Melbourne girl NASA bound after invention

10 year Melbourne girl Brigette Veneris is off to America on an innovation adventure trip of a lifetime after winning the littleBIGidea competition with her idea for a band aid dispenser.

Bridgette came up with the idea after she was being treated for Leukemia last year and watched hospital staff and her parents opening so many band aids.

Bridgette developed a plan and prototype, where the band aids roll out like sticky tape.

“I thought, if no-one is going to do something about it, then this problem is just going to go on forever,” Bridgette said.

“The casing can close completely to make sure no dirt gets in to the casing and it keeps the band aids completely sterile.”

nasa invention

James O’Loghlin, host of the ABC’s New Inventors and Dr Rob Bell, host of Network Ten’s science show SCOPE, chose Bridgette’s invention as the winner.

“It makes me feel amazing, I never thought I could win the prize,” Bridgette said.

Her Dad Steve said, “She’s been so resilient, she had long beautiful brown hair, she lost all those curls, she lost her ability to walk, she has been the most positive person, she is my hero.”

Bridgette and her Dad will get to visit the NASA Kennedy Space Station, Epcot Theme Park at Disneyworld and Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Congratulations to Brigette.

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Image credit: littleBIGideas website

19 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 21 Jan 2022
    10:26 am
Good for her. I would love to know how she got on.

- - hopefullyheidi said
  - 27 Nov 2016
    2:20 pm
What an amazing little girl.

- - ella12 said
  - 16 Nov 2016
    2:47 pm
Good on you Brigette, very clever indeed.

- - rovermum said
  - 14 Nov 2016
    9:35 am
I saw this story on the news and thought what an absolutely brilliant idea. Why has it taken somebody so long to come up with it? It’s quite impressive and obvious really. And a 10 year old, based on her experience? I love this inspirational story. Brigette is a credit to herself and her family.

- - mom101628 said
  - 13 Nov 2016
    9:31 pm
This idea is magic. Every time I get a band aid I struggle with getting it apart and always thought there had to be a better way. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I do hope you enjoy the NASA trip.

- - rick said
  - 12 Nov 2016
    10:38 am
Go Girl. Take your great product and share it with the world and have fun whilst doing it?

Hope you continue to have good health.

- - aquamum said
  - 12 Nov 2016
    2:19 am
Amazing! What a brilliant idea – good on you Bridgette, enjoy NASA and your time in America!

- - kiddo.7 said
  - 11 Nov 2016
    5:30 pm
Congratulations Bridgette youre a very clever girl and you will really enjoy your visit to the NASA Kennedy Space Station, I was there in May and it was wonderful I could have gone back again if we had time ENJOY and keep your great inventions coming all the best

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 11 Nov 2016
    11:49 am
What an amazing and clever idea! I can’t believe the amazing things that kids these days are able to do and to think that she was so sick at the time and she still managed to come up with this. Such an amazing person!

- - mom134803 said
  - 11 Nov 2016
    10:25 am
What a clever idea Brigit !

- - mom91861 said
  - 11 Nov 2016
    7:47 am
Bridgette you are a very bright, clever & beautiful young lady. Well done I for one am very proud of your achievements.

- - kathjax said
  - 10 Nov 2016
    9:30 pm
What a great idea…i hate opening bandaids!

- - mom160421 said
  - 10 Nov 2016
    9:06 pm
She’s a very clever young lady.

- - june11 said
  - 10 Nov 2016
    8:13 pm
The current covers on bandaids can be damaged very easily or perish leaving the bandaid open to contamination which can lead to greatly reduced chance of healing

- - mom70876 said
  - 10 Nov 2016
    8:01 pm
What a clever idea. Congratulations to this little girl

- - mom64356 said
  - 10 Nov 2016
    5:02 pm
What a super invention, I hope it’s available to everyone, not just hospitals. No more paper waste from bandaid wrappers!

- - mom90758 said
  - 10 Nov 2016
    4:51 pm
What an honour! Congratulations, Brigette, on your great invention! 🙂

- - mom112217 said
  - 10 Nov 2016
    3:18 pm
Congratulations to Brigette,well done!

- - Aida Moroccan said
  - 10 Nov 2016
    1:46 pm
What a cleaver idea well done
God protect her