Austrade media release

14 June 2007

The Liberty Swing, a world-first Australian innovation, is set to bring enjoyment to Californian children with the opening of the first swing in a major public park in the United States.

Liberty Swing has enabled many Australian children who use wheelchairs to experience the joy of having a swing in a park and it will now provide the same thrill for disabled kids in Elk Grove, California.

About 180 Liberty Swings have already been installed across Australia and New Zealand and it is now considered a standard piece of equipment in Australia for councils planning new accessible playgrounds.

The Liberty Swing, featured on the ABC’s New Inventors show, holds most types and sizes of wheelchairs and meets global safety standards for playground equipment, but is unique in that it can be locked to prevent accidents and vandalism and has an internal seat where a wheelchair is not necessary.

Diane James, Managing Director of Liberty Swing Pty Ltd, said that the Elk Grove swing will be the first major installation in a public park in the United States and represents a huge milestone for the company.

“Children in wheelchairs in the Elk Grove region of California will now have the opportunity to experience the simple pleasure of having a swing.
 
"For most children a city's parks and playgrounds are a favourite place to visit,  however children with special needs often cannot participate in the same activities as other children. The Liberty Swing changes that and allows children in wheelchairs to join in the fun and experience the same childhood activities that all children can enjoy.

“The export potential for this product is enormous as we have already installed six swings in the past 12 months in the US and we are receiving new enquiries on a daily basis from across America,” Ms James said.

Austrade is currently helping Liberty Swing negotiate a distribution deal with one of America's largest playground equipment manufacturers, with the hope that this will rapidly accelerate Liberty Swing’s entry into the market.

Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioner in Los Angeles, Kylie Hargreaves, said "All adults and parents will understand the amazing difference something like the Liberty Swing can make to a child's life. We all remember the sensation of flying through the air and the freedom something as simple as swinging used to bring us.

“Wayne Devine, the inventor of Liberty Swing, is an inspirational hero and Austrade is delighted to have played a part in helping bring his invention to US communities,” Ms Hargreaves said.

Through its expanded US network, Austrade helped Liberty Swing export to the US by providing market research, arranging introductions to potential partners and distributors and providing marketing and disabled sporting industry advice.
 
Since the introduction of the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement, the Australian Government has expanded Austrade’s network devoted to the US market. Austrade now provides extensive support for Australian exporters in the US market with representation in 20 US cities, eight specialist industry teams and a dedicated network of US Export Advisers around Australia.

For more information on the Liberty Swing visit www.libertyswing.com.au

Liberty Swing’s Diane James and Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioner in Los Angeles, Kylie Hargreaves, are available for media interviews.


ENDS

Media contact

Adam Blight
Tel: +61 2 6270 7168
Mob: 0412 890 599
Email: adam.blight@austrade.gov.au

For further news and information from the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) visit www.austrade.gov.au//mediacentre.