Headstart NewsLink June 2021

Volume 26 Issue 4 June 2021

Mum’s the word Brain injury recovery from a mother’s perspective: Pg 6

Spotlight on stroke

Congrats Sue OAM! Queens Birthday Honours for our CEO, see pg 2

Stories & research opportunities Pg 8

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The Headstart Acquired Brain Injury Services commenced in 1987 and is recognised as a premier provider of specialist services for people with an ABI in the Hunter and Central Coast region. Headstart provides individually tailored services across community access, in home support, life skills, social, leisure and recreational services, case co-ordination, and community information and education.

95 Turnbull Street, Hamilton NSW 2303 P 02 4965 4420 F 02 4965 4424 E info@headstart-abi.com.au W www.headstart-abi.com.au

ABN 75057986026 I CFN 13046 Headstart ABI Services is a registered provider under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

Our Vision For people living with brain injury to have opportunities that strengthen and enrich their lives.

Our Purpose To make a difference in the lives of people touched by brain injury by providing opportunities and inspiring hope.

Executive Staff Executive Director: Manager Service and Supports: Finance & Admin Manager: HR Lead: Quality Lead: Marketing Lead:

Sue McHattie Kesley Skippen Therese Paksi Kathryn Fitzgerald Bronwyn Doherty Andy Meier

Now you can read NewsLink online with Issuu! If you aren’t on our email list then let us know.

What stories or information would you like to see in future NewsLinks?

Do you have some great stories or photos? We’d love to hear from you!

Email Andy at our office: comms@headstart-abi.com.au

Nominate a staff member for outstanding achievement We continue to recognise the work of our staff who have gone above and beyond in any capacity to support our consumers in their daily lives. Please help us thank and encourage our workers!

To make a nomination please contact us or email: info@headstart.com.au Have you checked us out on Facebook recently?

Catch all the latest news, stories and rec activities.

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From the ED’s Desk

F

irstly, I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and well wishes when I received the Order of Australia Medal for Services to People with ABI and their Families. I admit I did tear up when I found out and I feel incredibly honoured and humbled.... and equally shocked! You get passionate about how you can support people to get ahead in their lives, and receiving an award like this is never on the radar... we just get on with it. Let me lastly say it has been a privilege to serve all of you and will continue to do so, for a while yet!!

We have also just gone through our audits for the NDIS Quality and Safeguards commission and the Attendant Care Standards 2018. We came through with flying colours and our thanks to all those consumers and staff who contributed to such a successful outcome.

Coming up we have National Stroke Week (2 - 8 Aug) closely followed by Brain Injury Awareness Week (15 - 21 Aug). At least 20% of our consumers have had strokes. Men and women of all ages are affected, so stroke isn’t discriminatory. If you think someone is having a stroke, think F.A.S.T. (face, arms, speech, time). For the appropriate response see www. strokefoundation.org.au Staying active in winter isn’t easy, is it? Cold mornings don’t encourage us to put on the walking shoes or jump in the pool. But staying fit and healthy is vital for body and mind, so can I encourage you to do what you can to keep moving. This edition brings you more 101 Stories including what our consumers are doing to keep active.

In our March NewsLink we published a smiling picture of ‘larrakin and gentleman’ Ged, who sadly passed away a month ago. In this issue we feature some special and beautiful memories of Ged. Till next time, Sue

Order of Australia!

A huge congratulations to our CEO Sue for receiving an OAM on the Queens Birthday as recognition of her dedication to disability services and founding Headstart ABI Services over 30 years ago.

The board, staff, members and consumers would like to thank Sue for her tireless efforts and congratulate her on this wonderful achievement.

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Pg 6

Mum’s the Word

Pg 8

Stroke Stories

Health & Safety Update

COVID-19 At Headstart we continue to follow best practice health and safety guidelines. Our staff have undergone training aligned with the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework.

We carefully monitor and adhere to advice from government and relevant health authorities.

If you’re concerned then call the Government Coronavirus Health Information Line for advice: 1800 020 080 (24/7)

What about vaccinations?

Disability support workers are the front line of support services, and have been placed at the front of the vaccination queue. However, vaccinations are voluntary and not mandatory. Whether vaccinated or not, consumers and support worker need to continue with safe work practices, including hand sanitising, wearing of masks and physical distancing.

Contact us if you have any questions.

Detailed information about COVID-19 vaccines for people with disability > Scan QR code with your smartphone camera for Govt. website link

Disability subsidy

Pg 18

Karate Class

Pg 24

Tribute to Ged

Spotlight on stroke N

ational Stroke Week will happen a little earlier than usual this year. From 2 - 8 September we will support the national campaign in helping people understand more about this specific kind of acquired brain injury. In this issue we feature three more consumer stroke stories.

