{"id":97,"date":"2021-04-26T09:25:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-26T09:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/therapyplacements.wp.worc.ac.uk\/?p=97"},"modified":"2021-03-30T11:55:03","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T11:55:03","slug":"developing-a-training-programme-for-assistive-technology-in-rural-papua-new-guinea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/therapyplacements.wp.worc.ac.uk\/index.php\/2021\/04\/26\/developing-a-training-programme-for-assistive-technology-in-rural-papua-new-guinea\/","title":{"rendered":"Developing a Training Programme for mobility equipment in rural Papua New Guinea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Physiotherapy student Anna and Occupational Therapy student Jo joined Australian Occupational Therapy students Kate & Brooklyn from James Cook University in Townsville for this 100% virtual placement in January 2021. Their project was to support the provision of mobility equipment provided to members of a small rural community in Keapara in Papua New Guinea and was supported in Australia by Access Therapy Services.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"2
Jo & Anna working in full PPE during lockdown to prepare the training videos<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
KumulCare<\/a> provided repurposed equipment in the form of crutches, wheelchairs & 4-wheeled walkers to the village of Keapara.  It was the students responsibility during this remote placement to ensure that the equipment would be able to be safely used for its intended purpose.  <\/pre>\n\n\n\n
\"Equipment
Pala Leka and members of the KumalCare team oversee the loading of equipment onto the boat for delivery to Papua New Guinea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The team of 4 students worked together to build the rapport necessary to enable them to provide a service across the huge geographical divide.  They used their knowledge of team working theory to enable them to develop a cohesive team to deliver the project that would enable the equipment to be used safely to empower the people of Keapara. <\/pre>\n\n\n\n
\"Distance
Even from nearly 10,000 miles away students were able to work together to make a difference to peoples lives<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Students researched the physical environment of Keapara, learning that people need to mobilise over sand and climb ladders to access their homes, which are built on stilts.  They then researched the equipment provided and worked to produce videos tutorials to upskill local community workers who would be involved in the distribution of equipment. Videos needed to be clear & easy to understand, as well as short due to internet data access issues in the rural community.  These were supported with written documents which will be shipped to Papua New Guinea to provide an alternative method of communicating the description, purpose, and safe use of each piece of equipement. <\/pre>\n\n\n\n
\"Kaepara
The village of Keapara<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
“I think all of us felt completely daunted at the start, however the relationships that the students built with the community workers in PNG and their extensive research quickly started to come together and helped to shape the intervention. The benefits of flexibility, an open mind, good communication, project management and the ability to problem solve have proved invaluable in this placement and we have all developed our skills in these areas!”<\/em><\/p>Marina, Occupational Therapist (UK) Practice Educator<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\"A
The mobility equipment finally arrived safely in Keapara!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The local community worker supported the students to learn simple phrases in the local dialect which they used to break down barriers in their communications.  Simple greetings on the videos were effective and friendly, and assisted with increasing empowerment of the recipients.  Videos were carefully prepared with short sentences, simple language and slow voiceovers to further assist non-English speakers<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
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