History of Assistive Technology Australia (Independent Living Centre NSW)

The setting up of Independent Living Centres in Australia followed the recommendations set out in the Woodhouse and Meares Report of 1974, as a Whitlam Government initiative. When the government changed, the Australian Association of Occupational Therapists, concerned that the concept would be lost, encouraged its State Associations to support the idea and develop plans to ensure such a service eventuated.

The planning of an Independent Living Centre for New South Wales began officially in 1976 with the formation of a sub-committee of the ACROD NSW Liaison Committee on Aids and Information Services.

In 1978, the Board of the Royal Ryde Rehabilitation Hospital agreed to make premises available for the Centre, and the Northern Metropolitan Health Region of the Health Commission of NSW agreed to finance two positions, one full-time Occupational Therapist, and one part-time Clerk/Typist.

In September 1978, Ruth Grayson was appointed to establish the Centre, assisted by Joyce Westoby. The task of researching and documenting information then commenced.

Milestones

1. September 1978
2. Appointment of Ruth Grayson as Founding Director
3. April 1981
4. Official Opening of the Independent Living Centre NSW (ILCNSW) by The Hon Neville Wran, QC, MP, Premier of NSW
5. October 1984
6. Launch of Independent Living journal
7. February 1990
8. Appointment of Charlotte Smedley as Director
9. 1990
10. Incorporation of ILCNSW as an independent association
11. June 1991
12. Achievement of Charitable Status
13. July 1991
14. ILC INFORM became officially available to all Independent Living Centres
15. June 1992
16. Funding for development of information database
17. August 1992
18. Acceptance by Nick Farr-Jones to become Patron
19. August 1994
20. Acceptance by Ms Pat O'Shane to become Patron
21. 1995
22. ILC Access Consultancy commenced
23. April 1995
24. Launch of the Mobile Unit
25. 1996
26. Appointment of Jean Fagan as Director
27. January 1997
28. Transfer of funding and service agreement from NSW Health to Ageing and Disability Dept
29. June 1998
30. Appointment of Jane Bringolf as Executive Director
31. November 1998
32. Windows version of ILC Magic developed with assistance from ILC South Australia and launched. Subscriptions sales of ILC Magic on CD.
33. December 1998
34. Decommissioning of mobile unit. Focus on community development, Info-Line and Website.
35. March 2000
36. ILC Education and Training commenced
37. July 2000
38. Launch of the first ILCNSW Website
39. January 2001
40. Help Desk set up at the Display centre to assist casual visitors, and Info-Line staff moved upstairs to a call centre
41. August 2001
42. ILCNSW registered as a training organisation with the NSW Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board
43. 2001
44. Received funds from Home and Community Care Program for provision of telephone advice about home modifications, fixtures and fittings
45. 2002
46. Decision to become a Company Limited by Guarantee, to be effective from the beginning of the new financial year in 2003
47. 2003
48. Assisted Australian Association of Occupational Therapists NSW with development of competency standards for occupational therapists undertaking home modifications
49. April 2004
50. Centre relocated to the Northcott Society building to purpose built premises in Parramatta
51. August 2004
52. New premises and display area officially opened by Minister Carmel Tebbutt
53. June 2005
54. Launch of National ILC website, development being funded by Telstra Disability Services
55. January 2008
56. Robyn Chapman appointed Chief Executive Officer
57. 2008
58. Received funds to redevelop website to meet the information needs of rural allied health professionals
59. November 2009
60. New website and web-based Assistive Technology database "@magic" launched
61. April 2012
62. Centre relocated to Westpoint Blacktown
63. December 2012
64. Official opening of ILCNSW display which includes an apartment built to the Livable Housing Design Guidelines
65. October 2013
66. Launch of ILCNSW facebook
67. February 2014
68. Minister Ajaka visited the Blacktown Display and launched the virtual display on ILCNSW website
69. June 2015
70. ASQA approved the inclusion of ILCNSW Home Mods course on our RTO scope. ILCNSW started offering a 2 day national recognised competency course for built environment and allied health professionals
71. August 2015
72. iCREATE Asia alliance MOA signed in Singapore in the presence of HRM Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Kingdom of Thailand
73. December 2015
74. ASQA approved the Certificate IV in Assistive Technology Mentoring
75. August 2016
76. ILCNSW became known as Assistive Technology Australia
77. September 2016
78. Join European Assistive Technology Information Network (EASTIN) as an Associate Partner. Adopt ISO 9999 classification in the AT Database.
79. February 2017
80. Interface between EASTIN portal and AT Australia web database implemented; EASTIN searches on AT-Aust data went LIVE