The Stroke Foundation states that: • Every 10 minutes an Australian will have a stroke

• One in four people will have a stroke in their lifetime

Stroke attacks the brain - the human control centre changing lives in an instant. Injury to an area of your brain can impact how you think, behave, use words, swallow, see, feel, touch, and move your body. Stroke affects everyone differently. It can happen to anyone of any age.

Your brain is fed by blood carrying oxygen and nutrients through blood vessels called arteries. A stroke happens when blood cannot get to your brain, because of a blocked or burst artery. As a result, brain cells die due to a lack of oxygen and nutrients.

At Headstart we support many people who have had a stroke, in fact 20% of our consumers are recovering from stroke. It’s true that every person is different although there are some common things. After a stroke people will often experience some of these changes: • Physical changes, incl. difficulty gripping things, fatigue or tiredness, incontinence, weakness or paralysis of limbs in one side of the body, vision and swallowing problems, sometimes pain from tissue or nerve damage.

If you are a resident of NSW and are unable to use public transport because of a severe and permanent disability, you may be eligible to a subsidy of 50% of a taxi fare, up to a maximum subsidy of $60 and only pay the remaining fare.

This includes travel in wheelchair accessible taxis.

To find our more scan the QR code with your smartphone camera or call 131 500 for an application form. www.transportnsw.info/travel-info/ ways-to-get-around/taxi-hire-vehicle/ taxi-subsidy-scheme

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• Emotional changes, incl. depression (especially the first year after a stroke and common in people who have aphasia), anxiety and personality or behavioural changes (such as irritability, impulsiveness, disinhibition or repetitive behaviour).

• Changes to thinking (ability to learn new skills, plan, problem solve), memory and perception (judging distance, vision and recognising shapes) can also occur.

For more information about stroke (including aphasia and dysphasia) - as well as more stories of stroke recovery visit www.headstart-abi.com.au and look under the News tab for our article ‘All About Stroke’.

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Say G’day to our new crew!

CoWorker

Expo Report

Recreational activities coordinator

Beth

I grew up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. I am one of 6 children and have an identical twin sister (my The COVID-safe Hunter Disability best friend). My son ‘Jesse’ is 17 Expo was held at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on 21 & 22 years old and stands 6 foot 4 inches tall – with facial hair! He is my May. The Expo brought together everyone in the local disability pride and joy. He was born with sector to showcase the latest congenital cataracts and we went products, services, technology, through a lot in his early years. He aids and equipment. There really has grown up to be an amazing was so much to take in! Things young man. At the beginning have come a long way since we began in 1987, when there really of this year I graduated with my Bachelor of Psychological Science was very little in comparison. and am excited to be putting my life experience and education to use in my new role as Co Worker!

Get to know Beth Favourite food: Anything Italian!

Favourite movie: The Devil Wears Prada Favourite band/music: Too many to choose from! Um… James Taylor, Neil Young, Jewel, India Arie, Ben Howard, Bon Iver, Erykah Badu, Frank Ocean...

Favourite sport/team: The gym!

Watching my brother or dad surf!

Favourite cartoon character: Liked the Flintstones when I was a kid.

Favourite hobby: Singing.

Favourite place on earth: Tahiti (Huahine) If you could be any animal?

A bird. I wish I could fly.

If you could meet someone famous?

Marlon Brando when he was young!

Craziest/silliest thing you’ve done: Oh god, um…. Went to the mall with my twin as a young teen, got there, spent all our money, had no money to even call mum to get us home, hehehehe.

Three words to describe you: Insightful, glass-half-full, kind.

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Nikki

I really enjoy working for HS, the team we have is truly remarkable, I get a lot of satisfaction from helping people and I believe that we all do here at HS. Every day I go out with the Rec group I feel truly blessed to be around such inspirational and beautiful people.

I am very lucky!

Favourite food: Thai Favourite movie: The Note Book Favourite band/music: Ed Sheeran Favourite sport/team: Panthers. Usually, it would be the Cowboys however they are not performing, and I am annoyed with them. Damn you JT for retiring.

Favourite cartoon character: Tweety Bird.

Favourite hobby: Walking along the beach (if that’s a hobby?) and Tai Chi. Favourite place on earth: Scuba Diving, looking at a world underwater, a whole other world.

Second to that would be some of the scenery around the Blue Mountains.

If you could be an animal what would you be? A dolphin.

If you could meet someone famous who would it be?

Ed Sheeran. Not only does he write and sing the most amazing lyrics, but he is also a great person and does a lot for others.

Craziest or silliest thing you’ve done: I’m sure there is many. I do not take myself very seriously and tend to do silly things often like dressing up or putting on silly accents.

Three words to describe you: Kind, empathetic, generous.

