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SWEP Communique - 2024 Consumer Satisfaction Survey

7 May 2024

SWEP recently completed our annual Consumer Survey for 2024.  Thanks to our consumers for completing this. It provides an overview on how SWEP is providing services across all programs and areas.

SWEP Consumer Satisfaction Survey 2024

7 May 2024
SWEP recently completed our annual Consumer Survey for 2024.  Thank you to our consumers who responded to our survey this year.  We appreciate your input on how we manage our services. 

SWEP Communique - URGENT: Product Defect Correction

3 April 2024
SWEP have been advised by Enable Lifecare of a product defect correction, pertaining to the instruction manual for the Oxford Classic Floor Lifters.

SWEP Communique - Non-Customised Equipment - CPI increase

8 March 2024
Dear Practitioners
In accordance with the supplier contracts we hold for non-customised, assistive technology equipment, each year a CPI increase is applied.

SWEP e-News for Consumers 11th Edition

22 December 2023
If you would like to view this news letter please click here

Changes to phone systems

19 December 2023

Changes to phone systems


SWEP Communique - Continence Aids Program November 2023

16 November 2023

Dear Practitioner,

Firstly, we extend our gratitude to continence practitioners for assisting our consumers with their continence needs.  We have been fortunate in recent times to fund all new and existing consumers with no wait times within our annual capped budget.

Unfortunately, due to increased demand and the high volume of applications we are currently receiving we are now re-introducing a waitlist. 

SWEP Communique - Home Modifications

16 November 2023

Dear Practitioners

We wanted to provide you with an update on a backlog of home modifications funding/applications that came about during Covid.  We have been continuously working through the back log and are pleased to advise that we have been able to progress many of these but are still needing to finalise some applications between Mar 2022 - Mar 2023.

How You Can Help

If you have submitted a home modifications application prior to March 2023, and an order has not been placed, please contact the team so that we can ascertain any outstanding paperwork and progress the application.

SWEP Communique - 2023 Consumer satisfaction with SWEP

10 August 2023
Dear Practitioners 

SWEP recently completed our annual Consumer Survey for 2024, which identifies how satisfied our consumers are with the equipment/products they have received and their overall experience with SWEP and our services. 

SWEP Communique - New online catalogue for Contracted Assistive Technology Items

14 July 2023
Dear Practitioners

We're excited to launch our new online product catalogue for the recently contracted Non-customised Assistive Technology.
The new catalogue is located on our website here 

SWEP Communique - Compression Garment applications

21 June 2023

Dear Practitioners

The SWEP Lymphoedema program administration team have noticed an increase in incomplete applications being submitted and this causes unnecessary delays for our consumers and extra administration work for staff, suppliers and practitioners. 

The most common reasons for an application being deemed incomplete are listed below.  Please review this list as it is important in helping us to reduce delays in processing your requests. 

SWEP Communique - Compression Garment applications

21 June 2023
Dear Supplier,

The SWEP Lymphoedema program administration team have noticed an increase in incomplete applications being submitted and this causes unnecessary delays for our consumers and extra administration work for our staff, suppliers and practitioners. 

SWEP has developed a standardised quote template to ensure your quotes have all the information we need as a minimum. This helps us to streamline processes to ensure that consumers receive their garments, as soon as possible. You may have received phone calls from our team or practitioners seeking clarification on quotes which contributes to delay in orders being placed.

SWEP Communique - Current Phone Issues

8 June 2023
Yesterday, 7th June the SWEP team migrated to a new IT domain, as a part of Grampians Health. The majority of this went well but we are having some phone issues today. Some of our queues are in meeting mode and some are open but with fewer staff logged in than normal, therefore our wait times might be longer than usual.  We have our IT department looking into this for us. 

SWEP Communique - SWEP IT Systems Update 7th June 2023

30 May 2023
On Wednesday, 7th June 2023 the SWEP team will be transitioning to a new IT domain, as a part of Grampians Health. This will commence from 08.30 a.m. in the morning, and we are expecting that there may be several hours of disruption where we will be unable to access our emails or answer your calls.

SWEP Communique - SWEP Practitioner Portal Update

28 April 2023

Dear Practitioners, 

We are writing to apologise to SWEP registered Practitioners who may have received large volumes of portal generated duplicate emails on Wednesday, 26th April, 2023.

SWEP Communique - Update Non Customised Equipment Tender outcome

28 April 2023

Dear Practitioners

We are writing to provide an update on the SWEP Non-customised Assistive Technology Tender.

As mentioned in our previous communique dated December 2022, SWEP undertook a formal procurement process for non-customised assistive technology equipment last year. In December contracts were awarded to eight suppliers and we are excited to announce that all contracts have just now been endorsed.

All tender contracted items have been loaded into the SWEP database and added to the online SWEP Contracted Items Picklist Catalogue.    We are currently working on a new improved online catalogue, which we hope to roll out in the coming months, that will include pictures and more comprehensive details of each tendered item.

SWEP Communique - Home modification applications with quotes from building supplier Pacman

18 April 2023

Dear Practitioner,

We have received enquiries regarding whether building supplier Pacman is continuing to do work for SWEP consumers.  We have reached out to Pacman who have advised that they will no longer be doing home modifications for our consumers.  

SWEP Communique - SWEP Non-customised Assistive Technology Tender Outcome

22 December 2022

Dear AT Practitioners

We are writing to you to let you know that our current Supplier contracts for non-customised assistive technology, are due to expire on 31 December 2022.    

This year we undertook a formal procurement process, including a desktop and hands-on evaluation of over 500 pieces of assistive technology including manual wheelchairs, walking aids, scooters, three function beds, mattresses, pressure cushions, bathroom aids, hoists, specialised seating, rise recline chairs etc.   This involved engagement of three experts from our Clinical Advisory Panel to undertake the actual evaluation of products put forward by Suppliers.

SWEP e-News for Consumers

21 December 2022
If you would like to view this news letter please click here

SWEP Communique - Changes to Orthotics Quote Template

14 December 2022

Dear Practitioner

We have recently identified an error on our orthotics quote template.   Whilst it is noted on the template that warranty details are required, there has been no allocated area for this information to be entered. As a result, the quote template has now been updated on the website here

SWEP Communique - Convatec Product Range Up-date

21 November 2022

Dear Practitioner

Further to our communique dated 14 September, 2022 we are writing to apologise for errors made in our communication regarding the Convatec range of products, and would like to correct these in the points below:

 

  1. Convatec is NOT closing its business, rather, it is discontinuing a selected range of products. 
  2. Convatec is NOT discontinuing its GentleCath Glide intermittent catheter range, this range is still available for ongoing purchase and supply.

 

The selected range of products that has been discontinued by Convatec is attached here

As previously advised, we have comparative products available for discontinued items through Independence Australia.

SWEP Communique - Independence Australia Christmas Closure

7 November 2022

Dear Practitioners,

Please see flyer from Independence Australia with closure dates for the upcoming holiday period. To ensure pre-Christmas delivery of products for your consumer please make sure your orders are in before December 1st 2022.


Click here for flyer.

SWEP Communique - Changes to Home Modification Application Process

10 October 2022

SWEP has completed a review of how we manage home modifications applications and has recognised the current process using an approval in principle (AIP) model requires changing. We are therefore streamlining processes and documentation, to allow us to appropriately assess the request on receipt of application. 

We have worked with our Clinical Advisors and staff to review feedback received from practitioners and consumers which has resulted in the removal of the AIP model.  We acknowledge that the AIP process has added unnecessary layers of complexity for practitioners and SWEP in submitting and managing home modifications applications.

SWEP 2021-2022 Consumer Satisfaction Survey

2 September 2022

Please find below a snapshot of the SWEP 2021-2022 Consumer satisfaction survey results.



SWEP Communique - Additional Non-Recurrent Funding 2022-23 and 2023-24

1 September 2022

Dear Practitioners,

We are very excited to let you know that we have received additional non-recurrent funding for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 financial years.

Based on current demand trends, this means that we are now in a position to order applications for eligible consumers when all documentation is received at SWEP.

Over the coming months we will continuously monitor any change in demand trends for support through our programs and will let you know if there is any need to change this practice.


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