Assistive Technology Australia

An ICON and its Services - Disappeared

May 4, 2023

After 40 plus years of providing impartial advice to people with disabilities, seniors, carers, allied health professionals and many others;
Assistive Technology Australia is permanently closed due to lack of government funding.
Our website is still available for self-hlep in finding AT products and supplier info.

It is with great privilege and pleasure that we were able to serve and assist the Community.
Thanks to all of you who had supported us, used our services, trusted our delivery.

What happens when governments can’t agree on NDIS funding?

April 23, 2023

Service Disappears...
The Sydney Morning Herald published a new items on 23 April 2023,
the journalist reported the Closing of Assistive Technology Australia,
due to funding disagreement from NSW and Federal governments.
Read the article in Full from SMH

An ICON and its Services - Disappearing

March 24, 2023

Confirming the rumours...
It is with great sadness that after 40 plus years of providing impartial advice to people with disabilities, seniors, carers, allied health professionals and many more others;
AT Australia is to close its services on 14th April 2023.

We have fallen between a gap in government policy and understanding.
1) NSW government who used to fund us, withdrawn its funding because we are an information provider and information provision is a Federal responsibility.
2) Australian government will not fund us because they classify us in advocacy group. Even in late March, Minister Shorten insisted that we were an advocacy agency, not an information provider, hence a state responsibility.

Without the Government funding, we cannot continue our Services.
The outcome: Loss of impartial information and key resources for the community.
Public lose impartial advices from us! People with disabilities and their service providers will be without a key resource.
Additionally sad and unthinkable is the Grant round released last week, to develop and demonstrate home living environments for the purposes of impartial information on how people can live; when we are getting rid of our Smart Display in Blacktown; our home automated, full sized apartment built to the Liveable Housing Design Guidelines, we have it since 2012!

Are governments only interested in passing the buck regardless of the outcome?
Do they understand the empowerment that comes from being able to make a truly informed decision?
Can you Help us? Please Write to:
- (State) to the NSW Disability minister
- (Federal) to Minister Bill Shorten on minister.shorten@dss.gov.au

Robyn Chapman, CEO
AT Australia

Don't DIS my ABILITY

1 November 2010 - 17 December 2010

Did you know that 1 in 5 people in Australia have a disability? That's 1.4 million people in NSW alone.
Take a minute now to reflect on how people with disabilities are included in all aspects of life - political, social, economic and cultural?
What can you do so people with disabilities are fully included in our community?

In NSW, IDPwD (International Day of People with Disability) is celebrated throughout November and December with the Don’t DIS my ABILITY campaign.
For more info, visit dontDISmyABILITY.com.au

Aged Care Nurse Managers Conference

27 - 28 October 2010

Venue: Kardinia Centre, Geelong, Victoria
more info

Dementia + Recreation National Conference 2010

20 - 21 October 2010

A major National Conference for Recreation, Lifestyle, Allied Health, Nursing Professionals & Managers working in residential, community, home or other healthcare settings.
Venue: Sebel Albert Park, Melbourne
more info

NDS QLD Communities of Practice Conference 2010

18 - 19 October 2010

Venue: Brisbane Sofitel Hotel
07 3357 4188
jan.ungerer@nds.org.au

ADDC & ANU International Conference

15 - 17 September 2010

Implementing disability-inclusive development in the Pacific and Asia
- Reviewing progress, planning the future

Venue: Darwin Convention Centre
Enquiries: Christine Walton, ADDC, cwalton@cbm.org.au