For 25 years, ATSA has stood at the heart of an industry built on independence – supporting people with disability, older Australians, families and carers. In May, ATSA celebrated this milestone at its second Gala Dinner, reflecting on the incredible progress of the assistive technology sector and the dedicated individuals and organisations who make it possible.
The past year has been one of growth, innovation, and renewed purpose for ATSA.
Over the year, ATSA nearly doubled its team from four to seven staff, expanding capacity across both events and policy. Bringing full delivery of the ATSA Independent Living Expos in-house has strengthened ATSA’s ability to deliver high-quality experiences for exhibitors and attendees, while the expansion of the Policy and Advocacy team has allowed a far more proactive response to the significant reforms underway across the disability and aged care sectors.
Advocacy and Reform
ATSA continued to represent the interests of members and assistive technology (AT) users across multiple national forums. During the year, ATSA made 11 formal submissions, contributed to nine advisory committees and participated in 37 meetings across government and industry.
A key area of focus was the Support at Home Aged Care reform. Working alongside sector colleagues, ATSA strongly advocated against a state-run loan pool model for AT provision and the need for further consultation- efforts that contributed to the government delaying the rollout of the new scheme until November 2025. This delay allows for further collaboration to ensure the new model delivers sustainable, effective outcomes for both AT users and providers.
Education and Workforce Development
ATSA’s first year in formal training delivery saw the launch of a major new initiative in partnership with ATLAS FIOS USA and MySkill NZ, creating an internationally recognised certification pathway for AT technicians. Three courses were delivered across Australia, training 33 technicians in practical assessment and establishing three qualified assessors to continue the program.
Looking ahead, ATSA will conduct a feasibility study to identify further opportunities to add value to training and professional development across the sector.
Growth and Engagement
Membership continued to expand, reaching 180 members and affiliate members. ATSA delivered 114 education sessions, 16 one-off consultations and welcomed 6,300 attendees to expos nationwide. Online engagement also grew strongly, with over 118,000 LinkedIn impressions and103,000 website views.
Looking Forward
With increased capacity, ATSA is ready to deepen its advocacy, strengthen member engagement and continue leading the growth and professionalism of Australia’s assistive technology sector.
If you haven’t yet attended an ATSA Independent Living Expo, read our newsletter or joined as a member, now is the perfect time. Be part of the national voice for assistive technology – connect, collaborate and help shape a stronger, more inclusive future.
Learn more at www.atsa.org.au or call (02) 8006 7357.
