APRIL 2015 NEWSLINK Spire is a service division of AQA Victoria Ltd Spire: the new look to our peer facilitated services 10 Accessible Melbourne – free eBook Regional Networks Program Buchan Caves Stairclimber INFORMATION 06 REGIONAL NETWORKS 14 TRAVEL 15 AQA Victoria Ltd ABN 90 006 691 185 / CONTENTS Address 440 Heidelberg Road INFORMATION Fairfield Victoria 3078 T 03 9489 0777 4 What’s Out There Day (WOT) T 1800 999 128 4 Electric Wheelchair Sport season F 03 9482 4371 E [email protected] 4 University of Queensland School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences W aqavic.org.au 6 Accessible Melbourne – free eBook Postal Address PO Box 219 7 Darebin Council unveils new access and mobility maps Fairfield Victoria 3078 7 Wings for Life World Run Board of Directors Can-Do Musos Chairperson 8 Colin Daws 9 City Access Permit Treasurer Greg Schinck 17 A busy year ahead for Foundation 97 Company Secretary Penny Callaghan VALE Director Andrew Millar, Pamela Simmons & Geoff Craig Steve Mollison 4 Director Amy Cato SPIRE Director 10 Spire - Spinal Injury Resource & Support Network Michelle O’Sullivan Director David Schreuder BLOG Director 12 The Hoist Shane Brand REGIONAL NETWORKS NewsLink is the official newsletter of AQA Victoria Ltd (AQA), and is published bimonthly. NewsLink 14 Regional Networks Program seeks to publish material of interest to people with spinal cord injury and their families, other people with disabilities and those with a personal HEALTH or professional interest in the issues of life with spinal cord injury. 15 Health, fitness & mindset with Curtis NewsLink welcomes content from a wide range of sources, particularly from those with lived experience. Please feel free to send in your TRAVEL contribution. Articles will be published at the discretion of 16 Buchan Caves Stairclimber and wheelchair design improving access the Editor who also has the right to edit all submissions as it sees fit. The opinions expressed in Spire NewsLink are not necessarily those of AQA Victoria Ltd (AQA). Information in Spire NewsLink is furnished solely REGULAR FEATUres as a guide to the existence and availability of / goods or services. AQA makes no representation about the content and suitability of this information for any purpose. To the extent JOKES PAGE permitted by law, AQA makes no guarantees or warranties, express or implied, as to the currency, 18 Various Jokes accuracy, quality, completeness, availability or usefulness of data, information, products or processes contained in Spire NewsLink. AQA CLASSIFIEDS excludes liability for any loss or damages caused by reliance on the information contained in, or 19 Various items for sale and items for free produced by, Spire NewsLink. Any materials contained in Spire NewsLink cannot be reproduced, adapted or modified without permission from the editor. Donations towards production costs are greatly appreciated. Copyright © Spire. All rights reserved. Volume 29: Number 01 / April 2015 2 APRIL 2015 FroM THE CEO \ Welcome to NewsLink. This a real community, that when first issue in 2015 also represents mobilised are of immeasurable the first of a number of benefit and support to people opportunities for AQA to introduce with spinal cord injury. you to Spire – our Spinal Injury Spire reflects our focus on Life Resource and Support Network. with SCI where Life is far more Many of you will have known than the SCI. our Information & Peer Support Service. This valued service has Spire is an expression of developed over the last few years, our strategic priorities of progressing our thinking about Community, Leadership, Service peer facilitated supports to the & Sustainability. It is an invitation point where from 2015 they will to build community partnerships operate as Spire. around each of these priorities as they relate to life with SCI. Peter Trethewey In this issue we introduce not Chief Executive Officer It’s about connecting, networking, only the Spire name but also [email protected] share the colour scheme and supporting and partnering with style of Spire. our community and as such is the latest expression of a 28 year Unlike a reveal type launch where history of endeavour involving we throw a switch on a new every AQA volunteer, mentor, brand, and it’s out with the old supporter and friend who has and in with the new, Spire has made a contribution to people been developed as a vehicle to with spinal cord injury. energise and promote what has always been important to AQA – We look forward to a program of that there are resources in our activities across the year that will community, be they people’s lived give us the chance to introduce experience, talent, expertise and Spire and further energise and wisdom or the mix of common promote what has always been interests and the diversity of important to AQA. On page 12 in The Hoist, Dagwood newly aquired stairclimber and HIGHLIGHTS Johnson provides an entertaining motorised all-terrain wheelchair On page 6 in Accessible