INTRODUCTION AND HOUSEKEEPING – Nick Rushworth (person with a brain injury), Executive Officer Brain Injury Australia, Conference Chair

OFFICIAL OPENING – Nat Cook MP, South Australian Minister for Human Services

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

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

“The lived experience: how ‘Version 2.0’ can be as good or better than ‘Version 1.0’” – Kylie Smith, Lifetime Support Authority, South Australia

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

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

“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

“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

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

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

“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

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

“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

“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

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.

“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

“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

“A stroke doesn’t discriminate age nor health, but everyone deserves support” – Paul Bovington (person with a brain injury), South Australia

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

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”?

“Cognitive rehabilitation following Traumatic Brain Injury: an international survey of current clinician practice” – Dr. Jessica Trevena-Peters, Monash University Victoria

“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

“Health professional and consumer perspectives of the important features of a community brain injury rehabilitation service” – Liesel Jeffers, Northern NSW Local Health District

“Bridging the gap: practical strategies for enhancing quality disability support grounded in lived experience” – Dr. Megan Topping, Summer Foundation Victoria

“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

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

“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

“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. Sarah Knight, University of Melbourne

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

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

“Sexuality and rehabilitation needs following traumatic motor vehicle injuries: client and clinician perspectives” – Caitlin Fulton, Lifetime Support Authority South Australia

“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

“Evaluating a novel Cognitive Behaviour Therapy intervention for sexuality changes after Traumatic Brain Injury” – Dr. Elinor Fraser, Monash University Victoria

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

“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

“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

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 – Andrew Marr (person with a brain injury) Chairman and Co-founder Warrior Angels Foundation, Dr. Mark Gordon Medical Director Millennium Health Centers, United States

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

Feasibility testing of a motivational chatbot for brain injury rehabilitation – Dr. Judith Hocking, Flinders University South Australia

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

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.