(Click on presenters’ photographs to find out more about them)
8:00
BREAKFAST SYMPOSIUM – brought to you by ABBOTT
“Blood-based biomarkers to aid management of suspected mild traumatic brain injury by Dr Stuart McDonald”, “International clinical adoption of the Abbott mTBI Biomarkers by Dr Terence Moodley”.
Stuart McDonald Terence Moodley
(NB – attendance at this breakfast is by invitation only.)
9:30
WELCOME TO COUNTRY – Major Sumner AM, Ngarrindjeri/Kaurna Elder
Major Sumner AM
9:40
INTRODUCTION AND HOUSEKEEPING – Nick Rushworth (person with a brain injury), Executive Officer Brain Injury Australia, Conference Chair
Nick Rushworth
9:45
OFFICIAL OPENING – Nat Cook MP, South Australian Minister for Human Services
Nat Cook
10:00
JOINT CONSUMER OPENING ADDRESS AND INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE ADDRESS – Ché Phillips and Bruce Powell with Professor Mark Bayley, Coriat Family Chair in Rehabilitation Innovations at The University of Toronto, Canada
Ché Phillips Bruce Powell Mark Bayley
11:15
MORNING TEA
11:45
CONCURRENT SESSIONS 1
The Disciplines – Social Work
Canada’s Evidence-based Review of moderate to severe Acquired Brain Injury (ERABI) found a “multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation seems to be more effective than a single discipline approach”. The Conference draws attention to underacknowledged disciplines. Social workers in brain injury: provide counselling and emotional supports for the injured and their families; facilitate social supports, assist with community re-integration; and advocate for, and mobilise, resources to help individuals and their families meet the long-term challenge of maintaining community participation.
“Twenty years’ worth of the good, the bad and the ugly: personal and professional perspectives on social work after brain injury in the United Kingdom” – Associate Professor Alyson Norman, School of Psychology Plymouth University
Alyson Norman
“The lived experience: how ‘Version 2.0’ can be as good or better than ‘Version 1.0’” – Kylie Smith, Lifetime Support Authority, South Australia
Kylie Smith
Children
“The rewards and challenges of working collaboratively to improve care and long-term outcomes after childhood brain injury” – Dr Louise Crowe, Lead of the Acquired Brain Injury flagship at Melbourne’s Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, with representatives from Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission, the Stroke Foundation, and Heads Together for ABI
Louise Crowe
The First Person – The Power of Peer Supports
Connecting with others who share similar experiences of injury, recovery and adaptation can be a powerful antidote to the isolation that often accompanies brain injury. And the research into peer supports generally reports improvements in the quality of life measures and community integration of participants. But what “works”, what are the essential ingredients, in successful peer supports? The Conference hopes to provide some answers.
“Butterfly Hour: the power of community and connection” – Lauren Spear (person with a brain injury) The Orange Butterfly Foundation, South Australia
Lauren Spear
“Boosting research impact through co-design: the lived experience of Acquired Brain Injury consumers” – Nat Linke (person with a brain injury) and Virginia Giddings (person with a brain injury), Brain Injury Matters Victoria
Nat Linke Virginia Giddings
“Perth’s Kings Park Warriors; from humble Acquired Brain Injury community support group to metro-wide not-for-profit, the journey of consumers with lived experience supporting each other” – Miffy Durham, State Head Injury Unit and Gregg Oughton (person with a brain injury), Kings Park Warriors Western Australia
Miffy Durham Gregg Oughton
12:30
CONCURRENT SESSIONS 2
Employment
Around 2 in every 5 people who have sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) find employment, 1 in 2 after a stroke. The last independent study of open employment services found that people with a brain injury had the second lowest representation in the workforce of all people with a disabilty and the third highest direct support needs (after people with autism and intellectual disability). And, while the total number of participants in Disability Employment Services has risen 7 per cent over the last 5 years, those with a brain injury have fallen 10 per cent. The Conference will share first person success stories while examining the key obstacles to, and some local innovations for finding, satisfying and sustainable employment for people with a brain injury.
