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join our community
become a
maker
Do you like problem solving, innovating and thinking outside the box? Do you want to volunteer your skills to make a real difference in the lives of those living with a disability?
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Makers are engineers, designers, software and hardware developers, health professionals, hobbyists with a passion for social change.
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Makers are placed in small teams and connected with Need-Knowers (individuals living a disability, support workers, family members, health professionals etc.) who will present their challenge.
become a
need-knower
Do you or someone you know or love, live with a disability? Do you have a specific challenge that you face on a daily basis?
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Need-Knowers are individuals living with a disability, support workers, family members, allied health professionals, anyone with an intimate understanding of a neglected challenge.
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Need-Knowers join forces with teams of Makers with a passion for social change and problem solving to create a solution for a challenge presented by the Need-Knower.
PROGRAMS & EVENTS
MAKEATHONS
The Makeathon is a 3 day marathon of making which connects Need-Knowers (individuals with a deep understanding of neglected challenges, often an individual living with a disability) with teams of Makers (engineers, designers, developers, problem solvers) to create assistive technology solutions (prototypes). Prototypes developed at the Makeathon are available online on the TOM web platform for anyone around the world to access.
DEVELOPER GROUPS/tom 2.0
Building on the success of the TOM: Melbourne Makeathons, Developer Groups represent phase 2 of the TOM process by upgrading prototypes into TOM Products. Small teams of Makers work regularly for 12-weeks alongside Need-Knowers at our partner makerspace. The key outcome of Developer Groups is a TOM Product. TOM Products and their Digital Product Files are ready to be disseminated to the global community through the TOM web platform, available for all in the public domain.
