

“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,…

Diabetic Foot Clinic nurse talking to UniSA's Podiatry lecturer.

Kiribati in country visit

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…

A male participant of the training adjusts a wheelchair, while a female participant checks off a list of changes that need to be made.

Mentoring local personnel to provide appropriate wheelchairs

Intermediate level wheelchair service training builds the capacity of personnel to provide wheelchairs and supportive seating for children and adults who need additional postural support. A recent children’s wheelchair clinic in Vanuatu aimed to extend the skills, knowledge and confidence…

Sanma Province: Planning for expansion in Vanuatu

Motivation Australia (MA) has been working closely with the Vanuatu Society for People with Disabilities (VSPD), the Vanuatu Ministry of Health (MoH), and the Ministry of Justice and Community Services (MOJCS) to strengthen mobility device services (MDS) in Vanuatu through…

PNG re-launch of partnership

Motivation Australia’s team has just returned from Port Moresby after the first Pacific Mobility Device Service (MDS) Project visit to PNG partners the National Orthotics and Prosthetics Service (NOPS). Motivation Australia has had a long history of partnership with NOPS,…

Wheelchair training in The Solomon Islands

From 26th January – 14th February 2017 Ray Mines and Lauren Flaherty were in Honiara (The Solomon Islands) delivering the Intermediate level, WHO Wheelchair Service Training (WSTP-I) for fourteen trainees from three countries. The young girl pictured above was one of 16 people (8…