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ComTEC

Boy using tray mounted communication device Woman at computer Mother and daughter

What is ComTEC?

ComTEC offers services throughout Victoria to people of all ages with a disability who have communication and technology needs. The ComTEC team consists of speech pathologists, occupational therapists and I.T. support with expertise in communication and technology for people with disabilities.

Eligibility

ComTEC do not have specific eligibility criteria.

Consumers, families, carers and professionals use ComTEC for:

  • simple, practical and effective solutions for people who require support to communicate (these include no/low/high level technology solutions)
  • ideas and information on specialised technology
  • advice about getting the most from computers and technology

ComTEC Services

Enquiry Service
ComTEC has highly skilled therapists who can answer your questions about finding technology to suit your needs. Whether it’s trouble shooting or looking for information about particular equipment, the ComTEC enquiry service can assist. We can link you to our Equipment Database (PODS), a comprehensive directory of specialised equipment. You can phone, T.T.Y, post, email or fax your query.
Individual Advisory Session
The ComTEC team has up-to-date knowledge and equipment to provide individual advice and recommendations on the best technology solutions to meet specific needs. An advisory session runs for up to two hours and any team members can attend. Information on equipment can be provided at the end of the session, however fees apply for formal reports.
Electronic Equipment Library
Choosing the right equipment to meet your needs often requires trialling different items to decide what is best suited to you. The ComTEC Electronic Equipment Library allows you to borrow equipment on short-term loan to trial before purchasing. Hire costs are involved (see fee schedule below). Some items require therapists to attend a training or professional development session at the commencement of the loan.
Individual Training
Once you have the equipment recommended at the advisory session, ComTEC can provide a training session to help you get up and going. Training sessions aim to empower your local therapist to provide ongoing support for use of the equipment.
Professional Development Sessions
ComTEC provides professional development in a number of ways:

Clinicians may choose to have a professional development session following an advisory session to develop further skills and knowledge in the implementation and support of the equipment recommended at the session.

Professional Development Sessions are also available for therapists who want to develop knowledge and skills in the selection, application and use of specific assistive technology for a particular client or group of clients.

ComTEC has an education program , where appropriate, some requests for individual professional development sessions may be directed to the Education Program.

Technology Open Sessions for Therapists
The Open Sessions are designed for therapists needing no assistance or limited assistance in trying technology with their clients, who wish to look at and try devices in an informal, open access environment. Therapists can arrange a suitable time to bring clients to ComTEC in Brooklyn and try equipment in our display area, or to have access to the equipment for self learning. Please contact ComTEC to make a booking to ensure equipment availability.
Open Session equipment includes: alternate keyboards (eg compact keyboards); mouse options (eg trackballs); a range of switches and basic mounting arms, as well as a selection of speech generating devices.
The ComTEC therapist who is on duty answering telephone enquiries will assist in setting you up with the equipment you have booked and can provide information print outs and copies of handout resources.
Considerations: If a client has a specialised seating system or equipment that they need when using technology, including trays, eyeglasses, switches and mounting systems, bring these along. Separate rooms are not always available. The display area could be used by a number of people during your Open Session. Distraction and noise may be an issue for some clients.

DVDs and Online Resources

dvd image 1 dvd image 2 dvd image 3 dvd image 4 dvd image 5 dvd image 7

Being a Model Communicator DVD

We are proud to announce the completion of an educational DVD produced by ComTEC: 'Being a Model Communicator'.

The DVD is aimed at parents, carers and support staff of children who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

"Modelling is teaching by doing. It's not about what the child is doing - it's about what you are doing. The best way to teach someone to use AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) is to model it to them constantly."

Being A Model Communicator provides an introduction to the process of modelling. It is intended as a tool for those supporting an AAC user. It is designed to be used in conjunction with therapists, teachers, parents and carers as part of a whole team approach.

Copies of the DVD "Being A Model Communicator" are now available. To order yours:

DOWNLOAD THE ORDER FORM HERE

We would love to have your feedback about "Being a Model Communicator". After you have watched the DVD, please follow the link below to the online survey. It only has eight boxes to tick, so it should only take 1-2 minutes of your time. Thank you for participating.

Please click here to take the survey

Below is a short clip from the DVD "Being a Model Communicator"

The Mounting System Toolkit DVD

We are also proud to announce the completion of 'The Mounting System Toolkit' DVD. This educational DVD was produced by ComTEC.

The importance of mounting speech generating devices and related equipment to wheelchairs has become an increasingly recognized area of practice for clinicians. A mounting system establishes a link between a person and their assistive technology and provides a consistent, secure means of positioning a device.

The Mounting system Toolkit provides an outline of the main considerations and tools required when prescribing a mounting system; video demonstration of the construction of 2 mounts and a decision making tree poster.

The DVD is designed as a complementary resource to our Mounting Workshops and together with the workshops aims to increase therapists' knowledge and confidence in the assessment and prescription of mounting systems.

Copies of the DVD are now available. To order yours:

DOWNLOAD THE ORDER FORM HERE

Below is a short clip from the DVD "The Mounting System Toolkit"

Comtec Mounting Systems Toolkit Images:

Click here to download or view images to accompany the device mounting systems decision tree. The file is best printed using A3 paper.

PrAACtically Speaking Video/DVD

This is a teaching video for people living and working with individuals who have difficulties communicating. The video and accompanying support materials offer a series of practical strategies to help others better understand and communicate with adults with intellectual disabilities. It also offers ideas to help people with communication problems to "speak" for themselves.

The form can be downloaded in a choice of PDF format for printing or an accessible RTF format.

