Delegates from 20 nations converge in Canberra for i-CREATe 2019

Held for the first time in Australia and bringing together delegates and speakers from 20 nations, the 13th International Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology (i-CREATe 2109) will take place at the National Convention Centre Canberra from 26-29 August 2019. 

“Canberra is the ideal location for international i-CREATe 2019 delegates to convene, with access from the Asia Pacific region through direct flights to and from Singapore, and a world-class convention centre leading the way in accessibility innovation,” says Michael Matthews, CEO of Canberra Convention Bureau.

“As the nation’s capital, Canberra also provides access to the Federal Government, which will facilitate the progress of policy issues raised on the assistive technology agenda during the conference,” says Mr Matthews.

A significant component of the i-CREATe conference is the Global Student Innovation Challenge (GSIC), whereby students submit and are judged on rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology prototypes and projects in two divisions: design and technology.

"The Global Student Innovation Challenge provides a platform to encourage students from all over the world to compete in developing creative and innovative devices or solutions to improve the quality of living of the elderly and people with disability,” says Robyn Chapman, CEO and President-Elect of Assistive Technology Australia.

“The competition showcases the talents and abilities of these students while providing an opportunity to work with clients and clinicians to develop these innovative ideas. It also facilitates cooperation and networking among the students and gives them an opportunity to listen to speakers from across the world,” says Ms Chapman.

i-CREATe 2019 has attracted 44 GSIC entries from 12 nations.

“Canberra is recognised for excellence in higher education and innovation. The Global Student Innovation Challenge sets the stage for international students to leverage the expert knowledge base in Canberra, to create a lasting legacy within the fields of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology, and to improve the lives of seniors and people with disabilities,” says Mr Matthews.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of the Kingdom of Thailand will attend i-CREATe 2019. The Princess initiated the first i-CREATe conference to develop cooperation and mutual exchange of ideas across the Asian Pacific region regarding assistive technology for those who need it and will present major prizes in each GSIC division.

For more information: www.icreate2019.org.

About i-CREATe
The 13th International Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology (i-CREATe 2019) is the Asian region’s conference of the Coalition for Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology (CREATe) covering all aspects of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology, and in particular the objectives of the world health Organisation’s Global Assistive Technology collaboration (GATE): Policy, Products, Personnel and Provision.
i-CREATe 2019 is organised as a Trans-Tasman collaboration between CREATe Asia members, Assistive Technology Australia and the New Zealand Federation of Disability Informationcentres. Currently CREATe Asia has 14 member organisations from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia.