The ATSA Expo in Melbourne is shaping up to be the biggest disability event in town, all set to go on May 18-19. For the first time in over a year, visitors will have the opportunity to personally see the latest in new products and services, attend expert speaker sessions, information-packed workshops and more.
Among the presentations on the first day is: Assistive Technology In Australia: An Update from ARATA that will cover a range of topics in the area of assistive technology (AT).
The presentation will draw on ARATA’s recent government submissions and webinars and discuss the following:
- The NDIS Independent Assessment pilot and considerations in the AT area
- AT standards and regulations and their relevance for both AT users and advisors
- AT assessment, capability building and outcome frameworks
- Hot AT topics from ARATA Board and member perspectives.
The presentation will be of interest to AT users, as well as AT advisors, suppliers, developers, researchers and educators.
In addition to this session, ARATA president Associate Professor, Libby Callaway and International Lead, Dr Natasha Layton will join a panel hosted by Occupational Therapy Australia at the Expo on May 19, titled: OTs Exploring Assistive Technology – Assessment, Prescription, Process and Funding.
Among the occupational therapist speaker line-up is Jayden Dunn from National 360. His presentation, Navigating the NDIS Assistive Technology Process is tailored primarily for new allied health professionals as well as therapists working with assistive technology and the NDIS.
“The introduction of the NDIS has resulted in significant changes to the role of community-based allied health professionals and the way in which they assess and prescribe AT,” Dunn told F2L. “This is often a complex process as the OT navigates their client’s needs against the NDIS’ reasonable and necessary criteria, classification of equipment, risk management and plan management types.” The session will explore how National 360 have navigated this process using case examples and a panel discussion with the audience. “The aim of this session is to discuss barriers and facilitators to successful AT prescription and explore the NDIS guidelines which impact this,” he said.
And which town in Australia is known as ‘scooter heaven’? Find out at the Electric Wheelchairs and Mobility Scooters in the Wild presentation by Dr Theresa Harada, from the University of Wollongong who will discuss initial findings from an on-going MMD university project.
MMDs will also be a topic of discussion by Dr Marilyn Di Stefano from Road Safety Victoria who will speak about safety issues in Motorised Mobility Device use: Interventions to enhance user safety, explaining a new ‘healthy framework’ approach on the use of these devices.
If sport is your thing then you should ‘sit-in’ to hear about how wheelchair sports can super-charge your independence thanks to sports grants and NDIS funding. Wayne McNamara from Invacare will have all the tips you need to get you on your way in his presentation: The Physical, Social and Psychosocial benefit of playing wheelchair sport.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration is now front of mind for many following Covid. Rachel Croome and Rebecca Bateson from TGA will deliver an overview of the updated medical devices framework that started earlier this year in their presentation: Changes to the regulation of assistive technology.
For all program details go to:
https://www.atsaindependentlivingexpo.com.au/program-2021-melbourne/
The expo will be held at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Register Now for free entry to the show and seminar programs, free parking and a free coffee voucher.
For more information Phone Interpoint Events on:1300 789 845 or visit: infor@interpoint.com.au or www.atsaindependentlivingexpo.com.au
ATSA Melbourne will be followed by ATSA Perth at the Claremont Showground on May 26-27.