2021 grant recipients
Dr Natasha Layton (Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University)
Other investigators: Dr Natasha Brusco (RAIL Research Centre, SPAHC), Ms Lauren Henley (COTA Victoria), Ms Pip Veerman (Peninsula Health), Ms Kate McDavitt (Monash Health)
Project title: Assistive technology expenditure in Australia: an equity benchmarking study
Funding awarded: $15,000
Publications / outcomes:
This research provides the first-ever sector-wide data regarding assistive technology (AT) and home modifications (HM) expenditure in Australia. It delivers a strong evidence-base to support the call for a national program to support people with disability who are not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). RAIL Research Centre co-designed this policy-relevant research with AT/HM user groups across Australia. Dr Natasha Layton conducted an equity benchmarking study of AT/HM expenditure by Australian governments. Dr Natasha Brusco utilized this data to establish and cost a single national AT/HM program to support people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS. These studies identified a complex landscape of 88 different government funders running 109 schemes providing HM/AT support in 2021. Australians experience inequitable scheme access with a fifty-fold difference in funding provision within the National Disability Insurance Scheme ($2,500/year), compared to My Aged Care ($51/year).
Outcomes include strong national advocacy around this issue coordinated through the Assistive Technology for All (ATFA) campaign. This campaign is now supported by more than 60 organisations spanning the health, ageing and disability sectors nationally. Several invited meetings with the Commonwealth Department of Health as well as Department of Social Services were held to discuss the findings, and Dr Natasha Layton was invited to attend a series of co-design sessions run by Department of Health regarding aged care assistive technology and home modifications policy redesign in August, 2022. Results have been presented at several national conferences (Australian Association of Gerontology, and the Australian Assistive Technology Conference), in November 2022.
Layton N & Brusco N. (2022). The Australian assistive technology equity studies: Improving access to assistive technology for people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS. Monash University; COTA Victoria. https://doi.org/10.26180/21113887
Layton N, Brusco N, Callaway L, Henley L, Wang RH. (2023) It is time for nationally equitable access to assistive technology and home modifications in Australia: An equity benchmarking study. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 20, 1-20, doi.org/10.1002/ajs4.290
Dr Susie Cartledge (School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine)
Other Investigators: Professor Andrea Driscoll (Adjunt Professor, SPHPM, DEPM, Monash University School of Nursing & Midwifery, Faulty of Health, Deakin University), Associate Professor Dion Stub (Acute & Critical Care, SPHPH, DEPM, Monash University), Dr Christina Ekegren (RAIL, School of Primary and Allied Health, Monash University), Dr Li Li (Dept of Software Systems and Cyber Security)
Project title: CONNECT-CR: Improving continuity of care and uptake of rehabilitation for cardiac patients and families
Funding awarded: $14,554
Publications / outcomes:
Through RAIL seed funding, Dr Cartledge and her team have developed an initial co-designed website prototype named HeartPath. Pilot data from this RAIL seed grant was used to inform a MRFF Consumer Led Research grant application which was awarded to Dr Cartledge and colleagues from Monash University, Deakin University, the University of Sydney, the Australian Centre for Heart Health, and consumer co-investigators Mr Cyril Hennequin and Ms Kerry Bratby. Project title: 'HeartPath+: Targeting self-efficacy and health literacy through patient education to prevent recurrent heart events in Australians with heart disease' (Total funding awarded: $598,391 over three years).