An upcoming TOM: Wide Bay Makeathon event in Bundaberg will aim to solve sports and recreation-themed accessibility challenges for people with disability.
TOM: Wide Bay creates and builds technology solutions that assist to improve the lives of people living with disability where there is no obvious or current solution in the market.
The organisation does this by bringing together Need-Knowers – people with disability who have a specific sports and recreation challenge and connecting them to Makers – a diverse group of hobbyists, tradesmen, creatives, problem-solvers, professionals and students, who possess skills and knowledge to bring the solutions to life.
Together they co-design and build prototypes that aim to solve a complex problem and assist to improve the everyday life of the Need-Knower.
The intellectual property created for every solution is shared through open-source Digital Product Files, so other Makers around the world can create solutions for Need-Knowers in their own communities as there is no cost for the IP.
For the first time in Australia, two TOM Regional Makeathons will occur concurrently across two interstate locations; Bundaberg and Geelong.
The TOM: Melbourne and the TOM community in Bundaberg will each be hosting a Regional Makeathon on the same dates and teams will have the opportunity to connect virtually throughout the program.
Emerson Ysayama, TOM Makeathon Mentor from Bundaberg, said he was thrilled to take part.
“It is exciting to work along with people with such a wide range of skills and knowledge to create a solution that will assist someone to overcome a barrier that would improve their everyday,” Emerson said.
“Working with creative and problem-solving minds in a fun atmosphere, where everyone feels free to contribute ideas or skills are the highlights of the event for me”
With the support of Solve-TAD, the upcoming TOM Regional Makeathons in both Bundaberg and Geelong aim to solve sports and recreation-themed accessibility challenges for people with disability.
“TOM Makeathon is a unique opportunity for an individual with any impairment who struggles to access sports or recreation activities to have a piece of customised equipment designed and built specifically for them,” Sue Lord, CLS Speech Pathologist and TOM Makeathon Mentor from Bundeberg said.
The TOM Wide Bay Makethon is being held locally at the Community Lifestyle Support’s MAKI Space, at 48 Ashfield Rd, Kalkie during March.
Applications for the event for both Need-Knowers and Makers close on Wednesday 8 February, 2023.
For more information or to register your interest contact the MAKI Space Facebook page.
