Challenge entrants and supporters will attend the launch by David Stephens, Director Strategy, Investment and Architecture, Queensland Government Department of Communities on Tuesday 2 August, QUT, 2 George Street, O block, level 1, from 1:30pm to 4:00pm – during Engineering Week.

The inaugural Challenge is open to all QUT undergraduates including engineering, industrial design, information technology and business students - who will work in teams over the next month to develop concepts for assistive technologies and enabling devices.

Disability service providers supporting the initiative include the Cerebral Palsy League, Endeavour Foundation– which collectively provide services to almost 10,000 Queenslanders, and LifeTec – which provides assistive technology advice to some 24,000 enquirers annually.

Cerebral Palsy League CEO, Angela Tillmanns said early intervetion was vital to improving outcomes for children with a disability in many areas including communication and mobility.

“Specialised equipment, such as special needs software, communications devices and mobility equipment are critical in assisting people with disabilities to achieve independence in their own home, at school, at work and in the community.”

“We’re interested in students thinking outside the square and hopefully paving the way for new types of equipment to help children and adults with physical disability.”

UK medical engineer David Hart was inspired by a child with cerebral palsy to invent the Hart Walker – a device which allows hands-free walking for children with a physical disability. Endeavour Foundation CEO, David Barbagallo said continued innovation was an important key to greater independence and other lifestyle benefits for people with a disability.

“Technology which allows people with low vision to read and work on computers, educational software designed for people with intellectual disability and assistive technologies which help people communicate are making a real difference in people’s lives,” Mr Barbagallo said.

“The Engineering for Humanity Challenge is a great way for our creative thinking students to put their ideas to the test. We look forward to seeing the innovations they will develop,” he said.

LifeTec CEO, James Barrientos said there was a great need to encourage the creation of designs and products that provided people with solutions to everyday activities, and helped them to remain active and independent.

“The development of fresh ideas and the creation of new forms of assistive technology will assist in addressing the needs of people with disability, and Australia’s growing elderly population ,” Mr Barrientos said.

“The Challenge is a great platform for students to generate these ideas, create designs and bring them into production.”

Professor Doug Hargreaves, deputy dean of QUT Built Environment and Engineering, and immediate past president of Engineers Australia said the Challenge was an opportunity for students to put their learning into practice.

“Students must work in teams with peers from a range of courses. As in the real world, they will need to work with each other as engineers, designers, business and creative industries partners,” Professor Hargreaves said.

“Changing the world or deciding to try to improve the lives of others is not an easy task, but it is the first step towards these goals.”

The student challenge comes as the future of disability service support is considered for overhaul.

The Productivity Commission handed its final report on a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to the Australian Government on Sunday. The NDIS model propses the replacement of current arrangements with a tax-payer funded social insurance premium or contribution, determined by the risk of disability over the general population and the cost of lifetime needs.

One of the aims of the Scheme is to address an unsustainable reliance on carers, and suggests incentives to invest in timely interventions that promote independence.

Challenge finalists will be announced in September and asked to develop prototypes of their innovations, with winners announced in November this year.

QUT Innovation Space, and qutbluebox – the University’s knowledge transfer and commercialisation company – will provide workshops to entrants and assist a number of students to translate their innovation into reality. The Australian Institute of Commercialisation will also provide market research as one of the prizes.

The Engineering for Humanity Challenge is an initiative of QUT and is supported by various QUT faculties and divisions, qutbluebox, Engineers Australia, LifeTec, Cerebral Palsy League, Endeavour Foundation, Queensland Government - Disability Community Care Services, and the Australian Institute of Commercialisation.

For further information visit www.qut.edu.au/engineering-challenge

Information contact: Novella Moncrieff, External Relations Officer – 3138 4039
or 0438 533 726

QUT: Deputy Dean (Built Environment and Engineering), Professor Doug Hargreaves - 0417 163 629 Cerebral Palsy League: CEO, Angela Tillmanns (Media contact: Ursula Bishop - 0412 813 056) LifeTec: CEO, James Barrientos – (Media contact: Scott Green - 0427 988 641)  Endeavour Foundation:  CEO, David Barbagallo (Media contact: 0429 077 886)