National Conference

Conference dates: Pre-conference workshops - Tuesday 10 August 2010; Conference - Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 August 2010
Venue: Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart Tasmania
Expression of interest: To receive further information about the 2010 ARATA Conference, complete and return the following form indicating your area of interest.; Expression of interest form (doc 270 kb); Expression of interest form (pdf 100 kb)
Speaker downloads: Abstract Proposal Template (doc 23 kb); Peer Review Manuscript Template for full paper (rtf 70 kb); Copyright Release Form (doc 210 kb)

Invitation

On behalf of the conference organising committee, it is my pleasure to invite you to the 2010 ARATA National Conference, AT: The tip of the iceberg, to be held in Hobart, Tasmania, from Tuesday 10 - Friday 13 August 2010.

With the conference being held in Hobart, the home of the ice breakers heading to the Antarctic, we are looking for innovative papers that similarly crack through the surface to look more deeply at what lies beneath, that explore new frontiers, that meet the challenges of the pitfalls and crevasses. There will be an emphasis on thinking beyond the prescription of equipment to look more deeply at the issues of funding, training and support for users and their support personnel, and helping consumers to have the endurance to persevere with their equipment, despite the obstacles. Like the Antarctic explorers, there will be a focus on research and discovery - showcasing new products and ensuring ease in the use of equipment by capitalising on universal design and mainstream products. 'ARATAS 2010' will be full of new territory to explore, with the promise of many adventures to come in the field of Assistive Technology.

It is with pleasure we invite you to submit your abstract for consideration.

Karen Frost & Christopher Bryg
Convenors, ARATAS 2010

Hobart, Tasmania

Tasmania is a state of Australia and is approximately 68,000 sq km (approximately the size of Ireland) in area. The capital, Hobart, is in the south of the island. Maximum temperatures in winter average 12°C, and in summer average 21.5° C. The mild temperate climate makes the summer months ideal for outdoor activity. August in Tasmania showcases the city's gardens with cherry blossoms and daffodils coming into bloom against the backdrop of snow-capped Mt Wellington. Tasmania operates under Australian Eastern Standard time.

Hobart began its early life as a penal colony in 1803, making it the second oldest city in Australia. Convicts who had committed serious offences after arriving in Australia were sent to the penal colony, then known as Van Diemen's Land, from 1804 and then on to various stations around the island. These included Port Arthur and Sarah Station which now feature restored buildings, museums and tours.

Many of the convicts were young and Irish, many who had got into trouble for their belief in a free Ireland. Sending them to far away Van Diemen's Land was seen as a solution to the growing demands for independence.

Van Diemen's Land attracted free settlers as well. Many settled by the Derwent River and its deep harbour at the mouth to export things like fruit and wool to other parts of Australia and the British Empire. On the 1st of January 1856, the name Van Diemen's Land was changed to Tasmania, to try and erase the reputation the island had built up as a penal colony and towards a new future. Many of the original buildings are restored, particularly around the original wharf area.

Keynote speaker

Dr Ger Craddock

Dr Ger Craddock graduated from Dublin City University with an Engineering degree in Electronics, a Postgraduate diploma in Social and Vocational Rehabilitation Studies in University College Dublin, followed by a PhD investigating the impact of Assistive Technology on Students with Disabilities. He is Director of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design and prior to this headed a national Assistive Technology department as well as several national and European projects with specific emphasis on technology in education and the development of AT services. Ger developed the concept of Technology Liaison Officers (TLOs) and in collaboration with University College Dublin he established the first accredited training courses in AT for the TLOs. He has published widely in peer review journals on advancing assistive technology and universal design and is a visiting lecturer at a number of universities in Ireland as well as past President of the AAATE (Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe) in 2008.

Invited speakers

Dr Jeffrey Soar

Dr Jeffrey Soar is the Convener of the Queensland Smart Home Initiative, Director of the Smart Ageing and Independent Living Foundation and Director of the Collaboration for Ageing and Aged-care Informatics Research at the University of Southern Queensland. He is one of Australia’s research leaders in technology innovation for ageing and independent living.

Dr Soar has held executive positions with responsibility for information and technology in New Zealand and in Australia at state, federal and hospital levels. He is currently Associate Professor in Information Systems at the University of Southern Queensland.

Conference mailing list

If you are currently not on the mailing list, or if your contact details have changed, please contact the conference organisers.

Conference organiser

A.M. Meetings Plus P/L
Email: arata10@ammp.com.au
Phone: 03 9372 7182

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Proceedings from past conferences

The presentations and indepth workshops at previous ARATA conferences have all been packed with new ideas and techniques in the delivery of assistive technology solutions across the main Special Interest Group areas. ARATA is making a sampling of these resources available to those who couldn't attend and as a taster of big things to come in 2010! Abstracts and papers are now online for the 2008 conference and over time we'll be releasing podcasts from key sessions at this event.

AT: Creating Value Through Participation: 2008 conference papers
Connecting People and Community Through Technology: 2006 conference papers
Technology: Everyone, Everywhere, Everyday: 2004 conference papers