The world's first Hackathon for chronic pain

Definition - A hackathon (also known as a hack day, hackfest or codefest) is an event in which computer programmers and others involved in software development and hardware development collaborate intensively on software projects.

Entrants and donors are invited for the world’s first Hackathon for Chronic Pain to be held over one weekend May 20-22, 2016 at Fishburners in Sydney as a lead up to National Pain Week 2016 (July 20-26).

The Hackathon aims to develop a minimum viable prototype of an app that addresses the lifestyle, social and psychological needs of people living with chronic pain.

Teams of digital technology professionals such as web designers, graphic designers and coders will work with people living with pain to build an app to solve the problems identified by people in pain. The teams will work ‘around the clock’ to develop the “app” over the weekend of May 20-22. Prizes of $6,000 are being offered. The winner will be announced on the night of Sunday May 22, 2016.

Judges are :

• Dr Mandy Nielsen, pain researcher, lives with pain, VP Chronic Pain Australia
• Pete Cooper, iCentral: Founder at The Start Society & iCentralCo. Tech startup ecosystem advocate.
• Gary Morgan, Managing Director, MPT Innovation - Gary Morgan is managing director at MPT Innovation Group and founder and CEO at People Insights Group. Gary Morgan has over 20 years experience as an executive and consultant developing and driving digital innovation, strategy, business performance, international collaboration, development and growth in organisations.

For further information please go to:  http://cpahackathon.devpost.com/com
Sponsorship email: [email protected]

“The co-design methodology of the Hackathon is about developing ideas with the people who will benefit from the end solution – the app,” said Dr Coralie Wales, President of Chronic Pain Australia who organize National Pain Week 2016.

“This is so exciting  - developing tools and networks for people with chronic pain to connect to and learn from each other in the community should be celebrated.

“Chronic Pain (pain that lasts for longer than 3 months) is the fastest growing medical condition in Australia with approximately 4 million people currently recognized as living with the challenges of chronic pain.  Chronic Pain Australia is a non profit consumer organization which receives no Government funding.

“As well as asking digital professionals to participate - $6,000 in prizes being offered;  we are also seeking donors to sponsor a meal or a prize for the participants of the hackathon.  The cost of this is a $500 contribution or an in kind contribution,” said Dr Coralie Wales. – do we need an email for people to contact if they want to get involved?