“The ‘Employ Me Project’: learnings, outcomes and potential future applications from the Brain Injury Association of Tasmania’s project utilising co-design to support people living with a brain injury on their employment journey” – Bill Fulton (person with a brain injury) and Deborah Byrne, Brain Injury Association of Tasmania
Bill Fulton Deborah Byrne
When the Child becomes the Carer
“Lessons from a child, now clinician, on living with a parent with a brain injury” – Alice Gersch, Queensland Health
Alice Gersch
“Using experience-based co-design with children, adult relatives, and health professionals to develop an interactive educational platform after parental brain injury” – Kate Dawes, South Australian Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service
Kate Dawes
Innovations in Therapy
“Reducing lifetime cost of care and family burden post-catastrophic injury through an interdisciplinary therapy-based transitional program at Brightwater Marangaro” – Adelene Yap, Brightwater Care Group Western Australia
Adelene Yap
“Cognitive Behavioural Therapy versus health education for sleep disturbance and fatigue following Acquired Brain Injury; a Randomised Controlled Trial” – Professor Jennie Ponsford, Monash University Victoria
Jennie Ponsford
“Effects of animal-assisted therapy on the emotional, physical, and psychological well-being of people with an Acquired Brain Injury” – Michael McKenzie, Brightwater Care Group Western Australia
Michael McKenzie
The First Person – Stroke
While the median age for stroke in Australia is around 75 years, one in every four occurs in a person aged less than 65 years. Compared to older people, “young strokes” take longer to seek medical attention, are less likely to receive rehabilitation, and have more unmet needs in relation to psychosocial functioning and return to work. Rates of young stroke are increasing worldwide due to an increase in modifiable risk factors such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
“A stroke doesn’t discriminate age nor health, but everyone deserves support” – Paul Bovington (person with a brain injury), South Australia
Paul Bovington
“Isolation and connection; the journeys of young stroke survivors” – Saran Chamberlain (person with a brain injury), Dave Flood (person with a brain injury), South Australia
Saran Chamberlain Dave Flood
“Childhood Stroke Project: delivering new resources to support survivors and their families” – Dr. Mardee Greenham, Childhood Stroke Coordinator National Stroke Foundation, Dee Honeychurch OAM, Hailey McKirdy (person with a brain injury), Victoria
Mardee Greenham Dee Honeychurch Hailey McKirdy
1:15
LUNCH
2:15
HALF-DAY WORKSHOP (2:15 – 5:30)
INNOVATIONS IN SUPPORTING SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION AFTER BRAIN INJURY – Acquired Brain Injury Communication Lab at The University of Sydney: Professor Leanne Togher; Dr. Petra Avramovic; Dr Elise Bogart; Dr. Sophie Brassel; Dr. Liss Brunner; Dr. Rachael Rietdijk
This Workshop will showcase innovations in evidence-based assessment and intervention for communication challenges following brain injury, based on research conducted in the will learn:
the nature of cognitive-communication disorders after brain injury with reference to “TBIBank” resources;
the recently updated “INCOG” – named after an International group of Cognitive researchers and clinicians – clinical practice guidelines in this field; innovations in assessment of discourse;
the application of evidence-based communication partner training programs such as “convers-ABI-lity” and “interact-ABI-lity”; and
a model for identifying and addressing service-level communication barriers in healthcare settings; rehabilitation addressing social media use; and the potential for use of virtual reality in this field.
The presenters will share research findings and provide practical resources for clinicians. Attendees will have opportunity to plan how they might apply these evidence-based research advances to their own clinical service and practices.