Melbourne blog into the world of portable hoists at Buchan Caves Reserve. Visitors – free eBook, Accessible Travel Over the last few years, AQA has with significant mobility limitations Manager Martin Heng tells us been working towards developing can now enjoy one of Victoria’s about Lonely Planet’s recently support networks for people living most scenic attractions thanks to released accessibility guide. The with SCI in regional Victoria and Parks Victoria. comprehensive guide includes the Tasmania. This year, we are excited Finally, below are this year’s most relevant, up-to-date advice for to officially launch our Regional contribution deadlines for the travellers with special needs. Networks Program, as part of the upcoming editions of NewsLink: This year for the first time Spire launch year. Please turn to st Melbourne will participate in the page 14 for further information. June 1 June 2015 unique international Wings for On page 16 in Buchan Caves August 1st August 2015 Life World Run event. For further Stairclimber and world-first October 1st October 2015 information on date, time and how wheelchair design improving st to register please turn to page 7. access, you can read about the December 1 December 2015 APRIL 2015 3 INFORMATION What’s Out There Day Electric Wheelchair (WOT) Sport season The ‘What’s Out There’ day (WOT) aims to give The Victorian Electric Wheelchair Sports season people who have sustained a Spinal Cord Injury is now in progress. insight into the possibilities of life after injury. It’s Run by the Victorian Electric Wheelchair Sports proven to be a very successful way of opening the Association (VEWSA), the season consists of four eyes and motivating those with a new or recent sports - Hockey, Balloon Soccer, Rugby League and SCI. The event is popular with current and former Powerchair Football. The program is specifically patients, their family and friends, and staff from designed for electric wheelchair users. other organisations interested in life after SCI. VEWSA aims to provide a social but competitive WOT days are held every few months (April, August, experience for all players. December) at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Unit in Kew and involve a panel, group discussions, The program is a great way to make new friends, delicious BBQ lunch and a number of exhibits build confidence, improve leadership skills and most showcasing things like adaptive equipment, sports, importantly, have fun. It is open to all ages and all accommodation, vehicles and more. genders. Beginners are welcome! The aim is to motivate and empower all those When: Sundays fortnightly. attending with an interest in all things Spinal Cord Where: Aquahub, 11 Civic Square, Croydon. Injury. Time: 1pm - 4pm. If you are interested in attending one of these days, VEWSA is run entirely by volunteers and attracts let us know so we can put you on the mailing list. players from all over Melbourne, including some When: April 15, between 11am to 4pm regional areas. If you use an electric wheelchair and Where: Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Unit love sports, please contact Grace David to find out how you can join in the fun: Phone: 03 9489 0777 Phone: 0458 014 443 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] RSVP: April 13, 2015 for catering purposes UNIversITY OF QUEENSLAND VALE SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND It is with great sadness we advise the passing REHABILITATION SCIENCES of three AQA members: IS YOUR MOBILE SHOWER COMMODE USABLE?! Andrew Millar • If you are over 18 years old, have a spinal cord • Pamela Simmons injury and use a mobile shower commode for • Geoff Craig showering and/ or toileting, we need your help! Geoff Craig, a former Director and Secretary We are conducting a study to assess the of AQA from 1990 to 1997 made a valuable usability of mobile shower commodes. The contribution to the organisation during that study involves completing two surveys on period. In later years he moved interstate but SurveyMonkey. The first survey is available here: continued his membership with AQA. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/eMASTstudy. We would like to convey our sincere sympathy to For more information, please contact Emma the families and friends of these people. Friesen at [email protected]. 4 APRIL 2015 INFORMATION SpinalHub is a community website for people with spinal cord injury in Victoria and throughout Australia. SpinalHub covers a wide range of subjects related to spinal cord injury including: • What is a Spinal Cord Injury?; • How to Keep Healthy; • Support, Equipment & Funding; • Work & Leisure; • Transport & Travel; • plus much more. The SpinalHub website can be found online at www.spinalhub.com.au and by registering free members can comment on articles, upload images and receive access to the forum. SpinalHub TV is a collection of ‘how to’ online videos that feature people from the spinal cord injury community in Victoria.