About the lab
The LivingAT Lab is a fully accessible assistive technology innovation facility that brings together researchers, clinicians, industry and people with lived experience to co-design, prototype and evaluate inclusive solutions. It supports research, education and collaboration focussed on improving independence, participation and quality of life.
Purpose-built in collaboration with occupational therapists, physiotherapists and people with sensory, cognitive, intellectual, communication and mobility impairments, the Lab combines advanced prototyping, hybrid collaboration technology and flexible teaching environments in a real-world testing space. It helps teams translate ideas into practical solutions for disability, aged care and healthcare settings.
Key features and capabilities
Inclusive co-design environment
A purpose-built, universally designed space that brings people together to co-design, test and improve accessible environments, products and services.
- Developed with clinicians and people with diverse sensory, cognitive, communication and mobility needs
- Supports inclusive participation across research, education, collaboration and prototyping
- Demonstrates how universally accessible spaces can work in real-world settings
Accessible and adaptable facilities
Flexible, fully accessible facilities support safe and practical use by people with disability, carers, clinicians, researchers, students and industry partners.
- Automatic entry and wide circulation spaces
- Height-adjustable workstations and mobile furniture
- Reconfigurable teaching, workshop and collaboration areas
Low vision and sensory-informed design
The Lab uses thoughtful visual and sensory design to support comfort, orientation and participation.
- Strong colour contrast between floors, walls, furniture and fittings
- Design choices that support visibility, depth perception and wayfinding
- Reduced glare and visual overstimulation for people with low vision, colour blindness and sensory sensitivities
Prototyping, testing and hybrid collaboration capability
The space supports practical experimentation, simulation and collaboration across disability, aged care and healthcare sectors.
- Makerspace facilities, including 3D printing, textiles and soft-fabrication tools
- Clinical teaching and simulation environments
- SMART conferencing systems for hybrid collaboration
- Space for rapid development, testing, education and demonstration
Who can benefit?
Industry and Government
Co-design and test inclusive technologies, services and solutions for health, disability and aged care.
Researchers
Undertake co-design, applied research, prototyping and user testing in a fully accessible innovation environment.
Community
Help shape new solutions through inclusive workshops, co-design and lived experience participation.
Healthcare providers
Strengthen service delivery and workforce capability through hands-on training and collaboration.
Educators and students
Build practical skills in assistive technology, rehabilitation, inclusive design and healthcare innovation.
Case studies
Through an industry and PhD collaboration, the Lab supported the development of immersive virtual reality training to strengthen disability support worker capability in dementia care and positive behaviour support.
By combining face-to-face learning with VR simulation, the project helped prepare workers to better respond to people with complex communication and behavioural needs in real-world care settings.
LivingAT partnered with adolescents and adults with complex disability support needs — including individuals with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome and non-verbal communication needs — to co-design digital communication systems that improve participation at home and in the workplace.
By embedding lived experience into the design process, the project supported more inclusive employment pathways and demonstrated how assistive technology can support independence and social connection.
The LivingAT Lab brought together engineers, designers, clinicians and industry partners to prototype a specialised lower body negative pressure device compatible with a 7T MRI scanner.
Developed in collaboration with researchers at the Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Unit, the project highlights the Lab’s capability in supporting advanced medical device development and multidisciplinary collaboration.
The Lab hosts hands-on workshops that strengthen clinical capability in assistive technology and wheelchair practice. Occupational Therapy postgraduate students gain practical experience across manual and powered mobility, postural management and pressure-relief systems, learning directly from clinicians, educators and people with lived experience.
By providing access to contemporary assistive technologies in a real-world learning environment, the program supports workforce readiness and evidence-informed practice in rehabilitation and disability care.
The LivingAT Lab has hosted commercialisation and innovation workshops for more than 80 emerging Victorian researchers through government-supported industry programs.
Participants engaged in training across co-design, regulation, intellectual property, funding strategy and healthcare innovation, helping translate research into real-world impact across the health, disability and aged care sectors.
LivingAT has supported nationally and internationally significant research projects, including evidence reviews for the World Health Organization examining global access to assistive technology.
It has also facilitated interdisciplinary projects exploring how healthcare and built environments can better support people experiencing delirium, bringing together clinicians, designers and healthcare professionals to improve patient wellbeing and safety.
Partnerships and collaboration
Developed as part of the MedTechVic Research Hub, the LivingAT Lab brings together researchers, clinicians, industry, government and community partners to co-design and develop practical solutions for disability, healthcare and aged care in Australia and internationally.
The Lab supports collaboration from early-stage idea development through to prototyping, testing and translation. Through workshops, applied research and innovation programs, it helps partners explore new approaches to technology development, service delivery and inclusive care.
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MedTechVic
Medical Technology Victoria (MedTechVic) brings together design, digitalisation, manufacturing and people to co-create medical and assistive technologies of the future.
Contact the LivingAT Lab
Get in touch to discuss a project, prototype or partnership with the LivingAT by emailing MedTechVic@swinburne.edu.au.