A new functional assessment tool, the Functional Independence Measure, was introduced to rehabilitation practitioners in Australia by Carl Granger, the keynote speaker to the eighth Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian College of Rehabilitation Medicine in 1988. The interest in its use grew steadily, and by 1990, seven specialist rehabilitation units had implemented its use. Extensive training workshops were held in September 1991 in Australia's eastern states to ensure assessor accreditation and a group of credentialing trainers to carry on staff training. After a 12-month period of free use of the facilities of the Uniform Data System (UDS) in Buffalo, it is expected that by 1993 an Australian region can be included in the regular UDS quarterly reports. There also is hope that an Australian branch of UDS will be created.