How did you hear about the TOM: Melbourne Makeathon?

In 2019, I had an amazing opportunity to work alongside a team of medical experts and engineers to help co-design a custom exercise machine for Mary Henley Collopy. Mary, who is now Need-Knower Ambassador for TOM: Melbourne, was our Need-Knower at the time. Our team developed a custom apparatus to enable her to undertake regular resistance and whole body exercise.   

What was your experience participating in the 2022 TOM: Melbourne Makeathon?

My experience as a Maker is always amazing. I believe volunteering for TOM: Melbourne as a Maker, and developing affordable assistive devices, has allowed me to use my skills to make a difference to a world that needs innovative healthcare solutions for everyday people with needs. It is great that TOM: Melbourne not only answers the needs of one individual, but a community of others who may be experiencing a similar problem, through releasing the product via open source files and sharing it digitally amongst a global community, therefore enabling someone else to produce or re-design the product for their own needs. You get to return someone’s ability to simply enjoy life again, through a solution that allows them to execute everyday tasks more easily and independently.   

What team were you a part of? What was the challenge – and what was your role in the team?

I was a part of Team Access Inc! Our challenge was to develop a jig for our Need-Knower, Guy, which enabled him to keep a cooking bowl stationary, whilst he mixed ingredients. My role was to oversee the product management progress, set the product vision and strategy, lead the team from product conception through to the final MVP and ensure the final design fulfilled our Need-Knower’s needs.    

What are your top takeaways from your Makeathon experience and would you recommend it to others?

Just have fun! It may feel a little overwhelming at the start when volunteering for the event, but as soon as you assemble as a team on the day everything seems to fall together in place. Just dive straight into the problem, ask a lot of questions with your Need-Knower and use each other’s skills to help get through the problem.

How did you come to be involved with TOM: Melbourne?

I found out about TOM: Melbourne through a fellow researcher here at Monash University, who let me know about the upcoming Assistive Technology Makeathon. We have a group of researchers here at Monash working in a wide variety of areas to support those with a disability, and they knew this would be right in my wheelhouse. As soon as I heard I looked into it and jumped on board.

What was your role and experience participating on the panel?

My research area is primarily in investigating the role emerging technologies can have in supporting access to visual information and content by people who are blind or have low vision (BLV). I have been working in this area for close to a decade and have numerous research projects investigating this in conjunction with the wider BLV and stakeholder community. So I bring a wealth of experience in both working with the blind and low vision community and also as a technologist considering the role new tech can play in supporting people.

What are you looking forward to about the Makeathon weekend?

I can’t wait to see how our makers will approach the great set of challenges that we have. Often there is a simple, yet lateral thinking, approach to solving these… a way of attacking the challenge from a whole other angle. It is when that happens that I simultaneously get incredibly excited, and also slap my forehead and wonder, “How did I not ever think of that!”. It’s because solving these challenges requires as diverse a set of makers and problem solvers as possible, and this is the strength of these kind of events.

Tell us about your experience so far participating in the TOM @ University Program?

I have been impressed by the altruistic nature of Tikkun Olam Makers, industry partners and other students participating in the University program.  Whether visiting manufacturers, or talking to experts in industry, they all have been very open and helpful in assisting and giving advice about the TOM projects’ directions.  

What do you love about taking on a TOM challenge for your final year project?

By far the most rewarding part of working with TOM on a Need-Knower’s challenge is the immediate and personal impact that it achieves.  As a student, it allows you to work on a real project, creating a real solution, which is rewarding as you communicate personally with the person whose problem you are developing a solution for.  

What skills will you take with you from the TOM @ University Program when you enter the workforce after graduating?

My biggest learning has been the importance of keeping the user (Need-Knowers) needs in mind throughout the design process, ensuring that the design fulfils what they require, whilst also getting regular feedback so you know you are heading in the right direction. I think another important skill is the ability to approach people with expertise in various industries, being able to concisely describe the project and effectively incorporate their feedback.

How did you become involved in the TOM: Melbourne Makeathon?

I first heard about the TOM organisation from a vlog post by a prominent figure in the Maker community who was encouraging makers to sign up. So I applied online for the Melbourne Makeathon back in 2017 and have since been involved in two more amazing TOM events, with the most recent being in 2021 on Team Charlie.

What was your experience of the Makeathon?

With a background in design,  I have really enjoyed making tangible prototypes to assist Need-Knowers overcome a practical challenge in their life. In doing so, I have found the Makeathon events to be incredibly rewarding exercises in empathy and collaboration.

What would you say to others thinking about getting involved?

I would encourage anybody with just an inkling that they could help someone in a meaningful way to not think twice about it and get involved!

How did you come to be involved in the TOM: Melbourne Makeathon?

After finding out about TOM through social media, my first TOM experience was as a Need-Knower in the 2019 Makeathon. I became hooked and then participated again as a Maker in the Ballarat Makeathon.

What was your experience participating in the Makeathon?

The Makeathon experience was intense! As a team we had spent some time before the Makeathon weekend researching the need and some possible approaches so we were able to start on the process of making a prototype early. We were therefore able to create a pretty amazing finished working solution.

What I hadn’t expected was the commitment from the whole team, the care and support offered by the TOM crew – from the Mentors to the caterers – all coming together for the benefit of the individual Need-Knowers. I suppose this was what motivated me to become involved as a Maker, as I realised that those on the making side were getting as much out of it as the Need-Knowers.

Can you tell us how you are still involved with TOM: Melbourne? What motivates you to stay involved?

This year I took part in the Challenge Selection Panel for the upcoming Makeathon and TOM@University Program. My motivation comes from knowing that the solutions created by the TOM approach – whether through Makeathons or the TOM@University program – are unique and tailored to the needs of the individuals and solved through collaborative effort.

People living with a disability are more than aware of the difficulties in front of them every day, and are able to define the need for a solution very well.

What’s great about TOM is having a group of talented and committed people working together to find those solutions and tailor them to individual needs. As a not for profit organisation, the TOM approach can bypass the perceived restrictions often faced in the commercial world where bespoke solutions are rare and costly, and the voices of those who need specific solutions are often not heard.

How did you come to be involved in the TOM: Melbourne Makeathon?

I heard about TOM: Melbourne through my university, and the organisation’s values and mission resonated with me. In 2021, I was looking for opportunities to expand my skills and wanted to be involved with TOM: Melbourne in anyway I could. I came across the Makeathon during this time and it sounded like an exciting and empowering opportunity. I applied and I am so glad that I was able to be a part of the program.

What was your experience participating in the Makeathon?

The Makeathon was incredible! I don’t think I have ever been surrounded by so many like-minded, enthusiastic, and intelligent people. The energy was amazing, and it was so nice to see everyone working so hard towards developing solutions with the Need-Knowers. Being able to work directly with my team and Need-Knower, and getting involved in creating a working prototype were the highlights of the program for me. As an engineer, it really showed me the importance of user-centred design and working in a cross-disciplinary team.

We delighted that you’re still involved with TOM: Melbourne and now taking part in the TOM @ University program! What made you decide want to participate in the program’s challenge for your final year project?

I loved my experience in the Makeathon and it gave me a lot of energy and motivation working directly with the end user, the Need-Knower. I wanted my final year project to have a real and positive impact on someone’s life and working with TOM: Melbourne again fit that goal. I love what the TOM team are aiming to do and I wanted to be part of that in a bigger capacity. I am excited to see how the year goes and I am so grateful to be working with TOM: Melbourne!