Rifton Down Under

Last month two of us from Rifton’s international sales team visited New Zealand and Australia where we have received significant interest over the past few years. It was a fantastic two-week trip hosted by our Australia/New Zealand distributor Medix21. Our first week was spent in New Zealand with stops in Wellington, Palmerston North, Hawkes Bay, Rotorua, Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland. At each place we provided educational sessions for teachers and therapists. We were well received everywhere, and the new  Rifton HTS (Hygiene & Toileting System) was a hit at every stop.

The second week we spent in Australia doing similar educational sessions in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and visited local distributors. Along the way, our gracious hosts at Medix21 treated us to the stunning scenery and landscapes that New Zealand and Australia are famous for.

We are also happy to report that the MOVE Program is alive and growing in this part of the world. (MOVE is an activity-based curriculum designed to teach children and adults with disabilities independence in sitting, standing, walking and transitioning skills.) There are now two MOVE model sites in New Zealand and two in Australia. Recently, there was also an important MOVE training event at the Adelaide West Special Education Centre. This included a MOVE Basic Provider program and MOVE International trainings and re-certifications. We at Rifton have always believed that the MOVE Program deserves much wider acceptance so we’re always gratified when we see it adopted in new areas.