Darren Lomman
WA Young Australian of the Year 2007
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Founder Dreamfit Foundation
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Darren Lomman is passionate about using his engineering background to help people with a disability participate in activities and fulfil their dreams.
Darren's mission was inspired after meeting a paraplegic who was passionate about motorcycles. After discovering that his friend's dream was to one day ride again, Darren dedicated three years to design and build a hand-held, controlled motorcycle to help fulfil his dream.
After completing the motorcycle, Darren wanted to continue helping people with a disability and combined his engineering background and entrepreneurial flair to found the Dreamfit Foundation.
Darren and the Dreamfit team have worked on a number of innovative recreation and leisure products such as a joystick-controlled hovercraft, hand controlled driving simulator, wheelchair-accessible yachts and speed boats, an abseiling tower and a seated surfboard.
Darren's vision is to diversify Dreamfit from recreation into a range of other services and equipment areas including rehabilitation and medical equipment, modifications to workplaces and homes and adapted vehicles.
In addition to his own projects, Darren strives to raise awareness of disability issues in the community. He actively creates valuable links between different sectors, organised the 2006 Western Australian Celebration of Ability Expo, founded the DisAbled Recreation Club and volunteers with the Disabled Surfing Association.
Darren’s passion and drive for his work has led him to receive several prestigious awards including the Go Getter Award at the National Disability Awards 2007 (for a young person who has made a significant contribution to improving the lives of people with disability), Australian Young Biomedical Engineer of the Year 2005, WA Young Person of the Year 2006, WA Citizen of the Year Youth Award 2006, WA Young Australian of the Year 2007.