Handouts A.6 Appropriate wheelchair A.7 Cushions A.8 Transfers B.1 Referral and appointment B.2 Assessment B.4 Physical assessment B.6 Funding and ordering B.7 Product (wheelchair) preparation B.11 User training B.12 Maintenance and repairs B.13 Follow up MA Handouts MA.0 Introduction MA.1…
The township of Kompiam is located in the beautiful, extremely remote PNG highlands. Due to the high costs associated to get there, including flights for staff and boat transport for equipment (you cannot drive due to the dense jungle), NOPS…
Daniel and Lauren were in Suva, Fiji for part one of the Training of Trainers (ToT) course from the 25th to 29th of November. The ToT course assembles participants from Fiji (4 participants), the Solomon Islands (2) and Vanuatu (3)…
Charlie is a musician from Ngalitatai in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Motivation Australia was really pleased to visit him at home, at the end of 2018. As a teenager, Charlie had an accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury and…
Two long standing members of Motivation Australia, Wendy and Daryl Teague met fourteen year old Jack whilst visiting Kompiam last month. Jack had received a spinal cord injury after a tree fell on him. After his accident he had been provided…
In May, Motivation Australia’s Katrina McGrath spent some time in Papua New Guinea with the National Orthotic Prosthetic Services (NOPS). During this in country visit Katrina followed up on a number of project activities and provided mentoring and continuing professional…
Motivation Australia is grateful to have the support of many knowledgeable and experienced volunteers from a range of disciplines and countries. Recently one of our amazing volunteers, Debbie Wilson from Seating to Go, New Zealand traveled to Solomon Islands to…
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…
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…
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…
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…
“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…
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…