Makeathon seeks solutions for people living with disability

Doers will gather in Geelong this weekend to seek solutions to challenges faced by people with disabilities.

For the first time in Australia, the Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM) event will host two simultaneous regional makeathons in Geelong and Wide Bay, Queensland on Saturday 25th March and Sunday 26th March.

The events will take place on the same dates and times, giving teams from both Makeathons the opportunity to meet virtually throughout the program.

Founder and Director of TOM: Melbourne Debbie Dadon said the Makeathons will address problems for which there is no obvious or current solution on the market, providing people with disabilities who have a specific need with ‘needs knowers’ and with makers – with skills and knowledge – will combine to find solutions.

“We are extremely excited about the upcoming TOM: Melbourne 2023 regional Makeathons and the prospect of working with our fabulous teams of Makers and Need Knowers to design and develop bespoke and affordable assistive technology,” said Dadon.

Manufacturers can include anyone from professionals to university students working and studying in the disciplines of engineering, industrial design, allied health, crafts and more.

Originating in Israel in 2014, the phrase Tikkun Olam roughly translates to “fix the world.”

TOM has since emerged in over 70 communities in 30 countries and has developed more than 600 unique solutions for need knowers around the world.

Community Lifestyle Support speech therapist and TOM Wide Bay Makeathon mentor from Bundaberg Sue Lord said the event will improve the lives of people with disabilities.

“TOM Makeathon is a unique opportunity for a person with any impairment who has difficulty accessing sports or recreational activities to have a bespoke device designed and built specifically for them,” said Sue.

The Makeathon will run from Saturday 25th to Sunday 26th March, with a presentation on Sunday giving teams the opportunity to explain how their solutions will help solve the unique Need-Knower challenge .

The showcase will be broadcast live on TOM’s online channels on Sunday, March 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

For every solution found at the Makeathons, intellectual property is shared via open source digital product files, allowing other manufacturers around the world to create solutions for need-knowledgers in their own communities at no intellectual property cost.

More information about the event can be found at www.tommelbourne.org/