Latest News

04 August 2020

The August 2020 issue of ARATA News is now available.

06 July 2020

Jacki Liddle has led a group of ARATA members to develop a response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

05 June 2020

The June 2020 issue of ARATA News is now available.

20 March 2020

Given the current situation surrounding COVID-19, the ARATA Board and AATC 2020 Organising Committee are currently working together to plan the best way forward for the event, while at the same time focusing on the health and well-being of our valued members.

28 January 2020

A brief note to congratulate Mel Noonan, past ARATA Board member and active member of ARATA, who is the Founder and CEO of Limbs4Life and on Australia Day received an Order of Australia for her significant service to people with disability.

18 December 2019

The December 2019 issue of ARATA News is now available. Read this issue for the latest news including dates for AATC20, Board Report including the 2019-20 Board Structure, using the Practitioner Directory, about GAATO ... and much more.

02 December 2019

ME-067 Held meeting number 52 in Brisbane on 17 & 18 June.

ME-067 is the Standards Australia committee that works on drafting, reviewing and updating national and international standards relating to assistive technology products for persons with disability.

26 September 2019

The September issue of ARATA News is now out! Please click on the link to read all the latest from ARATA. - Inside the newsletter is the Board report, the call to sign the Bologna Declaration, launch of the ARATA Practitioner Directory, launch of GAATO and much more ...

16 July 2019

ME-067 Held meeting number 52 in Brisbane on 17 & 18 June.

ME-067 is the Standards Australia committee that works on drafting, reviewing and updating national and international standards relating to assistive technology products for persons with disability.

06 May 2019

ARATA submitted a response to the TGA’s recent consultation on the Proposed regulatory scheme for personalised medical devices, including 3D-printed devices.

06 May 2019

ARATA has been referenced in a recent report on general issues around the implementation and performance of the NDIS

07 March 2019

Introducing our new look ARATA News .. now out! Please click on the link to read all the latest from ARATA

24 December 2018

The Joint Standing Committee on the NDIS Assistive Technology inquiry included a written submission from ARATA, and an invitation to ARATA to attend a hearing on Thursday, 22 November 2018.

24 December 2018

07 December 2018

ME-067 is the Standards Australia committee that works on drafting, reviewing and updating national and international standards relating to assistive technology products for persons with disability. An information page on ARATA’s work in Australian and International Standards can be found on the ARATA homepage at the following link http://www.arata.org.au/about-at/standards/

1. Review of Australian standards : AS/NZS 3856 part 1 and 2 : Hoists and ramps for people with disabilities—Vehicle-mounted 2. Review of AS/NZS 3973:2009 Shower/toilet chairs (mobile and static) 3. Strategy to deal with media inquiries 4. Aged Standards Review :AS/NZS 3696.2:2008 Wheelchairs determination of dynamic stability of electric wheelchairs 5. AS 3954-1991 (R2014) : Motor vehicle controls - Adaptive systems for people with disabilities 6. AS/NZS 3695 Wheelchairs Part 2: Requirements and test methods for electrically powered wheelchairs (including mobility scooters) 7. International Participation of the ME-067 committee members

01 December 2018

ARATA recently submitted a response to the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Accessible Housing Project on the possible inclusion of a minimum accessibility standard for housing in the National Construction Code. The ABCB’s intention is to seek broader stakeholder input and refine the details of the objectives, options and terminology that will be considered in a formal Regulatory Impact Statement.

01 November 2018

ARATA was represented by Dr Graeme Smith (ARATA member and former board member) from Ability Technology at the TGA’s Low Risk Working Group meeting on 5th October 2018 at Alexandria, NSW. Please read on for Dr Smith’s summary of the meeting.

16 October 2018

As we prepare for November’s AGM, we reflect on a year of policy traction, international representation, national networking, and local practice. As always, this has been communicated and discussed on the ARATA listserv. The outgoing Board, including outgoing members, have two key messages for ARATEE’s this month regarding Board Nominations and AATC18.

08 October 2018

ARATA was recently invited by freedom2live to comment on the Senate Committee Report into the ‘Need for regulation of mobility scooters, also known as motorised wheelchairs’ as tabled on 20 September 2018.

