Independent Living Specialists

12/11/2026

Very little we can't do virtually. 🎧

That's the view of Sarah McBurney, virtual OT with Western NSW Local Health District, who's been prescribing assistive technology from behind a screen since 2017.

In our latest episode of Redefining What's Possible, she shares with host Sarah Uncle:

🔹 Why good lighting comes first
🔹 How onsite nurses, assistants and AT providers become your hands
🔹 Why she always asks to see what's being measured
🔹 The preparation that makes a virtual appointment work
🔹 When it's time to go back for a second look

Practical tips for therapists working with rural and remote communities, or anyone new to telehealth.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-virtual-ot-with-sarah-mcburney-redefining/id1795652310?i=1000801339601
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7g2m3BaNSipWCywQv7CfD0?si=qDiZtPcnTwSIg-xDlGylrw
YouTube: https://youtu.be/nWEkxf3d18o?si=khctlu3sqvPY7eWL

10/11/2026

Today we remember those who have served and sacrificed for our country 🌿

At 11am, we will pause for one minute of silence with other Australians.

May their courage and sacrifice inspire us to live with compassion and strength, and to support each other in our community.
Lest we forget.

05/11/2026

Can you recognise pressure-related tissue damage before it becomes a visible injury?

The earliest signs of tissue damage aren’t always obvious. Recognising these changes early is critical to timely intervention and reducing the risk of pressure injury progression.

In recognition of Worldwide Stop Pressure Injuries Day, join us for a practical webinar exploring the early signs of pressure-related tissue damage and the clinical reasoning that guides assessment, monitoring and intervention.

Through real-world clinical scenarios, we’ll explore how to identify emerging tissue changes, differentiate pressure-related damage from other skin conditions, and consider the role of positioning, support surfaces and assistive technology in prevention.

Recognising Damage Before the Pressure Injury
🔹 Thursday 19 November | 12:30–1:30pm AEDT
🔹 1 CPD point
🔹 Presented by Sarah Uncle, Head of Clinical Education at ILS

Register now via https://bit.ly/4BIq7lc

02/11/2026

Our Victorian showrooms will be closed on Tuesday 3 November for Melbourne Cup Day 🏇.
Our teams will resume trading hours from Wednesday 4 November, ready to support you and your clients with assistive technology solutions.

29/10/2026

Fresh New Zealand air, woven into a cushion. 🎧

Maintenance worries put many therapists off prescribing air. Megan Ransley from Rolapal says the answer is choosing what fits each client in the real world, not just on paper. The Woven Air Cushion is one more option in that mix.

Catch the full conversation with host Sarah Uncle in our latest episode of Redefining What’s Possible. It’s one to watch, not just hear, with a hands-on demonstration of the cushion.

Watch now: https://bit.ly/3U5XhdE

27/10/2026

We’ll be at Brisbane Disability Expo this Friday and Saturday and would love to see you 👋

We’re proud to be an accessibility sponsor of an event that welcomes everyone 💙 Whether you’re living with a disability, caring for someone or supporting people in your work, our team will be on hand to talk through product options, how trials work and what support looks like once the equipment is in place.

There’s also a Quiet Hour on Saturday from 9 – 10am, for anyone who’d like a calmer start to the day.
▸ Friday 30 – Saturday 31 October
▸ 9am – 3pm
▸ Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
▸ Free entry

Register free: https://bit.ly/4eZCXSb

26/10/2026

Participation is about more than being able to complete a task. It’s about having the opportunity to take part in the roles, routines and activities that make everyday life meaningful.

This World Occupational Therapy Day, we’re recognising the OTs who work alongside individuals and families to understand what matters to each person – and find practical ways to support greater independence, participation and quality of life.

We’re proud to work alongside OTs across Australia every day. We’re also proud of the many OTs within ILS who bring their clinical experience to their roles as Assistive Technology Professionals, working collaboratively with therapists to help translate clinical goals into appropriate AT solutions.

