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AOPA | Endorsed Education – Application Form v4.0

Composite Materials and Processing for Orthotic and Prosthetic Manufacturing

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Educational activity - AOPA Endorsed for 21 hours of Formal Learning ( 21 CPD points)

Proposed Dates
February 2027
Start time
8am
Finish time
4pm
Total hours (excl. meal breaks)
7 Hours per day excluding 1 hour lunch
Total three day workshop= 21 hours
Venue/s incl. address
Australian Institute of Engineering
60 Belfast St, Broadmeadows VIC 3047
Intended audience
Prosthetic and Orthotic Technicians, clinicians and anyone involved in the manufacturing of prosthetics and orthotics.
Maximum number of participants
8
Proposed cost per participant
$812 per person
Note
The cost listed is based on delivery from an AIE campus. External delivery will incur additional charges.
Presenter details

2. Presenter details

Presenter name: Scott Compson, supported by Zoe Levesque

Presenter

Scott Compson

01

Summary of presenter

  • With over than 25 years of experience in composites engineering, advanced manufacturing and process optimisation.
  • Scott has extensive expertise in resin systems, reinforcement materials, vacuum processing, bonding, quality control and composite manufacturing techniques.
  • As a qualified Trainer and Assessor in engineering and composites, he delivers and assesses nationally recognised Certificate III Engineering qualifications.
  • He has held senior technical and management roles responsible for composite design, materials selection, tooling development and manufacturing quality systems.
  • He is also a patent-pending holder for an advanced composite process and is recognised for his practical industry knowledge, innovation and commitment to developing workforce capability in composite manufacturing.
  • The workshop focuses on the practical skills required to safely and consistently process composite materials used in orthotic and prosthetic manufacturing.
  • Scott's specialist expertise in composite materials and manufacturing processes directly aligns with these learning outcomes and provides participants with evidence-informed, industry-based knowledge that can be applied within orthotic and prosthetic fabrication environments.
Supporting presenter

Zoe Levesque

02

Summary of presenter

  • Zoe Levesque will be supporting Scott.
  • Zoe is a Certified Prosthetist and Orthotist who graduated from La Trobe University in 2017.
  • Following graduation, she completed graduate training in the United Kingdom with Blatchford before returning to Australia.
  • She has worked across Queensland and also held a locum role with Barwon Prosthetics and Orthotics.
  • Since then, Zoe has transitioned from clinical practice into training and assessment.
  • She holds a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
  • She is passionate about supporting and expanding professional development opportunities.
Learning Outcomes

3. Learning Outcomes

Format

3 days in person practical workshop with demonstrations, discussion and activities for participants.

Synopsis

This practical three-day workshop provides applied training in the selection, handling, and processing of composite materials used in orthotic and prosthetic manufacturing. Topics include the safe use of resins, hardeners, fibers, adhesives, and related materials; interpretation of Safety Data Sheets (SDS), Technical Data Sheets (TDS), and manufacturing instructions; material selection and compatibility; fibre orientation and placement; vacuum closed-moulding processes; resin processing controls; bonding and secondary lamination; and trimming, finishing, and quality assurance.

Participants will manufacture and evaluate composite laminate coupons, undertake representative prosthetic lay-up activities using approved manufacturing instructions, and practice vacuum bagging, leak checking, compaction, and process monitoring techniques. Practical exercises will focus on identifying common manufacturing defects, evaluating process outcomes, and applying corrective actions to improve quality and consistency.

Composite materials practical workshop

The final part of the workshop will involve testing the laminate coupons produced during the practical activities. These tests will include Impact, Deflection, and Twist, and will demonstrate how fibre type, fibre orientation, and the number of layers influence the structural behavior of the laminate. Participants will be able to observe how these variables affect the amount of twist and deflection, reinforcing key concepts in composite construction and performance

i

The workshop is limited to manufacturing processes and materials handling and does not include patient assessment, clinical decision-making, orthotic or prosthetic design, structural certification, or patient outcome claims. The emphasis is on safe, repeatable, and evidence-informed manufacturing practices.

Intended learning outcomes

By completion of the workshop, participants will be able to:

  1. 01

    1. Apply safe work practices when handling composite materials, chemicals, resins, hardeners, adhesives and associated manufacturing consumables.

  2. 02

    2. Interpret and use SDS, TDS, manufacturer instructions and workplace documentation to support material selection and processing decisions.

  3. 03

    3. Select appropriate resin systems, reinforcement materials and consumables from supplied options for defined orthotic and prosthetic manufacturing requirements.

  4. 04

    4. Explain the influence of fibre type, fibre form and fibre orientation on laminate construction and manufacturing outcomes.

  5. 05

    5. Prepare, lay up and process composite laminates using vacuum closed-moulding techniques, including bagging, sealing, leak checking and process monitoring.

  6. 06

    6. Control key resin processing variables, including mixing ratios, batch size, viscosity, working time, cure requirements and environmental conditions.

  7. 07

    7. Identify material compatibility requirements for lamination, secondary bonding and adhesive applications.

  8. 08

    8. Recognise common composite manufacturing defects and apply appropriate quality checks and corrective actions.

  9. 09

    9. Perform trimming, finishing, edge sealing and post-processing activities in accordance with approved manufacturing instructions.

  10. 10

    10. Evaluate representative composite coupons and use observations to support quality improvement and process consistency.