• Report from the Top – President Robyn Abrahams and Vice President Heather Pisani – Robyn and Heather both report that the past two months has been a quieter time than usual for the advocacy work normally undertaken by Post Polio Victoria, given that the State is gearing up for an election in November. Nonetheless, the Board has been very busy with the “day to day” activities that keep us challenged.
• Keeping Warm in Winter – People with Post Polio Syndrome can be unusually sensitive to cold. Reducd muscle mass and less activity can mean less heat production in the body. Flyer from Polio Australia entitled Heat and cold intolerance (thermoregulation).
• Vaccination Guidelines for COVID-19
• Shingles for Older People

Please read more here…

• Prestigious Appointment to a National Body – The year has already begun in spectacular style with the appointment of our Vice President, Robyn Abrahams to the Federal Council of Elders!
• Areas that Post Polio Victoria will be addressing in 2026 – various points
• Introduction of Support at Home – As you know My Aged Care was replaced with Support at Home on 1st November 2025.

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What’s in our Spring Edition 2025 Newsletter

• Vice President’s Report – Since the last newsletter much has been happening in the world of ageing and disability. As you may know, from the news, the federal government is making many changes to both NDIS and My Aged Care
• PPV Annual General Meeting – Monday 17th November 2025 online -If you are interested in being a part of this please contact us at this email address: admin@nullpostpoliovictoria.org.au to be placed on the list of attendees. Before the meeting we will send you an email with the necessary Zoom link and timing details.
• Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) Conference – July 2025 -Attended by Robyn Abrahams, Vice President, PPV – Report on my trip to Canberra for the AFDO Australian Federation of Disability Organisations, of which PPV is an affiliate member.
• Meeting with Matt Gregg: Federal Member for Deakin – On Monday September 8^th – it was our very great pleasure to meet with Matt Gregg, Member for Deakin at his offices in Mitcham. We spent a very pleasant 45 minutes with him discussing the historical context of Poliomyelitis in Australia, identifying the “conditioning” of the affected children to “not be lazy” with the resultant observation by a health professional, well acquainted with polio survivors, that they are “driven”.
• PPV Contributes to the Training of Future Orthotic and Prosthetic Clinicians – During August, PPV Board members Robyn Abrahams, Heather Pisani and Jeff. Stewart, along with Polio Australia representative Michael Jackson took part in an online session hosted by Latrobe University involving Second year students studying to become qualified as allied health clinicians in the fields of Orthotics and Prosthetics
• Afternoon Celebration of Peninsula Health’s Values Awards for Staff – It was a very great pleasure to be invited to Peninsula Health’s award ceremony celebrating the staff who have exemplified the values of the health service by their actions. The afternoon allowed for pre- ceremony mingling over sandwiches and coffee and provided an opportunity for discussion about PPV and the role it plays for advocacy in the post-polio and late effects of polio space.

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What’s in our July 2025 Newsletter

• Vice President’s Report – I will be representing PPV in Canberra in a couple of weeks for a meeting at the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) conference, where hopefully it will be possible to catch up with politicians and others involved in Aged Care planning. Also, as part of the older person’s reference group (OPRG) of OPAN I am also meeting with them in early August to advocate for solutions to problems relating to both ageing in general and Polio issues in particular. I am currently working with Monash Uni on dementia research and NARI and AAG with several pieces of work related to ageing all of which I will let you know about when I can share.
• Polio Day 2025 Initial Advice – Planning is underway by Polio Network Victoria to recognise and acknowledge Polio Day 2025 in the form of a gathering on October 22^nd to be held in Bendigo.
• Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) – Residential Aged Care costs and fees webinar

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What’s in our June 2025 Newsletter

• Vice President’s Report – I was waiting to see if I could give you any information on “My Aged Care” and the holding off of the July 1st start, but sadly I do not have any more information than previously. As best as we can understand from government, it is on hold until November with much review on the implementation strategies for providers.
• PPV New Patron – Dr Stephen de Graaff – Is a Past President of the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (Royal Australasian College of Physicians). He is Director of Pain Services and Senior Rehabilitation Physician at Epworth Healthcare. He is a Fellow of the AFRM (RACP) and a Founding Member of the Rehabilitation Society of Australia and New Zealand (RMSANZ).
• Federal Cross Bench – Call for More Aged Care Packages Sooner, Rather than Waiting Until November for Action.

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What’s in our May 2025 Newsletter

• Vice President’s Report – We are a week after the election surprises and changes just around the corner, and only weeks away from the introduction of the new My Aged Care. Where will that take us? It would seem that the role of this is going to be problematic, as much is still poorly understood. I attended the Invox conference recently designed to inform providers of the upcoming changes over two days. The overwhelming feedback was that most involved are largely still not certain. Many things yet to be implemented are still under consideration.
• Letter to Mr Sam Rae MP Aged Care Minister, Rebecca White MP Asst. Minister for Health & Aged Care, Indigenous Health & Women. CC: Mark Buttler MP Minister for Health and Aged Care
• PPV Community Engagement – The Lions Club: Box Hill Branch – On the 15th of March PPV was invited to be the community representative on the judging panel for the Lions Club Youth of the Year regional event. This was a most interesting evening, meeting four very impressive young people with a demonstrated commitment to community service.