Leanne Togher Petra Avramovic Elise Bogart Sophie Brassel Liss Brunner Rachael Rietdijk
PLENARY (2:15 – 3:15)
FROM BENCH TO BEDSIDE TO BEDROOM: WHERE’S QUALITY AND HOW DO YOU FIND IT; AND WHAT’S BEST PRACTICE AND HOW DO YOU DO IT? – Facilitated by Professor Mark Bayley, Coriat Family Chair in Rehabilitation Innovations at The University of Toronto Canada and Professor Jennie Ponsford, Monash University Victoria
In 2019, the Australian Government invested $50 million from its Medical Research Future Fund in “nationally co-ordinated medical research to improve the recovery of patients with a Traumatic Brain Injury”, and $220 million “to bring together researchers, health professionals, industry and patients to make transformative improvements in heart and vascular health and stroke”. The Conference is interested in what happens to this research after it’s completed – especially where what the research finds, if implemented, would directly benefit those living with the disabling consequences of brain injury. And, for those providing services and supports: how should they go about implementing the “best practice” evidenced from research; and what constitutes “quality”?
Mark Bayley Jennie Ponsford
“Cognitive rehabilitation following Traumatic Brain Injury: an international survey of current clinician practice” – Dr. Jessica Trevena-Peters, Monash University Victoria
Jessica Trevena-Peters
“Understanding ‘quality’ in adult brain injury rehabilitation from the perspectives of different stakeholders: a participatory mixed methods study” – Professor Susan Hillier, University of South Australia
Susan Hillier
“Health professional and consumer perspectives of the important features of a community brain injury rehabilitation service” – Liesel Jeffers, Northern NSW Local Health District
Liesel Jeffers
“Bridging the gap: practical strategies for enhancing quality disability support grounded in lived experience” – Dr. Megan Topping, Summer Foundation Victoria
Megan Topping
“Developing Clinical Practice Guidelines for the treatment of psychosocial difficulties in adults with moderate-to-severe Traumatic Brain Injury” – Dr. Cynthia Honan, University of Tasmania
Cynthia Honan
3:15
AFTERNOON TEA
3:45
CONCURRENT SESSIONS 3
The Power of Peer Supports
Connecting with others who share similar experiences of injury, recovery and adaptation can be a powerful antidote to the isolation that often accompanies brain injury. And the research into peer supports generally reports improvements in the quality of life measures and community integration of participants. But what “works”, what are the essential ingredients, in successful peer supports? The Conference hopes to provide some answers
“Relationships, identity and social support: case examples and the role of peer support in sub-acute brain injury rehabilitation” – Jo Trandafil and Dana Makrid with Kate Dawes, South Australian Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service
Jo Trandafil Dana Makrid Kate Dawes
“Lived experience of the impacts of peer support groups for adults with an Acquired Brain Injury” – Virginia Giddings (person with a brain injury), Brain Injury Matters and Dr. Lauren Kosta, University of Melbourne
Virginia Giddings Lauren Kosta
“From isolation to connection: Brain Injury SA’s Peer Mentor Program” – Brain Injury SA South Australia
“Heads Together for ABI’s online peer education; an innovative peer support resource demonstrating the power of partnership between lived experience, health, and research” – Kate Heine, Heads Together for ABI and Dr. Taylor Jenkin, University of Melbourne
Kate Heine Taylor Jenkin
Sexuality
Sexuality is a crucial facet of life and goes well beyond sexual acts themselves, involving an individual’s psychological, physiological and social characteristics. Brain injury often impacts perceived sexual appeal, sexual drive, arousal and function. Yet, many injured feel uncomfortable to disclose and, research suggests, clinicians are reluctant or feel ill-equipped to explore matters sexual.
