One of the aims of holding the Polio Australasia Designing A Future Conference was to explore whether we should establish a national polio organisation to represent all state Networks to give polio survivors and their families a national voice which hitherto has not existed.
All state Networks and New Zealand were represented at the Conference. Much goodwill and resolve were evident in the discussion which was held over a two hour period on the first afternoon of the Conference. The following decisions were all formally moved, seconded, debated and voted on using standard meeting procedure.
Firstly it was unanimously agreed that we should establish a national Post-Polio organisation. After spirited and informed debate it was established that the name of the organisation would be “Polio Australia”. The New Zealand contingent soundly endorsed the concept but abstained from voting as it was an Australian initiative.
It was agreed that Polio Australia be incorporated and that the word “Inc” be included in the title if legally required. The member organisations of Polio Australia will comprise Polio Network Victoria, Post Polio Network – Tasmania Inc, Post-Polio Support Group of SA Inc, Post Polio Network of WA Inc, Post Polio Support Queensland and Post-Polio Network (NSW) Inc.
A working party to incorporate the organisation and draft a constitution for Polio Australia was established and will comprise at least one representative from each member organisation. This group will work on getting the organisation up and running over the next six months.