To all the OTs in our team and our wider community, thank you for the expertise, perspective and commitment you bring to supporting participation.

23/10/2026

Which power assist approach is right for your client – and why?

Our upcoming Getting Power Assist Prescription Right workshop will help OTs and physios work through that decision, combining the evidence behind prescription with practical, side-by-side device comparison.

Consider biomechanics, upper limb preservation, energy conservation, environment, transport and cognitive demand – then get hands-on with rear attachment, push-rim activated, joystick-controlled and front-mounted options.

You’ll build confidence in matching the right power assist approach to the individual, their wheelchair and their everyday mobility goals.

3 CPD points | Presented by ILS

Places are limited – register now.
Visit https://bit.ly/4yBRTwZ

21/10/2026

We're delighted to see this update from The Scuba Gym Australia.

Through their scuba therapy programs, Lyndi and the team create opportunities for people living with disability, as well as veterans and first responders, to build confidence, improve wellbeing and connect with their communities. We're pleased to have been able to support their work with donation and some equipment.

Thank you for the kind words and, more importantly, for the impact you're making every day. 💙

We encourage everyone to check out their post and learn more about the great work they do.

A HUGE THANK YOU to Independent Living Specialists!

The Scuba Gym Australia is incredibly grateful for your generous donation of ankle weights, exercise bands and four 4kg dumbbells! And the monetary donation will help us pay the lane hire at the council run pools that we use. Thank you - this helps us so much.

These practical and much-needed pieces of equipment will be put to great use by our clients as they work towards building strength, improving mobility and achieving their personal goals.

It’s donations like these that help us continue providing meaningful opportunities for our clients to move, grow stronger and discover what’s possible.

Sometimes, the most useful donations make the biggest difference! 💙🤿💪

Thank you, Independent Living Specialists, for supporting our community and helping us change lives, one step at a time — and sometimes, one dive at a time!
independentlivingspecialists
Independent Living Specialists

19/10/2026

A mattress can have many jobs.

It may need to redistribute pressure, manage microclimate and shear, while still supporting bed mobility, repositioning, transfers and comfort.

To determine what the mattress needs to achieve, therapists first need to build a clear picture of what’s happening overnight.

Five questions can help guide that assessment:

1. How long is pressure being sustained?
Consider total time in bed and how long the person remains in one position.

2. What movement is happening overnight?
Can they reposition effectively and independently, or is assistance required?

3. Where is load concentrated?
Consider sleeping position, postural asymmetries and vulnerable areas such as the sacrum and heels.

4. What else is affecting tissue tolerance?
Think shear, heat and moisture, alongside factors such as sensation, nutrition, perfusion and skin condition.

5. What does the mattress need to achieve?
Consider the need for immersion and envelopment, active offloading, microclimate management and shear protection – alongside the potential impact on mobility, repositioning and transfers.

There isn’t one mattress technology for every level of pressure injury risk. The goal is to match the support surface to the individual’s clinical presentation, functional needs and broader overnight care plan.

And once the options have been narrowed down, it’s time to put them to the test.

ILS mattress trials run for three days in the home, giving individuals and therapists time to assess the surface across multiple nights before making a decision.

Talk to the ILS team about arranging a trial.

11/08/2026

Our showrooms will be closed on the 12th of August due to the public holiday.

03/10/2025

𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 – 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘆

Our showrooms in NSW, ACT, QLD and SA will be closed on Monday, 6th October for the Labour Day public holiday.

We hope you enjoy the well-earned long weekend, and we look forward to welcoming you back when we reopen on Tuesday.

Thanks for your understanding and enjoy the extra day off! ☀️

11/05/2025

This Mother's Day, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and love of all moms—especially those who navigate daily challenges with grace. At ILS, we're proud to support independence and connection through assistive technology that empowers every step of the journey. 💐❤️

25/04/2025

Please note that all Independent Living Specialists showrooms will be closed on Friday, 25th April for the public holiday.

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you back when we reopen.