Brain Injury SA R2213: Commenced 8/7/2022 – Completed 29/8/2023

The value of someone with similar lived experience of brain trauma assisting another understand the impact of brain injury has been research evidenced and termed Peer Support or Peer Mentoring. This project will develop opportunities for the utilisation of Peer Mentoring to assist and strengthen a person's transition and adjustment following brain injury. Currently Peer Mentoring is offered to inpatients with brain injury under health funding but ceases following discharge. This proposal builds on Brain Injury SA's experience of utilising Peer Mentoring in its Reconnect Transition Program, expanding the role into community-based support. Important in the program is the delivery of screening, training and supervision to the Peer Mentors, and undertaking appropriate matching for effective Peer Mentoring relationships. The value of this program is to both the mentee in managing a challenging period of adjustment post discharge from hospital, and the mentor who has developed good understanding of their own experience and develops purpose and skills in sharing their experience and supporting another going through similar demands for adjustment. As paid positions, Peer Mentoring also becomes an opportunity for and steppingstone to employment, strengthening the Mentor's resilience and capacity for work.

Brain Injury SA R2217: Commenced 8/7/2022 – Completed 28/7/2023

To give access to the Be Well Program of resilience and wellbeing to a group of carers of people living with ABI for the creation of a carers network of support that commences with equipping individuals with a tailored plan for their own mental health and wellbeing. The Be Well Program is an evidenced based program developed by a team of researchers at the SAMHRI to help people explore their own personal mental health and wellbeing journey. This program includes training a family member of a person with an acquired brain injury (ABI) to become a licensed trainer in the Be Well Program and to co-facilitate the roll out the Be Well program to families, carers and supporters of people with ABI under this project. The connectivity between participants will be explored with them for further development of a carers support network as the programs are rolled out.

The impact of an ABI on individuals and their families is well documented and with any loss of function for an individual, it is often the family members / supporters who are called upon to step into a carer role or to provide supervision. This can lead to changes in roles and responsibilities, as well as changes in the dynamics of a relationship. Families often have little or no opportunity to prepare for a brain injury and they need to learn how to cope with the ongoing impacts of the injury and the uncertainty this brings for the future for both themselves and their family member.

The Be Well Program focuses on 6 key mental health outcomes and supports people to identify domains where they are doing well, those they can improve on and ones where they need to take action. Providing the program to family members and supports of people with an ABI will allow them to reflect on their current situation and build a plan to improve their wellbeing, which will benefit them and their family member. It also provides added benefit of being delivered to people who have a shared experience.

Road Trauma Support R2233: Commenced 1/8/2022 – Completed 31/12/2022

Road Trauma Support Team provides free counselling to anyone effected by Road Trauma. The early intervention of counselling can be crucial for anyone effected by Road Trauma.

Counselling is available to anyone in South Australia.

The work the Road Trauma Support Team (RTST) do is crucial for families, witnesses and drivers who are involved in road crashes. Each year about 100 people die on SA roads and around 800 people are seriously injured. Road Trauma can affect anyone at any time and it does not discriminate. RTST offers free counselling to anyone and is the only free service in SA. RTST also assists with education programs such as RAA Street Smart and hold a yearly memorial service for victims of Road Trauma.

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Royal Adelaide Hospital R2210: Commenced 14/7/2022 – Completed 30/12/2022

The P.A.R.T.Y. Program SA (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth) is a full day, in hospital interactive trauma prevention program for students aged 15–19yrs old. With restrictions in place a Mobile and Online program is offered. The program is also offered in regional areas and can present an indigenous specific program.

Through vivid clinical reality and emotional experience students learn about what happens when young people make a decision that can ultimately change their lives forever. They learn from real people and their very real experiences. This PARTY takes young people along the path of a trauma patient as they are rushed through the resuscitation room, intensive care and if lucky enough, the road to recovery.

Throughout the day, students hear about risk taking, choice and consequences. they hear from Emergency service personnel, Trauma Doctors, Emergency Nurses and Allied Health professionals who share their own experiences of looking after patients who have been either killed or seriously injured as a result of a single often risky decision.

At the end of the day, students listen to the story of a Trauma Ambassador and interact with them to understand what it is like to live with a life changing injury.

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The Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association of South Australia (PQSA) GA00064: Commenced 1/7/2019 – Completed 30/6/2021

‘Discovering the Power in Me’ program is a two day workshop designed to help develop inner strength and resilience in people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). The program delivers twelve interactive units in small groups and is aimed at individuals with SCI, their loved ones, and carers. Accredited facilitators teach the concepts in powerful segments, with components that feature audience members who share experiences, stories and questions.

Discovering the Power in Me utilises principles of applied cognitive psychology to provide people with disabilities and their families with tools to re-assert control over their lives, to increase engagement in the community and improve wellbeing and mental health.

Scope Global Pty Ltd GA00104: Commenced 1/4/2019 – Completed 31/12/2019

The Scope Global initiative connected participants with a lived experience of disability to work alongside their local counterparts with disabilities in Tonga.

Scope Global facilitated the training and exchange of participants with various technical skills to Tonga for a 28-day period.

Participants were trained in various areas such as advocacy, storytelling and technical skills before deployment to work alongside Tongans with disabilities as a means of mutual capacity development.

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Clickability GA00025: Commenced 1/8/2017 – Completed 1/1/2019

Clickability supported the Lifetime Support Authority’s (LSA) pilot provision of self-directed supports for appropriate participants by providing relevant, curated information about participants’ support options.

The pilot aimed to enable participants, their families, and carers to have increased online access to LSA services and service providers, to afford Lifetime Support Scheme (LSS) participants greater choice and control, and provide increased opportunities for participants to contribute reviews of service providers.

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Page last updated: 4 October 2023