Codesigning Solutions for Assistive Technology Service Provision in Queensland, Australia

Assistive technology (AT) is an essential element of universal healthcare, with a lack of access to AT a worldwide problem. Collaboration between key stakeholders is essential to understand the provision challenges and to generate possible solutions. In this paper, we describe the involvement of a stakeholder group in a participatory action research process aimed to interrogate and generate solutions for the AT sector in one Australian state.

Participatory action research with a stakeholder group (n = 14) comprising AT users, therapists experienced in providing AT services, representatives from injury or disability support schemes that manage AT provision, AT experts and researchers and representatives from statewide rehabilitation and allied organisations. Four action cycles were conducted to (1) develop the research design and methods, (2) conduct the research and interrogate the findings, (3) generate and prioritise solutions and (4) develop an action plan for the AT sector.

The stakeholder group influenced the design and conduct of a needs assessment (Action Cycles 1 and 2) and collaborated at a solution-building workshop to generate 10 recommended solutions (Action Cycle 3). In Action Cycle 4, AT users (n = 2) in consultation with AT experts (n = 2) led the finalisation of solutions and developed the following action plan recommendations: the development of an AT hub, AT mentor training and a training and credentialing system for AT advisors.

Applying participatory action research, with leadership and collaboration from key stakeholders across the AT sector, can enrich processes and outcomes in AT-related policy research.

A stakeholder group was critical to the design and conduct of the needs assessment and was a leader in the collaborative solution generation and prioritisation process, and the development of an action plan.