Advocacy

Individuals who require aids and equipment in order to participate in society to their full capacity find that unless they have the economic capacity to purchase outright or significantly co-fund the relevant (and often expensive) aids and equipment, successful participation is more of a lottery than a certainty. There is a non-cohesive patchwork of programs for which they may or may not qualify, and which may or may not see the required equipment as 'eligible' for funding. This patchwork of public aids and equipment funding programs is across state and federal jurisdictions, and across health, aged care, disability, employment and education sectors.

Members of the AEAA have close working relationships with the Victorian Department of Human Services (DHS) Disability Services Division which is working on the implementation of the Victorian Aids and Equipment Program Review. The AEAA was represented by its members on the DHS Advisory Committees during the review process and regular opportunities for members to communicate with the DHS around the implementation of the review recommendations are facilitated by the AEAA, including the AEAA General members meeting in June 2010 and September 2010.

The AEAA has high visibility and is seen as the 'go-to' organisation on these issues by the Victorian Government, the Department of Human Services, and by organisational and individual AEAA members. Additionally, there has been considerable interest in other states in replicating the model as a consequence of its high profile and success in influencing public policy to date.