The Centre for Accessibility’s 2021 Australian Access Awards were held on Friday 19 November at the Maritime Museum in Fremantle. Indigo’s National Equipment Database (NED) was awarded the Accessibility Initiative of the Year from among 14 other finalists in the category.        

The Accessibility Initiative of the Year award is open to any Australian project that has endeavoured to improve accessibility in the lives of people with disability. This category is for projects that are making a difference in improving access.

Business Innovation Manager, Bernadette Mitchell-Armstrong, said the team was both honoured and surprised to receive the Award: “We are absolutely honoured to win the 2021 Australian Access Award for Initiative of the Year for NED, it was a lovely and welcomed surprise.

“Redeveloping the NED site has been a labour of love over the past year. We received input from customers including people who use Assistive Technology (AT), family members, carers, health care professionals and suppliers to create a high-quality product which is accessible and provides additional functionality such as comparing and shortlisting items.  

“We look forward to future improvements for the site, which we will progress in the new year. I dedicate this award to our customers and suppliers who are the reason NED exists.” She said. 

Indigo Chief Executive Officer, Steve Glew attended the awards ceremony on Friday: “It was a privilege for Indigo to be recognised against such high calibre entrants for the Accessibility Initiative of the Year. 

“The National Equipment Database (NED) is one of Indigo’s suite of products available to all Australians, and its primary aim is to assist individuals and health professionals to make informed decisions and purchases about helpful devices and equipment to support their independence.

“NED is the largest AT database with more than 15,000 different products with an audience of more than 500,000 browsers from all around Australia each year, and we expect this to grow in 2022.”

“I would like to thank the Business Innovation Team for all the work that went into making NED into the accessible site we have today and congratulations to all the finalists. Thank you so much to the Centre for Accessibility for this year’s award.”