07 September 2018

The August - September Board Report: Call for Nominations to the ARATA Board. ARATA informs the NDIS on matters of pricing. Member input for the ARATA submission to the NDIS Joint Standing Committee Assistive Technology Enquiry. ARATA members lead on human rights submission.

04 August 2018

The Global Disability Summit featured a Charter for Change, and announcement of £10m global programme AT 2030 - Life Changing Assistive Technology for All.

03 August 2018

RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America) RESNA’s Annual Conference was held in Arlington, Virginia. RESNA 2018 was the first conference in which an ARATA President was an invited speaker. Read on for more details including : - ARATA’s Presentation, and the graphic which RESNA couldn’t get enough of - Certification and Accreditation in North America and beyond

21 July 2018

ARATEE’s are reminded to register before the AATC Early Bird offer closes end August, and to make their plans for spring in Melbourne. Highlights include joining the Board to share ARATA’s birthday cake for at the Annual General Meeting at the close of Day 2.

06 July 2018

The 71st World Health Assembly in May 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland passed an important Resolution on Improving Access to Assistive Technology. This Resolution will be a game-changer for governments internationally, calling for action to improve access to high quality and affordable assistive products for those who need them.

Please click more to read the full news item.

06 July 2018

Assistive Technology is an important element within the WHO workplan around Rehabilitation. The background documents, definitions and a call to arms for practitioners and governments globally are summarised within WHO (2017). Rehabilitation 2030: A Call for Action. Geneva

Key definitions for ARATA from the Rehabilitation 2030 document: • Rehabilitation is characterized by interventions that address impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions, as well as personal and environmental factors (including assistive technology) that have an impact on functioning (p2) • Assistive products can have a profound impact on safety, level of functioning and independence. To realize the full benefits of recent growth in the development and availability of such products[1] access to providers who are proficient in assessing, prescribing and training in the use of the products is necessary (p4)

Click more for the list and links to the key resource documents.

06 July 2018

Members of the African AT Community have expressed interest in ARATA’s structure and purpose, and are looking to build a similar organisation. This initiative delivers on ARATA’s Strategic Goal to develop, strengthen and support local and global assistive technology communities. Read on for information about activities over the last year to support our African colleagues.

Any ARATA members with specific interests in and capacity to contribute to this community, please inform president@arata.org.au to join the list.

06 July 2018

ARATA works closely with the National Aged Care Alliance, a community of over 50 peak bodies and aged care providers who inform government and the sector on aged care issues.

06 July 2018

ARATA President Dr Natasha Layton contributed an Australian perspective to the following OPEN ACCESS article just published

06 July 2018

Motivation Australia recently launched the Samoan National Health Service's Mobility Device Service (MDS) film. Watching this, you will see some of the men, women, children, families and communities who have been positively impacted through the provision of appropriate mobility devices.

15 June 2018

Special Issue: Position Papers from the First Global Research, Innovation, and Education on Assistive Technology (GREAT) Summit .

14 June 2018

Read the June Board Report for an update on our strategic actions including AT sector representation, international capacity building, and credentialing.

20 May 2018

The Seminar was held as a free public event after the first ever International Standards Meeting of Technical Committee 173 (assistive products) to be held on the African continent.

25 April 2018

The ARATA Board met face to face on Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 14. Thanks to Swinburne University for hosting us. Read on for the latest on Australian Assistive Technology Conference, RESNA Conference, Assistive Technology Practitioners Directory, Strategic Plan Review and Board Renewal Planning for 2018/2019

01 September 2017

ARATA members David Hobbs, Rachel McDonald and Natasha Layton were among 200 invited AT leaders at the inaugural Global Research, Innovation, and Education in Assistive Technology (GREAT) Summit, on the 3rd - 4th August 2017 at WHO headquarters in Geneva.

01 September 2017

David Harraway – Occupational Therapist (Yooralla) ARATA Member and Carl Thompson –Project Officer (AFDO - Australian Federation Of Disability Organisations) ARATA Board Member attending the Melbourne Hearing on 6 July 2017