In summary

  • Swinburne’s MedTechVic hub annual showcase brings together people, design, digitisation and manufacturing to reshape assisted living through inclusive innovation

  • This year’s theme was ‘Real innovation, real lives’ and included a keynote address by cultural equity consultant and advisor, Caroline Bowditch

  • PhD students in the hub also presented their research in a fast-paced, 3-Minute Thesis competition

Swinburne University of Technology’s MedTechVic hub annual showcase brings together research, lived experience and practical innovation in assisted living technologies. 

This year, the theme was ‘Real innovation, real lives’, highlighting the hub’s ongoing commitment to driving inclusive innovation and impact for people using assisted living technology. The event was also attended by Member for Hawthorn, John Pesutto.

"This showcase is a meeting ground for researchers, industry leaders, and those with lived experience to discuss and shape emerging advances in assisted living technology. Bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise helps us create solutions that respond to real-world needs and drive meaningful progress ," says Professor Rachael McDonald, Director of the MedTechVic hub. 

From beige to beauty 

This year's keynote address was delivered by Caroline Bowditch, cultural equity consultant and supervisor. Caroline is a proudly disabled queer woman and a distinguished leader celebrated for her work in inclusive arts practices and dance advocacy. For more than 15 years, she has combined her artistic vision with a commitment to accessibility and diversity. 

Drawing on her lived experience as a permanent wheelchair user, Caroline challenged the audience to rethink how assistive equipment is designed and presented. 

“Innovation emerges out of need,” she said. Examples such as The Alternative Limb Project, which creates bespoke prosthetics that empower wearers and spark positive conversations, she urged designers to move from beige to beauty - and prove that access does not have to be dull or clinical.

Caroline emphasised that meaningful innovation must be created in collaboration with disabled people, recognising that mobility aids and access equipment can either build confidence and disability pride or diminish it. She challenged attendees to consider the broader systems at play. 

“I can be more or less disabled depending on where I am in the world,” she said. “How are you building worlds that make people more or less independent?” Through art and creativity, she said, we can design accessible solutions that are practical, expressive and unapologetically visible.

This year's keynote address was delivered by cultural and equity consultant and advisor, Caroline Bowditch

Commercialising change

The showcase featured an expert panel discussion unpacking the challenges and opportunities of commercialising assisted living technologies. Panel members included Julian Sallabank, Chief Executive Officer and Non-Executive Director of Sallabank & Co, Cameron van den Dungen, Chief Executive Officer of Sleeptite, and Jess Kemp and Sophie Rhys, Co-founders of Fabb.

Panellists highlighted that successful commercialisation requires constant iteration, strong partnerships and meaningful co-design. Julian Sallabank emphasised the value of university partnerships and PhD-led research in strengthening innovation pipelines. Cameron van den Dungen reflected on designing Sleeptite’s first bed with his mother in mind, highlighting the role of lived experience and educating sector ‘gatekeepers’ as well as end users. Meanwhile, Jess Kemp and Sophie Rhys spoke about the importance of creating assistive products that are desirable, inclusive and accessible beyond NDIS funding.

Innovative ideas on display 

The showcase also included  a fast-paced 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition where Swinburne PhD students working in the hub presented research and ideas.

The winning presentation featured PhD candidate Mark Hanson and his thesis on improving wheelchair accessibility in air travel. His research explores barriers faced by wheelchair users and highlights the importance of  more equitable access to travel.

Other presentations included PhD candidate Liz Doyle and MD Julker Nayan. Liz's thesis explores how technology improvements could improve the lives of people with deafblindness. Meanwhile MD Julker Nayan’s thesis examines innovative approaches to manual wheelchair design in Bangladesh.

  • Mark Hanson's thesis explores improving wheelchair accesibility in air travel
    Swinburne PhD students working in the hub presented their research and ideas
  • Liz Doyle's thesis exploresd how technology improvements to mainstream technology could improve the lives of people with deafblindness
    Swinburne PhD students working in the hub presented their research and ideas
  • MD Julker Nayan’s thesis examined innovative approaches to manual wheelchair design in Bangladesh
    Swinburne PhD students working in the hub presented their research and ideas

“MedTechVic hub is redefining assisted living technologies through inclusive innovation. My hope is that this showcase inspires bold ideas and real collaboration that transforms lives and advances accessibility for all,” Professor McDonald adds.

Professor Virginia Kilborn, Swinburne’s Chief Scientist closed the event with the announcement of the inaugural Adam Bilney Award in memorandum Adam Bilney, a highly respected mechanical engineer and medical device designer.  Adam was deeply committed to mentoring others and advancing assistive and medical technologies that improved lives through his work at Swinburne, MedTechVic and as an independent consultant.

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