PrAActically Speaking Video/DVD Order Form [RTF xx KB]

PrAActically Speaking Video/DVD Order Form [PDF 86 KB]

Boardmaker overlays are available for downloading here.

The files will open in Boardmaker version 5 or 6. They were designed by ComTEC to assist people to enjoy social communication (asking questions, making comments, sharing news) using speech generating devices. They were originally developed for use by people with aphasia, but may be suitable for many other people with complex communication needs.

You will need to unzip the file with a program such as Winzip which can be found here: Winzip

DOWNLOAD "Social Closeness" OVERLAYS HERE

ComTEC Mounting Workshop

DOWNLOAD "Pre-Reading for the ComTEC Mounting Workshop" HERE

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ComTEC Email Network newsletter

In the Summer 2009 edition

Product Evaluations

The ALT-Chat - Dynamic screen speech generating device.

The Balloon Switch.

The Dynavox M3 and M3 Max.

Upcoming Events

The Great Vic Trek.

Inclusive Learning 2010 Technologies Conference.

SPEECH PATHOLOGY AUSTRALIA 2010 National Conference.

ARATA National conference Hobart, Tasmania.

Big Mouth Camp.

ComTEC News

The Mounting System Toolkit.

New ComTEC education and training options in 2010

Delicious - a web-based social bookmarking tool that allows you to store, categorise, share and find website bookmarks.

Click here for a PDF of the current ComTEC Email Network newsletter (Summer/December 2009).

2009 Archived Listings

Click on the link below to access PDF's of past issues of the ComTEC Email Network newsletter.

Autumn/March Winter/June Spring/October

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Education Program

ComTEC offers services throughout Victoria to people of all ages with a disability that seek technology support. We are offering a range of education sessions that target clients with a range of developmental disabilities, including physical disability, language and learning difficulties, intellectual disability and complex communication needs.

The ComTEC Education Program is available for download in a choice of PDF format for printing or an accessible RTF format.

Download ComTEC Education Program

ComTEC Education Program [RTF xx KB]

ComTEC Education Program [PDF 81.4 KB]

Please contact ComTEC for further information on our workshops or to reserve your place.

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Referral and application

Individual Advisory Sessions
For referrals for this service please fill out the Client Information Form and return it by post to ComTEC. The form can be download in a choice of PDF format for printing or an accessible RTF format.

Client Information Form [RTF xx KB]

Client Information Form [PDF 116 KB]

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Fees

Table 1: Service fees - Current as of July 1st 2009
Service Name - Early Intervention and Adult Clients
Standard Fee
Travel (within day trip distance
Reports (to support funding applications)
TAC / WorkSafe Victoria appointments must have the prior approval of their case manager.
Overnight fees (applicable for services provided in locations 2 hours or more from Brooklyn) $140.00 per therapist per night.
Freight Expenses (equipment for workshops) as charged by the freight company.
Client Appointments
$30.00
No charge
No charge
Training/Advisory Sessions on behalf of clients
$33.00 (GST included)
No charge
n/a
School-Aged Clients
Client Appointments
$150.00
$150.00 per hour per therapist
$150.00 per hour per therapist
Training/Advisory Sessions on behalf of clients
$165.00 (GST included)
$150.00 per hour per therapist
n/a
TAC / WorkSafe Clients
TAC / WorkSafe Victoria
as per schedule
n/a
n/a
ComTEC Private
Interstate and Overseas Clients
$150.00 (per therapist per hour)
n/a
n/a
Education and Open Sessions
Open Sessions for Therapists
$5.00 per client
n/a
n/a
Professional Development Sessions (max 2 people)
$33 (per person)
n/a
n/a
General Overview Sessions
$20.00 per person
n/a
n/a
General Overview Sessions (off site)
$150.00 per group
n/a
n/a

 

Getting To Us

Brooklyn Base

A wheelchair accessible low floor bus (no. 414 to Laverton South) runs from Paisley Street Terminus near the Footscray Railway Station. Please allow at least ten minutes to get from the train station to the bus stop. The bus stop is located directly in front of the Yooralla Brooklyn building which houses the I.L.C. Buses depart at approximately 40 minute intervals. A timetable is available from the Met Information Centre by telephoning 131 638 or the Internet www.victrip.com.au

Map showing the location of ComTEC [JPG 42 KB] - Please use browser back button to return to this page.

Eastern Base

MS Society, Nerve Centre, 54 Railway Road, Blackburn, Victoria.
Tel: (03) 9362 6111
TTY: (03) 9314 9001
Free call: 1300 885 886 (Vic only)
Fax: (03) 9314 9759
Email: comtec@yooralla.com.au
Melways Reference: 48 A10

Map showing the location of The Nerve Centre [PDF 19 KB] - Please use browser back button to return to this page.

Southern Base

Calvary Healthcare Bethlehem. 476 Kooyong Rd, Caulfield South, Victoria.
Tel: (03) 9596 2853
Fax: (03) 9596 3576
Email: comtec@yooralla.com.au
Melways Reference:67 J7

Map showing the location of Calvary Healthcare Bethlehem [JPG 86 KB] - Please use browser back button to return to this page.

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ComTEC Postal and Delivery Address

705 Geelong Road, Brooklyn, Victoria 3025.
PO Box 1101, Altona Gate, Victoria 3025.
Tel: (03) 9362 6111
TTY: (03) 9314 9001
Free call: 1300 885 886 (Vic only)
Fax: (03) 9314 9759
Email: comtec@yooralla.com.au
Melways reference: 40 J 10