More than 1650 people braved the weather to attend the ATSA Independent Living Expo in Brisbane on May 11-12.
“It is great that ATSA is once again able to run the largest assistive technology experience in Australia, supported by more than 90 exhibitors and 30 hours of seminar sessions,” ATSA executive officer David Sinclair said on opening day. “After three years in the making it was the place to be to find the latest AT innovations supported by quality clinical education. For two days the expo floor buzzed with networking, learning and question-asking along with new products, services and sports that were on display.
“A first for ATSA Independent Living Expo was an adaptive clothing fashion show. With eight models including Sarah, Oscar and Lady from Wheelie Good Productions and clothing from Active Adaptive and EveryHuman it was a fun highlight of the day and will be even bigger in Sydney,” he said.
According to event organisers Interpoint Events managing director Simon Cooper, the Brisbane ATSA Independent Living Expo, was the largest display of AT ever presented in Queensland. “Every square metre of exhibition space was used at the venue with exhibitors spreading into the corridors and on the ground floor entrance. Had the weather been better we would have had exhibitors outside as well.”
He said the expo is now attracting a wider range of products beyond traditional wheelchairs and converted vehicles. “We saw an increase in mobility aids, beds and home modifications and feedback from attendees was very positive with many saying it took them quite a few hours to get around to see all the exhibitors.”
Another highlight was the awards presentation with Permobil taking out the award for Best Large Stand and Mrs Peggs winning the award for Best Small Stand. The Best Exhibition Marketing Award went to Tab Timer.
Winners from left: Kerry Waller (Mrs Peggs) Lexi Leigh (Tab Timer) April Hobbs (Mrs Peggs), Jonathan Allot and Tony Quinn (Tab Timer) and Sergei Lazarev (Permobil).