News
Changes to the way NDIS Participants access SWEP Services
12 March 2020
Changes to the way NDIS Participants access SWEP Services
(Effective March 2020)
Dear NDIS Participant,
The State-wide Equipment Program (SWEP), continues to deliver a 'one stop shop' to meet your ongoing
equipment, repair & maintenance and consumable needs.
2019 SWEP Consumer Satisfaction Survey
19 February 2020
Annually we ask consumers, after they have received and used their Assistive Technology, to tell us how satisfied they are overall with their SWEP experience
We have again exceeded our target of at least 85% satisfaction rate as set by the Department of Health and Human Services and this has been our best year ever!
Click here to see the full results
The Lymphoedema Practitioners Education Group of Victoria - An invitation
18 December 2019
The Lymphoedema Practitioners Education Group of Victoria
Invites you to a Continuing Professional Development event.
SWEP e-News for Consumers
16 December 2019
If you would like to view this news letter please click here
SWEP Communique - Updated Standard for Practitioner Registration and Credentialing
12 December 2019
SWEP is committed to ongoing quality and improvement, and we are pleased to advise that we have reviewed and updated The Standard for registration and credentialing with SWEP. We believe these changes will make it much easier for practitioners to understand what is required of them and to navigate the resources and application types.
This Standard has been released and is now published on the SWEP website https://swep.bhs.org.au
SWEP Communique - Reminder to Update your TAC Preferences
4 December 2019
As per our communique released on the 25th of September, SWEP have partnered with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) to provide a registration and credentialing service for all Occupational Therapists (OT's) currently providing services to the TAC.
As part of this partnership, SWEP are sharing with the TAC information about the work location, contact details and credentialing levels of our registered OT's to enable the TAC to contact you and determine if you have the capacity to provide TAC services in your area.
Performance Report Card November 2019
2 December 2019
We have collated the data for November 2019 and presented the achievements of each program for this month. Every month we will provide information about each program.
SWEP Communique - Orthoses Update
29 November 2019
Dear AT Practitioner
We are writing to you to clarify Victorian Aids & Equipment Program (VA&EP) funding availability for the Orthoses category.
We have reviewed current practice in relation to our orthoses application management following the release of the VA&EP Operational Policies (July 2019) and the SWEP team's organisational restructure. In addition, we have consulted with professional associations and our Clinical Advisors.
Performance Report Card October 2019
1 November 2019
We have collated the data for October 2019 and presented the achievements of each program for this month. Every month we will provide information about each program.
Medical Grade Sheepskin to be added to SWEP picklist
28 October 2019
The Statewide Equipment Program (SWEP) is committed to providing consumers with access to a range of assistive technology items that are evidence based and suitable for various environments and presenting scenarios
SWEP Communique - Updating Practitioner Organisation Details
25 October 2019
As per our communique released on the 25th of September, SWEP have partnered with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) to provide a registration and credentialing service for all Occupational Therapists (OT's) currently providing services to the TAC.
As part of this service, the TAC have access to a SWEP 'geo-locator' tool that facilitates the matching of suitably qualified and skilled OT's with TAC consumers.
SWEP Communique - Independence Australia Closure - Change of Date
23 October 2019
Change of Date - Independence Australia Closure 8th Nov - 12th Nov 2019
Further to our communique released on the 15th of October, SWEP have been notified that the upgrade of Independence Australias online web store has now been delayed until November.
SWEP Communique - Supra-plus catheters update
16 October 2019
Dear Continence Practitioners,
On the 29th August, I wrote to you advising that SWEP was unable to fund open tip / supra-plus catheters for urethral use if this was not part of the items' TGA approval or manufacturer guidelines.
Some of you have raised concerns about how this might impact your clients who have had a lot of success with these catheters being used urethrally.
SWEP Communique - Laryngectomy Consumables Program - Online Applications
16 October 2019
SWEP is pleased to announce that applications for funding assistance through the Laryngectomy Consumables Program can now be submitted online. As such, paper applications for this program will no longer be accepted after October 31, 2019.
SWEP Communique - Independence Australia Closure
15 October 2019
Independence Australia Closure 18th - 22nd October 2019
Independence Australia have advised that they will be updating their online web store this month. As a result, the online store and Customer Service Centre will be closed from 4pm on Friday the 18th of October and will reopen at 8am on Tuesday the 22nd of October 2019.
SWEP Communique - Practitioner Resources
9 October 2019
SWEP is committed to supporting AT Practitioners to assist consumers with the provision of Assistive Technology. Under the ' AT Practitioners' section of the SWEP website, you will find a variety of links available to help in this area.
Performance Report Card September 2019
1 October 2019
We have collated the data for September 2019 and presented the achievements of each program for this month. Every month we will provide information about each program.
Announcement of Partnership with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC)
25 September 2019
What's happening?
SWEP is excited to announce that the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) has chosen to partner with SWEP to provide a registration and credentialing service for all Occupational Therapists (OT's) currently providing services to the TAC.
SWEP Communique: Product Recalls
24 September 2019
SWEP has
been advised of a recall of the below listed items
SWEP Communique - Home Modifications process changes
13 September 2019
Following on from our previous communique SWEP update regarding review of the Home Modifications Panel, SWEP would like to update you on the current requirements for applying for funding assistance through the Victorian Aids & Equipment Program (VA&EP) for the home modifications subsidy.
As of July 1 2019, consumers are able to select their preferred registered builder/tradesperson. SWEP may check their Victoria Building Authority (VBA) registration.
SWEP Communique - Open tip/Supra-plus Catheters
29 August 2019
Dear Continence Practitioners,
SWEP has recently become aware that some practitioners may be using and requesting open tip / supra-plus catheters for urethral use.
It is our understanding as per the TGA and manufacturer instructions that these types of catheters should only be used for supra-pubic purposes.
SWEP Communique - Mobility scooter related injuries and deaths
29 August 2019
Dear AT Practitioners,
To support you in safe quality practice, SWEP would like to highlight a recent report on "Mobility scooter related injuries and deaths" published in May 2019 by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, available here.
While the benefits of scooters for mobility and quality of life are well documented, this report offers an evidence-based review of mobility scooter related injuries and deaths. It includes data relating to pedestrian injury and collision, as well as falls from a mobility scooter that required hospital admission.
SWEP AT Practitioner Communique
15 August 2019
SWEP AT Practitioner Communique - Update re SWEP teams and email addresses
You may have recently noticed that SWEP has made some changes to our internal team structure. We have streamlined our phone queues and our email public folders. Please find below a list of the phone options & the relevant email address for each team.
Performance Report Card August 2019
2 August 2019
We have collated the data for August 2019 and presented the achievements of each program for this month. Every month we will provide information about each program.
Access to VA&EP Funding for Consumers Under 65 Years of Age
31 July 2019
Thank you to everyone who has sought feedback from the State-wide Equipment Program (SWEP) in recent months regarding funding for Assistive Technology (AT) items for consumer's who are under 65 years of age.
As a result of this feedback, SWEP has liaised with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to determine how we ensure that Victorian Government funds are only used to support eligible consumers. It is important to understand that consumers who can access funding for AT from other government programs such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) are not eligible to access support for AT from the Victorian Aids and Equipment Program (VA&EP). In addition, consumers who can access funding from their private health insurer or from compensation, legal settlements or court awards for AT need to discuss their eligibility with SWEP.
