Organisations & Treatment
James Dunn       Â
Those who wear the green Hidden Flowers bracelet or lanyard share their reality as having a hidden disability. Those wearing a white Hidden Flowers are those supporting the person.
In the conversation with James we hear how he became aware of his hidden disability in 2018 in a gradual manner. It resulted in him ceasing his work as a lawyer. Owning and running a consulting business and being a parent to two active boys was affected when his fatigue and cognitive difficulties became too marked. His journey caused him to reach out offering his support to the Hidden Sunflowers organisation as a spokesperson.
Dr Özlem Süsler
Oz’s career in law academia came as an alternative choice when her career as a solicitor impinged on being a parent. A focus on alternatives to going to court offer mediation in order for fixing the problem without needing court started her journey at the university graduating to a focus on how Autistic and Neurodivergent people experience the mediation process. This informs how the process might become more accommodating of their needs. Autistic adults have far fewer services available for their needs than children do and this adds to the trouble in finding and maintaining employment. Her awareness of this is heightened through her autistic son’s journey to running his own mechanic’s business.
Tricia Malowney OAMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
The recipient of a Churchill Fellowship, her worldwide adventures investigated the journey from home and eventually back to it taken on Public Transport in multiple countries. Interviewing disabled travellers and transport providers she found most countries have actually given up on the accessible transport option to provide alternative options that actually end up being a lot more work. It seems Australia is actually more progressive than many systems across the world.
Social Worker Kerryn shares how her, initially voluntary role with Path of the Horse, morphed quickly into employment. Equine Therapy is now known as Animal Assisted Therapy and thankfully NDIS supports it now. Horses have very similar beingness to humans and are very helpful to the physiological and emotional functioning of us too. As mirrors to our Selves they can help with our emotional regulation however as accurate sensors, we must remain aware of our internal state in their presence. Kerryn communicates some poignant tales from their work.
When his young daughter became extremely sick, his attention by her bedside stretched over 5 years until she recovered. However, his oldest daughter, being severely disabled gave him the motivation to make a difference. He left his corporate career and created a state-wide organisation supporting the disabled. James’ motivation rested in his experience ensuring his daughter was properly cared for and could live independently. Initially wanting to focus on Neurodiversity, demand for his services has grown to include many forms of needs. He has found being consistent and dedicated in support has made differences that are lifechanging. Utilising an Empowerment Model of care results in ways being found to assist individuals to improve in order to liberate themselves from depending on others. Now branching into aged care, the modelling is slightly different however it is continuing to create change.
Prof Gavin Williams takes us through the Hi Level Mobility Assessment Tool. Mobility after trauma such as an Acquired Brain Injury is often affected a great deal. Evaluation of capability is a substantial contributor to a patient receiving the funds for their rehabilitation measures to continue. When a patient leaves acute care, there are still many improvements to every day movement be made. These are referred to as ‘High Level’ and this tool gives the outcome measure making this possible. Now used all over the world, Gavin was the driving force behind the development of the HiMAT.
Mario Nuzzo ACM – With offices in both NSW and in Brunswick, Victoria ARBIAS was originally put together by families supporting those with ABI. This sense of care now encompasses care for those with Neuropsychological needs. They provide support services, training for peers and those working with them and community programs. With residential services run in collaboration with TAC throughout Melbourne, their offerings are expansive whilst also providing a unique approach.
Katharine King brings over 17 years of heartfelt experience to her work as a qualified Brain Gym Instructor and Trainer. She’s dedicated to helping people of all ages and abilities find new ways to thrive, using specialized music and movement techniques that gently stimulate cognitive function. Her goal is to make everyday living, learning, and rehabilitation a smoother, more joyful journey. Her compassionate approach empowers people to unlock their potential and improve their quality of life.
Daniel Stubbs Victorian Disability Worker Commissioner. Disability support workers give a sense of autonomy to those in our community who need and value their services. During our discussion we highlight the important work achieved by the commission, the change it elicits and explore a little about Dan.Â
Donna Gabriel explains what she has achieved in her life working with and providing arts services for people with disability with dancing and the many events she has worked on.
Prof Gavin Williams PHD FACP Epworth Hospital and University of Melbourne Has been working with the brain injured for nearly 30 years. Designing programs, some of them ground breaking, and developing assessments that stretch and measure injured people’s functionality is central to his work.