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What’s in our March 2025 Newsletter

• Vice President’s Report – Hello everybody, I trust this finds you all safe and well. We at PPV have been busy as usual. As you will be aware, Australia has a looming Federal election. This makes our Advocacy work even more important, and very busy. Talking to politicians is always difficult, but especially so when they are this focussed.
• Polio Australia – Polio Oz News – Volume 15 – 2025
• Aged Care Alert – Things your provider needs to be doing to prepare for Emergency Events
• Safe Transport Victoria – Empower your community to travel safety in taxis and rideshares

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What’s in our February 2025 Newsletter

• Vice President’s Report – Hello to all our readership, I hope this newsletter finds you safe and well. You may be like me, in that you are finding it difficult to believe we have almost completed February 2025. Do you remember Grandparents telling you that as you age life seems to pass more quickly? Well, here is the tip “they were right” AGAIN.
• Post Polio Victoria Represented at the Mooney Valley Council Disability Week Forum – Peter Freckleton and Robyn Abrahams attended. Peter spoke along with other attendees with other disabilities about local issues related to the complexities of the law and disability, and moreover the care and safety needs particularly of the physically disabled.
• Breaking News – New NDIS Minister – NDIS Minister Bill Shorten will step down from his position on Monday 20th, nine days ahead of schedule. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced Amanda Rishworth will take over as NDIS Minister.

Please read more here…

What’s in our December 2024 Newsletter

• President’s Report –Merry Christmas one and all! I was honoured to be voted in as president of PPV, although deeply conscious that I can in no sense emulate the stellar presidency so ably conducted by Shirley.
• Polio Oz News – Volume 14 – 2024
• Health and Aged Care Update

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What’s in our November 2024 Newsletter

• Last chance to register for the Annual General Meeting, 26 November 2024, 7.00pm (AEDT), register before by 5pm, 26 November 2024 (AEDT)
• Our own Robyn Abraham and Susan Shaab attended the Four days Ageing Gracefully conference in Hobart – 12th – 15th November 2024
• International Day of People with Disability 2024, Sunday, 01 December 2024, 2.00 to 4.00pm, Village Cinemas, Airport West, 8 Louis St, Airport West

Please read more here…

What’s in our October 2024 Newsletter

• President’s Report – October is traditionally Polio Awareness Month. This year, I was honoured to introduce the annual ‘paws for polio walk’, a significant event that brought our community together to raise awareness. The event, organised by the Rotary Passport Club of Melbourne and joined by Mayor Fiona Stilwell from Bayside Council, was a testament to our collective commitment to the cause.
• Call for Expressions of Interest for Possible PPV Board Membership – With the next Post Polio Victoria (PPV) Annual General Meeting due to be held on November 26th the PPV Board invites expressions of Interest from PPV members for possible membership of the Board for 2025 going forward. As we approach the end of the 2024 calendar year there are Two vacant positions.

Please read more here…

What’s in our September 2024 Newsletter

• President’s report – It has been a busy couple of months. In early August, speaking engagements were carried out with two lovely groups: the Probus Group of Mt Waverley and the Salvation Army in Glen Waverley. Robyn and I were honoured to meet with Nick McGowan, a Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly representing the North-Eastern Metropolitan area
• Polio Australia – Awareness October 2024
• Paws for Polio Walk – 06 October 2024 – 10.00am — 12.30pm
• Polio Day – 23 October 2024 – 10.00am to 3.00pm

Please read more here…

What is in our August 2024 newsletter

• ‘Nothing inventive about it’: Polio survivor’s idea to fix station access – Our own polio survivor, Jeff Stewart knows how difficult it can be to get from one platform to another at the Ballarat Train Station
• Polio Day 2024 – 23 October 2024 – 10am to 3pm – Seaview, 71 Morris Street, Williamstown 3016
• Case Study of Obtaining Orthotic Devices Through Home Care Package Funding – This description of difficulties experienced by a Polio Survivor when seeking to obtain funding through a Home Care Package for a Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis (KAFO) is provided by an Orthotist at a Melbourne Orthotics and Prosthetics practice.

Please read more here…

What’s in our July 2024 Newsletter

• President’s Message -Since our last newsletter, Robyn and I have attended the ARIIA (Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia) Conference. This year’s theme was “Living Well, Ageing Well, Dying Well.” The conference lasted two full days and featured speakers covering various topics.
• Sister Kenny Polio Timeline Exhibit Unveiling – Queensland – Opening 16th August at 2.00 pm – Polio Australia would like to inform you about the upcoming opening of the Sister Kenny Timeline Exhibit at the Sr Kenny Museum. The hosts and museum curators Tricia and Tony Wallen would be delighted to have members of the post-polio community attend this special occasion. Please share this event information with your network.

• Maggie Beer’s aged care crusade hits the screen -THE inspirational Maggie Beer’s crusade to improve the food and nutrition in Australia’s aged care sector hits TV screens this month with Maggie Beer’s Big Mission – a three-part series premiering on Tuesday 9 July on ABC TV.

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