Rehabilitation Engineering Centre ‘elf’ Alan set to retire after almost 34 years

The North Pole might be Santa’s official workshop location, but the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) has a magical workshop of their own.

The Rehabilitation Engineering Centre (REC), on the ground floor at STARS, has an extensive workshop where assistive technology and mobility equipment is built or modified for Queenslanders with disabilities.

After almost 34 years with Queensland Health, 18 of those with the Rehabilitation Engineering Centre, one of the workshop’s ‘elves’, Alan Bateman is retiring.

When Alan discovered he didn’t have the prerequisite subjects to be a draftsperson he started part-time work in his uncle’s orthotics business while studying at TAFE. After 9 years working in the family business Alan moved to the Orthotics and Prosthetics department at the Royal Brisbane, where he worked for 15 years before joining the Rehabilitation Engineering Centre in 2006.

For Alan, the Rehabilitation Engineering Centre provided a unique opportunity to see first-hand the benefits of his handiwork.

“The Centre has been such an enjoyable place to work due to the great team environment and you get to see the patient and their family/carers reaction to the modifications you’ve made for them, which is very rewarding,” Alan said.

“You really see what a difference you’ve made to their quality of life.”

One of Alan’s most memorable times with the Centre was participating in the annual Far North Queensland clinics for disabled children.

“We would all travel up to Cairns and set up a clinic in the local high school manual arts workshop, seeing about 20 patients over three to four days.”

“Although it was very fast paced it was enjoyable as it was a change of scenery, and the families were so appreciative of having such a service come to them rather than having to travel to Brisbane.”

Alan’s amazing upholstery skills will be missed by the REC team.

“The upholstery work I do is all self-taught. It came about as I do enjoy the challenge it creates but also because doing it in-house greatly improves the turn-around time for the patient as they typically get their seating back that same day. Historically we used to outsource all the upholstery to an external provider, but it could take weeks for it to come back.”

After nearly 34 years working in the industry, Alan’s advice for those starting out is to recognise the benefits of working in a close team environment.

“When someone brings in a wheelchair to REC for modifications, we come together to brainstorm what we are going to do. I would say don’t be afraid to share your own ideas as this is often where the solutions are.”

Alan is looking forward to spending more time on his acreage and travelling, with a trip to Japan planned for next year. He is also looking to further explore Australia, returning to the Kimberley and venturing to the Victorian highland country in his campervan.
To find out more about the Rehabilitation Engineering Centre.