TOM@University program is the first of its kind; a unique three-way partnership between a global philanthropic organisation, inter-disciplinary student teams within a university and Need Knowers who want solutions for individual challenges in their daily lives. The program shifts thinking in the way assistive solutions are developed. All too often people living with disability have products designed ‘for’ them, and not ‘with’ them. TOM@University is unique because Need Knowers and student teams co-design solutions together. The experience is collaborative, iterative, human-centred, and is an example of the melding of three diverse disciplines that results in bespoke products that have a real and direct impact on people’s lives. The program disrupts assistive technology and device industry as part of a larger healthcare industry paradigm shift. It creates economic and social impact in a unique way as the aim is to create as affordable solutions as possible and all outcomes are open-source, available for everyone through the TOM:Global digital platform. The solutions to date include an automatic wheelchair cleaning station, a bowling-launching device, a dog walking solution for a quadruple amputee, a pickup stick, flotation suit and anchorage for hydrotherapy and cleaning & storage-unit for a CPAP mask (last 4 in the product development phase). Furthermore, the program harnesses global reach in a scalable way, as overlaying two networks (TOM:Global and communities across the globe and Design Factory Global Network) enables effective dissemination of the outcomes and internationalisation of the program.

Pauliina Mattila
Strategy and Culture, Lecturer, Coach
Design Factory Melbourne,  Swinburne University of Technology



Alex Graham
Lecturer
Engineering Practice Academy / Design Factory Melbourne,  Swinburne University of Technology



Ravi Bessava
Prototyping Coach
Design Factory Melbourne,  Swinburne University of Technology



Anne Prince
Lecturer
Design Factory Melbourne,  Swinburne University of Technology



PaRIS Triantis
Lecturer
Design Factory Melbourne,  Swinburne University of Technology



Further key people

Ben Shemesh, Manager of Innovation and Development, TOM:Melbourne Kylie Appel, Executive Director, TOM:Melbourne Debbie Dadon, Director, TOM:Melbourne Abbie Gosling, Communications and Events Manager, TOM:Melbourne Anita Kocsis, Director, Design Factory Melbourne Christine Thong, Academic Director, Design Factory Melbourne Angela Pye, Research Coordinator, Design Factory Melbourne Jane Ward, Vice President of Collaboration&Partnerships, Swinburne University Vision Australia Doug Haig, CEO, Solve Disability Solutions Nicole Coulthard, Innovation Advisor, Scope Onemda Nick Hall, Coach, Design Factory Melbourne, Swinburne University Jennifer Turner, Director of Community Partnerships, Engineering Practice Academy The staff from the Protolab for their expertise and guidance in developing the prototypes. Angela, Need Knower Hank, Need Knower Geoff, Need Knower Steve, Need Knower Nick, Need Knower Mandy, Need Knower, Jules, Need Knower, Stacey, Need Knower Lou, Need Knower Mary, Need Knower John, Need Knower Jack, Need Knower