BRINGING TOGETHER PRACTICE, EVIDENCE AND
CAMPAIGNING TO INFLUENCE SYSTEMIC CHANGE:
LEARNINGS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY EQUITY STUDY
Workshop hosted by AAG Technology Special Interest Group (AAG TECHSIG)
Tuesday 22 November
1.30pm to 3.30pm
Adelaide Convention Centre
$50.00 per person
ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP
Older Australians who need assistive technology face significant barriers to accessing this support. The Assistive Technology for All campaign, supported by more than 60 organisations spanning the health, ageing and disability sectors, is addressing this issue. Influencing policy change is not an easy process though, and it often requires an evidence-based approach.
That’s where the Australian Assistive Technology Equity Study comes in, using applied research methods including policy analysis and economic evaluation to establish the first ever national benchmarking of AT for Australia. Come along to this session to find out more about this Australian first research, and the unique approach taken by the Occupational Therapist, Health Economist and policy change agent who led this work.
KEY REASONS TO ATTEND
- Gain a better understanding of the assistive technology and home modifications landscape as it applies to older Australians
- Learn how professionals from a range of disciplines can collaborate to influence systemic change
- Learn more about the role economic modelling and research can play in influencing systemic change
- Learn how to connect the dots between research and advocacy , and how the Australian Assistive Technology Equity Study will be used to support the call for improved access to assistive technology for older Australians into the future.
This workshop encourages people who want to join the dots between practice, policy and resourcing.
PRESENTERS
Dr Natasha Layton
Occupational Therapist, RAIL Research Centre
Dr Layton is an occupational therapist, senior research fellow with RAIL Research Centre, and industry adjunct with Swinburne University. She works locally and nationally in Australia with a range of consumer groups, government and the non-profit sector.
Natasha consults globally to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Co-Operation on AT Initiative, and represents Australian Standards as the Australian expert to ISO TC173/Sc2/WG12 Assistive Products. She is a founding member of the Global Alliance of Assistive Technology Organisations (GAATO) on behalf of Australia’s peak body for AT,ARATA..
Assoc Prof Elizabeth Callaway
Occupational Therapist, RAIL Research Centre
Libby Callaway is a registered occupational therapist and Associate Professor who works as a research stream lead across the Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre and Occupational Therapy Departments in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. Through her role at Monash, Libby leads a national collaborative research program focused on housing, technology, and workforce design, which is funded by State and Federal government and co-produced with people with lived experience of disability and age-related conditions. Libby also holds government advisory roles in the areas of housing, disability and allied health. She has worked for the past 28 years in the field of neurological disability in Australia and the USA and – in addition to her academic position at Monash – she is the director and principal of Neuroskills, a community based occupational therapy practice, a Board Director of The Homer Hack and the President of the Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (ARATA), which is the national peak body for assistive technology stakeholders.