“Let’s talk: having the hard discussions – sexual identity, mental health” – Saran Chamberlain (person with a brain injury), South Australia
Saran Chamberlain
Maybe if this was addressed sooner, maybe things might be different in our relationship? I don’t know. but who knows’; sexuality after Traumatic Brain Injury and its place in healthcare a qualitative exploration of survivors’ experience” – Jill Hwang, Monash University Victoria
Jill Hwang
“Sexuality and rehabilitation needs following traumatic motor vehicle injuries: client and clinician perspectives” – Caitlin Fulton, Lifetime Support Authority South Australia
Caitlin Fulton
“Co-designing for behavioural change: understanding barriers and enablers to addressing sexuality after Traumatic Brain Injury and mapping intervention strategies in a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation unit” – Professor Jennie Ponsford, Monash University Victoria
Jennie Ponsford
“Evaluating a novel Cognitive Behaviour Therapy intervention for sexuality changes after Traumatic Brain Injury” – Dr. Elinor Fraser, Monash University Victoria
Elinor Fraser
4:45
CONCURRENT SESSIONS 4
Behaviour
Severe Traumatic Brain Injury can cause permanent and profound physical and cognitive disability. And for around half of the survivors of severe Traumatic Brain Injury, they will also manifest “challenging behaviours” (sometimes referred to as “behaviours of concern”): impulsivity; irritability; verbal, and sometimes physical, aggression. These behaviours are reported by survivors and their families as being the most disabling aspect of their brain injury. The more severe the Traumatic Brain Injury, the more severe the behaviours and, unchecked, they can worsen with time.
“Barriers, enablers and implementation strategies for improved care to people with Challenging Behaviours after Traumatic Brain Injury in acute hospital settings” – Dr. Heather Block, Flinders University South Australia
Heather Block
“A multidisciplinary team approach to Behaviours of Concern; one form to rule them all” – Susan Lane, Tracey Carruthers, and Jessica Skene, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District New South Wales
Susan Lane Tracey Carruthers Jessica Skene
“The ‘Behaviour Resource Group’; an interdisciplinary model for Positive Behaviour Support in an inpatient brain injury rehabilitation unit” – Lauren Bannard, Joshua Butler, and Sophie Flint, South Australian Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service
Lauren Bannard Joshua Butler Sophie Flint
Brain Injury in the Military
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide is due to deliver its Final Report on 9th September 2024. Traumatic Brain Injury has been referred to as the “signature injury” of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over 300,000 United States Armed Forces veterans have sustained a brain injury just since 2003’s Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to the Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health, 1 in every 10 Australian Defence Force personnel who have served in the Middle East “reported the criteria for a new ‘mild’ Traumatic Brain Injury.” Sustaining one or more Traumatic Brain Injuries has been shown to more than quadruple the lifetime risk of a suicide attempt.
The Hidden Toll: Investigating Traumatic Brain Injury in Combat Veterans – Paul Scanlan, Vigil Australia
Paul Scanlan
Technology
My technology space: tools and resources for planning the use of Assistive Technology for cognitive support following Acquired Brain Injury – Associate Professor Libby Callaway, Monash University Victoria
Libby Callaway
Feasibility testing of a motivational chatbot for brain injury rehabilitation – Dr. Judith Hocking, Flinders University South Australia
Judith Hocking
The local and global bionic innovation landscape aligned to brain injury: a deep dive into devices, treatments and implants – Dr. Robyn Stokes, Bionics Gamechangers Australia
Robyn Stokes
5:30
CONFERENCE CLOSE, DAY ONE
5:45
DOCUMENTARY – “SHE ALWAYS FIGHTS IN THE END”; QUITA DOCKING’S STORY
Like many people who sustain a severe brain injury, then 19 year-old jillaroo Quita Docking’s life was changed in an instant – when her horse, Brumby, tripped and fell on her crushing her skull. Countless hours of rehabilitation and multiple surgeries later, Quita’s come a long way since that 2002 day in Timber Creek, 300 kilometres west of Katherine in the Northern Territory. And she joins the Conference tonight along with an ABC TV documentary about her remarkable recovery.
6:15
FILM SCREENING – “THE RIDER”
Winner of United States’ National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Picture in 2019, “The Rider” follows a cowboy’s struggle for purpose after a Traumatic Brain Injury ends his career on America’s competitive rodeo circuit. The film’s real-life star, Brady Jandreau, will join the Conference from South Dakota in the United States.