Polio Network Victoria
Informing and supporting polio survivors, carers, families
and health professionals
Comprehensive contact list for support groups, Polio organisations and health professionals
Polio Support Groups Victoria
For all contact details:
Bev Watson: 0407 227 055 kyrama@westnet.com.au
Make it a date
Ballarat meets socially
Bayside first Tuesday Bendigo third Saturday bi monthly
Bairnsdale, Echuca & Eastern Region groups are in recess but local contacts available.
Geelong first Monday Hume second Saturday Knox Yarra Ranges meets socially only
Hume Support Group (Wangaratta area) meets 2nd Sat of the month except January .
Mornington Peninsula: second Saturday of the month, outings third Tuesday (all welcome)
Northern region in recess.
Shepparton quarterly on first Tuesday.
South Eastern Region second Saturday
Traralgon
Contact Elaine Smythe
Warrnambool fourth Tuesday.
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Post Polio Victoria
Ph: 0431 702 137.
PPV was established to advocate for people with Polio so access information and services needed to live actively and independently.
Polio Australia
PO Box 500 Kew East Vic 3102
Suite 605 / Level 6 / Kew Tower / 89 High Street South, Kew Vic 3101
Phone: (03) 9016 7678
Polio Australia is the national peak body representing Australia’s polio survivors. PA is committed to standardising polio information and service provision across Australia so that all polio survivors have access to appropriate health care to best manage their chronic condition.
Also a wide range of Fact Sheets for polio survivors here:
THERE are around 80 Facebook pages on that social media platform. Among the most useful are those sharing information or asking for help. Responses can come from 'lived experts' or medical experts such as Dr Richard Bruno.
Bruno, a research and clinical psychophysiologist trained at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, began studying PPS and treating polio survivors in 1982, when he was a fellow in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. In 1984, Bruno organized and is chairperson of the International Post-Polio Task Force, which promotes PPS research, education and treatment in 25 countries. Dr Bruno moderates the Post-Polio Coffee House with a firm hand. among other pages are:
Polio Australia
Post Polio Victoria
Post Polio Universal
Polio SA
Polio News
Post Polio Syndrome
Polio Survivors Ireland
Be careful of the source of any information shared on these pages.
Polio Services Victoria (PSV)
9231 3900
St Vincent's Hospital, ground floor, Bolte Wing, Fitzroy, 3065. Team of allied health professionals offers: access to a rehabilitation consultant (referral required); specialist assessment; referral to & collaboration with mainstream health providers to develop client service plans; information & education service to health providers, clients who had polio, & the wider community.
PSV online: www.psv.svhm.org.au
Independence Australia
1300 704 456
Not-for-profit organisation supporting people with a disability or other physical needs, providing services and products to regain and extend independence including attendant care, psychology, respite and accommodation services. This includes personal care, domestic assistance and overnight care.
Mobility Aids Australia offers electric scooters, lift chairs, wheelchairs, walkers, electric beds, bathroom and toilet aids and much more. 1/820 Princes Hwy, Springvale Ph: 9546 7700
My Aged Care
Australian Government website and phone line on what aged care services may be available. Telephone 1800 200 422.
NDIS
If aged under 65 with a disability, to participate in the NDIS, first be assessed against access requirements. Contact 1800 800 110
Equipment support
State Wide Equipment Funding – SWEP
Ph: 1300 747 937. Aids and equipment to enhance independence at home can be arranged through SWEP’s physio or OT.
Leef Independent Living Centre 652 Glenhuntly Rd, Caulfield South, Ph: 1300 005 333. Stocks scooters, walkers, assistive technology, shoes and clothing.
Disabled Motorists Australia, 2A Station St, Coburg, Vic. Ph: 9386 0413
Assists motorists with disabilities to gain independence through motoring. Referrals & support.
Orthotics
Neuromuscular Orthotics Phone:1300 411 666. 1846 Dandenong Rd, Clayton. Darren Pereira - Principal Orthotist. Website: www.neuromuscular-orthotics.com.au
Garth Talbot Orthotics,
20 Clarendon Street, Frankston. Ph: 9781 0400
Travellers Aid
Buggy service at Southern Cross and Seymour stations; equipment hire, luggage storage, and companion services for medical appointments
Phone: (03) 9068 8187 for assistance from Flinders St, and 03 9670 2072 – Spencer St station.
For your bookshelf
Life Skills for Polios – a light-hearted handbook
Everything you wanted to know about post-polio but were too afraid to ask? This is the ideal book for those wanting to know how to manage not only post-polio symptoms, but how gracefully to:
• go shopping when supermarkets are too big;
• downsize home and life;
• demand the right chair;
• avoid falls and worse;
• manage the big four painful body parts;
• exercise without overdoing it;
• and find much needed sleep.
Published by MPPPSG to benefit PNV and Polio Day Cost $15 plus $7 postage and packaging. As an e-book $US5:
Iron Wills – Victorian Polio Survivors’ Stories
Iron Wills includes a history of polio; how Polio Network Victoria was founded, plus survivors’ own stories. Cost $20 plus $7 postage and packaging.
The Polio Day Cookbook – fine food for the fatigued - inc. recipes, nutritional advice.
Cost: $15 plus $5 postage/packaging
Travel/takeaway mug –$12.
Polio Network Bags -$15
Strong with strap for shoulder or scooter/wheelchair back. Also drawstring bags $15
Travel/takeaway mug –$12.
to purchase Polio books and merchandise
email Fran Henke:
LINKS - International & local
International Centre for Polio Education
foremost centre for PPS research and education. Studied and published articles on side variety of physical and psychological aspects of PPS. The ICPE is also home to the International Post-Polio Task Force and Random Harvest e-books.
Worldwide Fellowship of Polio Warriors
Aims to enlighten every Medical Professional, Health and Social Care Authority, Government, and World-Wide Action Group to the challenges faced by over 15 million Polio Survivors world-wide, and further, empower every Polio Survivor to have access to appropriate and Professional Medical, Welfare, and Social Support in their home country
British Polio Fellowship
a charitable organisation supporting and empowering people in the UK living with the late effects of polio and post-polio syndrome.
European Polio Union
The European Polio Union (EPU) is a European umbrella organisation for national organisations that support people who have had polio and for people that are coping with Post Polio Syndrome (PPS). The EPU aims, by bringing all those organisations together, to strengthen their force, to learn from each other and to help each other. In some countries in Europe the knowledge and treatment of PPS is (much) better than in others and the aim is to make this more equal all over Europe.
State Polio Groups
South Australia:
Raising awareness and acceptance within the greater community of the late effects of polio To maintain a post-polio support group, find ways to help each other and liaise with the medical profession to assist those suffering.
Western Australia
PPNWA is a self help group of Polio survivors in Western Australia, formed to improve the ability of members to function as independently and with as few problems as possible as they reach a mature age. Polio people are renowned for their independence
New South Wales
Polio NSW began establishing a network of Support Groups throughout the state in 1992. One of the aims of Polio NSW is to provide a supportive framework of assistance for polio survivors and the creation of Support Groups is one of the strategies developed to help members.
There are Support Groups both in country regions and in metropolitan Sydney. Some smaller groups provide a valuable service to members through telephone support and by being the focus for enquiries about Polio NSW in the local community. Other larger groups in both regional and metropolitan areas are able to hold regular meetings for members, many holding quite informal gatherings, while others have a more structured format.
Queensland
Spinal Life Australia
1300 774 625.
Contact us to discuss your situation, find out more information you can share with your GP or to locate your nearest support group.
Tasmania
Tasmanian polio survivors kept in touch thanks to Arthur Dobson's newsletter.
