When Vai’uli was just 17 years old he was on the beach at his home island of Niua in the Kingdom of Tonga when he lost feeling in his legs. It took him and his parents three days to reach…
We are excited to share that Martha Schaumkel is on her way to Bangalore, India to study to become the first female Tongan Prosthetist/Orthotist .She follows in the footsteps of her Mother, Salote, who paved the way for female scholars…
On Friday 14th June 2019, Honourable Dr Saia Maú Piukala, Minister for Health & Public Enterprises and Ms Rhona Mcphee Deputy Australian High Commissioner officially opened the rehabilitation department at Vaiola Hospital. The completion of the renovation of the former…
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…
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,…
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…