Heidi Everett is a writer, award-winning multimedia artist and independent producer. She is also an advocate for mental health and neurodivergent-lived-experience, based in Melbourne on Wurundjeri Country. Heidi founded the arts organisation Schizy Inc. Â
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Dr Sarah Neville has worked with dance and choreography bringing these into her work with
Dance Digitisation. With Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality she is branching into the
rehabilitation space, at times collaborating with the digital explorer Daish Malani and Academic
and Physiotherapist, Belinda Lang
Janice Florence, Artistic Director of Weave, an integrated Disability Dance/Theatre company.
Performers have all sorts of disabilities working with visiting dancers who, often, are non-
disabled. Janice speaks about the attitudinal shifts that have occurred after either working with
them or watching their shows.
Alison Kitson oversees the collaboration between Flinders Uni, Uni SA and Adelaide University
for the Global Arts and Health Alliance. Bringing artists and researchers together to work on
projects
Nigel Munt, from Aussie Injury Lawyers, talks about the work achieved with the insurance that is
included with Superannuation, TPD or ‘Total and Permanent Disability’ Their organization’s
purpose is to ‘help everyday Aussies to reclaim their futures’.
Prof Jennie Ponsford and Dr Jill HuangÂ
Leading a ground breaking study. From Monash Epworth together with her associate are researching sexual function after Brain Injury.
Sharon Granek is Disability Liaison Officer for Safe Steps. Safe Steps organises emergency services to those feeling domestic violence. As the Disability Liaison Officer, Sharon provides the necessary understanding for those with disability who contact the service. Women with disabilities in particular are abused at a much higher level than those without and for more extended periods of time overall.
Yannoula Michaels is the chairperson for the Adelaide organisation Families4Families which is a volunteer based peer support network of those who have experienced brain injury and their families. Via providing a support line to help, functions, workshops and weekly activities their organisation is giving back to the Adelaidean brain injured population. Their mission is to help people help themselves.
Dr Kate Gould is a clinical psychologist researching those whose behaviour has changed following an injury. Positive Behaviour Support Principles are used to inform a therapy called PBS+. Another area she looks into involves those with brain injury caught up in Cyber and Romance scams.
We speak about how Australia is leading the way in utilising those with lived experience to inform research.
Associate Professor Eve Valera is an associate professor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and a research scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital
 She gives the latest on her research with the affects of brain injury in women who have experienced partner violence.
Jemma Keeves from Curtin University is a Research Fellow specialising in running the Australian Mild Traumatic Brain Injury study. Otherwise known as Concussion, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury is experiencing a swell in awareness as industries such as the Sports complex finally admit to the life changing effects of repeated blows to the head. There are some very exciting studies occurring into this injury.
Alex Killey represents the On Call Group Australia that provides services in Queensland, Victoria and also SA where they are known as SA Care. Giving many options for support of Personal Care, Shopping and Accommodations, their Allied Health provisions are great too. Some great news for people over 65 who are not on the NDIS means they can apply for service supports too.
Margaret Mealings, Doctor of Speech Pathology at Epworth Hospital in Richmond tells us about her career in the modality. Speech Pathology includes many areas of recovery such as social interactions and coping with noise and fatigue and it also involves the family of the affected. The therapy is only around 100 years old and is evolving constantly alongside the need to think creatively in order to serve the clients, each with their individual needs.
Phil Heuzenroeder is a generous and empowering arts facilitator. His strong belief in social justice and human development drives his work with the disabled artists of Wild Of Heart’. His values are reflected in directorship of ‘Melbourne Mass Gospel Choir’ that continues to change lives every day. Â
Wendy Haecker came through New Zealand from work with Guide Dogs after a career in Wildlife Management in the US. Now Team Leader for Client Services of Guide Dogs Victoria, her management of a wide scope of areas of the process of eventually teaming up a service animal with a disabled user gives a great objective view of the whole organisational operation.
Heath Murphy, a retired paramedic, speaks of his new career found in support work. As one of Kevin Boyce’s assistants, we speak of what it is like to carry out this work especially in a regional township and how the work contributes to his sense of self and that of his community.
Poppy Egan is the organisations first manager with lived experience. Though Brain Injury Matters has always been ‘member led’, to have a survivor responsible for the organisation is a boon indeed. She speaks about the formation of a women’s group to counter in a sector where men are over represented.
Nigel Munt (Senior Lawyer) from Aussie Injury Lawyers gives legal tips and tells stories of compensation claims. Informing people about the existence of Total Permanent Disability (TPD) claims present in anyone’s Superannuation, insuring against serious injury, is a focus for his company.
Deborah Byrne, Executive Director of Brain Injury Association of Tasmania talks about her long involvement with the organisation together with initiatives such as the life changing National Assistance Card.
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