Tikkun Olam Makers – TOM: Wide Bay - create and build bespoke assistive technology solutions through their Makeathon events that assist to improve the lives of people living with disability, where there is no obvious or current solution in the market.

TOM: Wide Bay 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 (QLD) and Geelong (VIC). 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.

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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.

“We are extremely excited about the upcoming TOM: Melbourne 2023 Regional Makeathon and the prospect of working with our fabulous teams of Makers and Need Knowers to design and create customised and affordable assistive technology” said Debbie Dadon, Founder and Director of TOM: Melbourne.

“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.” Said Sue Lord, CLS Speech Pathologist and TOM Makeathon Mentor from Bundaberg.

“I am very excited in taking part in TOM: Wide Bay Makeathon. 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. 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” said Emerson Ysayama, Technology Sorcerer and TOM Makeathon Mentor from Bundaberg.

Applications for the 2023 TOM: Wide Bay Makeathon close on 8 February 2023.

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