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.
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.
April 2025 Newsletter
- Vice President’s Report – In advocacy terms. We are busy speaking to politicians endlessly and trying to get our message across at a particularly important time given the election in a few weeks. If you have any contacts or any ability to speak to your politicians, please do so as this is especially important. This is another big chance to get a message across to our politicians of the plight of the disabled aged. You will find some contact details to send your feedback to in this newsletter.
- 70th Anniversary of the First Polio Vaccine – 12 April 2025 marked the 70th Anniversary of the announcement and licensing of the first Polio vaccine as researched by Jonas Salk.
- Polio Network Victoria – Polio Perspectives – Autumn 2025
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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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.
June 2024 Newsletter
- President’s Message – Robyn & I had the privilege of attending the National Summit on Neurological Conditions at Parliament House Canberra, a significant event organised by the Neurological Alliance Australia (NAA). This summit was a crucial platform for us to stay informed and involved in the advocacy efforts for neurological conditions.
- Polio Survivor and Paralympian, Brian McNicholl’s OAM, Early Polio Story -Brian’s life has been full of competition and energy, despite the need to overcome his early Polio experience. This is his story and a description by his Mother of the early Polio years
- Passing of Donald Sutherland – Donald McNichol Sutherland was born on 17 July 1935, in Saint John, New Brunswick and passed away 20 June 2024 . As a child, Sutherland suffered from multiple diseases, including hepatitis, rheumatic fever and polio.
May 2024 Newsletter
- Minister Bill Shorten is presenting his intent to change the NDIS Act, which is debated in the Upper and Lower House this week. Whatever the outcome, it will greatly impact all polio survivors, our state Government, and My Aged Care. More troubles = more advocacy.
- Global Accessibility Awareness Day – Was on Thursday, May 16, 2024, marked the 13th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), and it doesn’t need to end there. Please join us to continue to spread awareness. The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access/inclusion and people with different disabilities.
- How to reduce your income tax with donations. You can claim a tax deduction for donations of $2 or more, as long as these donations are made to an organisation that has been endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as a deductible gift recipient (DGR). Post Polio VIC, is a registered charity, sub-type Health and Wellbeing, and has DGR status so your donation will be tax deductible.
April 2024 Newsletter
- Friendly Reminder to book your flu vaccination – Some people are more at risk of complications from the flu and are eligible for the free flu vaccine. You can get a flu vaccine from your GP, local council immunisation service, or local pharmacist immuniser.
- Given mother’s day is soon, following are some Committee members polio stories from their mothers. Susan Shaab – Polio rehabilitation from a Northcote barber’s shop.
- My Son…Jeff Stewart 1952… Polio by Joan Stewart. A toddler 1 year, 11 months, fit and healthy, full of mischief to a toddler with a limp. My son was diagnosed with polio.
March 2024 Newsletter
🙀 Oh my goodness, we did a leap and missed February and went straight in to March. Darn Leap Years 🙄
- On Tuesday 21st February, Robyn & Shirley were warmly welcomed by the President, Keith Yates and the wonderful members of the Blackburn Lions Club.
- On Friday 23rd February, Shirley and Robyn were invited by the Greensborough Salvation Army after seeing an article in the Seniors Magazine about our award-winning documentary “Lives Well Lived”.
January 2024 Newsletter
Happy New Year 🥳 And what a year it will be.
- First cab off the rank is continuing with our Strategic Plan
- New Aged Care Draft is here with responses to be made by 10am Monday 05 Feb 2024
December 2023 Newsletter
- Our short film ‘LIVES WELL LIVED Broadcast on SBS
- 📣 HOT OFF THE PRESS 📣 NDIS Review Independent Review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme – OCTOBER 2023 A guide for people with disability and their families 2023
November 2023 Newsletter
- Winner of Focus on Ability Short Film Festival 2023
- Disabiltiy Discrimination complaint against the NDIS ban taken to the United Nations
October 2023 Newsletter
- October 2023 is Polio Awareness Month
- Royal Commission – A brief guide to the Final Report into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability
September 2023 Newsletter
In this issue:
- Focus on Ability Short Film Festival ‘LIVES WELL LIVED’ Well Received!
- Community Rally – Sunday 17 September 2023 ‘Accessible Tram Stops Now’
- Medical and Allied Health Clinics – Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th October, 2023
August 2023 Newsletter
In this issue:
- Under 1 week until voting begins for our short film ‘LIVES WELL LIVED’ Focus on Ability Short Film Festival
- Recognition at last: People ageing with Post-Polio Syndrome
- Congress: Make Air Travel Accessible
July 2023 Newsletter
In this issue:
- We have successfully been chosen to be an entrant for Focus on Ability Short Film Festival!
- Celebrating National NAIDOC Week
- Your Aged Care Update
- Accessible Walks, Victoria
June 2023 Newsletter
In this issue:
- Out and about – Meeting with Minister Michael Sukkar MP Federal Member of Deakin
- Thanking Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) for launching an Australian first policy paper on inclusive services and communities for ageing Polio Survivors.
- Late effects of Polio Petra Quinlan-Turner
Board Member of Post Polio Victoria