Lately I’ve had a lot of honest conversations with families about Assistive Technology funding. And I want to speak openly about something: Yes AT approvals are taking time. And no, it’s not because your provider isn’t acting. Let me explain what actually happens behind the scenes. What Goes Inside an AT Application When we apply for AT funding under Support at Home, it’s not just a purchase request. It includes: • A formal AT-HM request form • Evidence that the item matches the participant’s assessed needs • Clinical justification (if under advice or prescribed) • A formal supplier quote • Alignment with funding thresholds and category rules • Risk and safety considerations • Submission via the My Aged Care Provider Portal Once submitted, the request goes to the Commonwealth for review. Providers do not hold or control these funds. Why It’s Taking Time Right Now? We’re in the early stages of a major aged care reform. What that means in practice: • Higher volume of applications • Centralised review processes • Tightened documentation requirements • Greater scrutiny around funding allocation This creates a backlog while the system stabilises. It’s not personal. It’s structural.

Re-charge. Re-engage. Restart. I used to feel guilty for being on leave. Between running an aged care organization, caring for elderly parents, and raising my kids, I was always in overdrive. Even on holidays, I’d open my laptop. The turning point came when my then 5-year-old said, "You even work on holidays, Dad. I’m going to be the 'bed police at night' to make sure you don't work." That was a brutal reality check. You can’t fill from an empty cup. You have to be at 100% yourself before you can pour your heart into helping others. That’s why I now take guilt-free leave and why we’ve introduced "Recharge Days" at Salveo HomeCare Re-engage: To me, this means disconnecting from the noise to reconnect with what matters. It’s about clearing the mental fog so you can return to your mission with clarity and energy, rather than just going through the motions. I just spent a brilliant 8 days off—waking up early (instead of late) for go-karting multiple times a day and playing "zombie" chase in the park with my eldest. Fill your own cup first. Recharge, Re-engage,

Hearing loss and Falls are related Hearing loss significantly increases the risk of falling. Research from institutions like Johns Hopkins has shown that individuals with mild hearing loss are nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling than those with normal hearing. Here is the breakdown of why this happens and the mechanisms behind it. The 3 Main Mechanisms Researchers have identified three primary theories explaining why hearing loss leads to instability: Cognitive Load (The Brain "Overloading"): Walking and maintaining balance actually require cognitive effort. When you have hearing loss, your brain has to work much harder to process sound and understand speech. This "listening effort" monopolizes your mental resources, leaving fewer cognitive resources available for balance and safe gait (walking patterns). Essentially, the brain gets distracted by trying to hear and pays less attention to not falling. Spatial Awareness (Auditory Cues): Your ears provide subtle cues that help you orient yourself in space, such as the sound of your own footsteps or the echo of sound in a room. These cues act as an "auditory anchor." When you lose access to them, you have less awareness of where your body is relative to objects around you, making you more likely to trip over obstacles or misjudge a step. Vestibular Involvement (The Inner Ear Connection): The inner ear houses both the cochlea (responsible for hearing) and the vestibular system (responsible for balance). Because they share the same location and blood supply, damage to the inner ear often affects both systems simultaneously. A person may have hearing loss and a compromised balance system at the same time without realizing it

Falls are your number one enemy. Be proactive and prevent them. My dad's ultrasound recently showed inflamed muscles and bursae, which is causing him pain and discomfort. This has hampered his mobility and stripped away his freedom. To make matters worse, he suffers from vertigo. The fear of falling has slowed him down significantly. He is nervous, and the psychological impact is real. Falls are the leading cause of hospitalization in Australia and globally. No matter where you are watching this from, please be proactive. Prevent the fall before it happens.