Fitting Retirement Send-Off for Local Engineering Legend

Image credit: Griffith University

With a career that has spanned almost four decades developing customised equipment for people with disabilities, Queensland engineer Peter Slattery has celebrated his recent retirement in true style.

As the Director of the Rehabilitation Engineering Centre, Peter has led a world-leading service designing and manufacturing mobility and assistive technology.

Located within Brisbane’s pioneering Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS), Peter’s career has played an extraordinary role in advancing rehabilitation technology to assist thousands of Queenslanders impacted by trauma and disability.

In recent years, Peter’s significant sector experience has also provided invaluable insights for bionic-medtech innovators participating in the Bionics Challenges run by Bionics Gamechangers Australia (then Bionics Queensland).

Of all the patients Peter has helped over the years, he reflected that it was his work with children which typically proved the most memorable.

“I have always enjoyed assisting children with their first powered wheelchair. As soon as they work out the controls the first thing they do is spin in a circle – to see a child’s joy at being able to independently move is just wonderful,” Peter told Metro North Health in a recent interview.

In a fitting tribute to the milestone occasion, Peter was gifted a 3D-printed bust courtesy of research colleagues at the Herston Biofabrication Institute.

Check out the full story via Metro North Health, one of Bionic Gamechangers Australia’s Associate partners.

Congratulations and best wishes, Peter!