Game-changing concussion research here in the Hunter Dual rugby international Timana Tahu

University of Newcastle researcher and clinical neuropsychologist Dr Andrew Gardner

C

onsidered one of Australia’s top concussion researchers, Associate Professor Andrew Gardner is leading one of the world’s largest longitudinal studies to help reduce the risk of concussive injury in sport and improve care for current and retired athletes. Gardner is a concussion consultant to Rugby Australia, and his expertise is sought by collision sports nationally and internationally.

Contact sports are a big part of Australian life. Men, women and children of all ages regularly take part in sports like rugby, AFL, boxing and martial arts. These sports provide a range of physical and social benefits but also come with the risk of concussive injuries.

“In fact, rugby and AFL have some of the highest rates of head injury of any contact sport in the world, averaging five concussive injuries per team per season at all levels of competition.”

- Associate Professor Andrew Gardner While a single concussion rarely has lasting effects, there is growing evidence that repeated concussions may be associated with chronic and devastating neurological conditions in some retired athletes, including dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) which has been reported to affect memory, thinking, and mood.

Despite growing public attention about concussion in sport, the global sports community does not have a universal approach to preventing and better managing concussive injuries.

In late 2019, Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) announced it would partner with the University of Newcastle and the Spaulding Research Institute at Harvard Medical School in one of the world’s largest

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Biomechanics lecturer Dr Suzi Edwards

studies into head injuries and brain health in collision sport.

The Retired Professional Rugby League Players Brain Health Study is a multi-national, multi-year research program that will transform our understanding of sport-related head injuries. Outcomes will be used to influence policy, practice and care not just for rugby league players but for athletes in other contact and collision sports.

The research will involve around 100 retired NRL players a year and include:

• detailed health surveys to examine the physical, psychological and cognitive health of former NRL players

• a comprehensive study of the brain health of former players through in-person neuropsychological assessment and multimodal brain imaging

• a brain donation program for deceased NRL players, in partnership with the Sydney Brain Bank and funded

by Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and the University of NSW. The research program is expected to carry on for decades and will provide Gardner and his international collaborators with robust and comprehensive data sets to drive positive change.

Republished from original article by University of Newcastle (2021). For more information incl. a detailed case study, references and video, scan this QR code with your smartphone camera, or visit www.newcastle.edu.au/research Footy player Timana Tahu is helping beat concussion one tackle at a time. Check it out www.newcastle.edu.au/hippocampus/ story/2021/tackling-concussion

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The hard Ann shares candidly about the ups and downs of a son who sustained a brain injury after he crashed his Harley in 2013.

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nitially Brenden was not supposed to survive.

Every part of his brain was damaged.

The first few years were horrendous for all of us, especially Brenden.

He was in PTA for 120 days had no idea of what was going on or who we were. He was very volatile, aggressive and abusive while in hospital and rehab. When he came to live with us it was a struggle.

A collage poster in Brenden’s home encapsulates much of his early recovery journey (2013).

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yards

He wouldn’t get out of bed until three in the afternoon. He wouldn’t shower for days at a time. He totally rejected everything. We just persevered for a few years and then something ‘clicked’.

He has great support workers, some who had been with him for years so between them and his family especially and I we hung in there and told him we will never give up on him.

We just pushed him and pushed to get him to do therapy. It really was very difficult for him to understand what he needed to do to get to where he is today. Now, it’s only really been in the last two years that he’s started doing hydro. He wouldn’t do exercise. His life really was a shambles for the first three or four years.

His younger daughter is 15 and she fine with things now and has accepted it but his other daughter is 20 and she still struggles. She was 12 at the time. She doesn’t have a lot to do with him. In a way I can understand why partners don’t stick around, because it’s a horrendous experience that you put your loved ones through unknowingly.

Mothers are there forever; we cop the good the bad and the ugly.

For many people to look after people with brain injuries is too hard. What they’ve got to go through, the abuse and everything. Brenden couldn’t walk, talk, do anything for himself, so he had his care workers doing it all for him. Not many partners could cope and manage a brain injured person to the extent that was required with Brenden in early years. It’s sad, but it’s reality.

Brenden had so many friends. He would do anything for anybody. If you were a mate of Brenden’s and something was wrong he’d be there for you. All his friends came to the hospital for the first 6 months to see him, but as he came out of it he was volatile and they couldn’t deal with it.

They all just disappeared. That’s the hardest part, the loneliness.

Credit to Brenden, he really has done the hard yards to get where he is today. The thing is that now Brenden has got a life. Because of all his hard work and his support. He stills has a way to go and some days

A mother’s perspective it’s harder than others to get the brain to communicate with the body to do what it needs to do.

Before his accident Brenden thought he could do whatever he wanted with no consequences. He was lucky for a long time but it caught up to him that fateful morning.

Brenden has accepted his life as it is now and embraces it with positivity and enjoys each day as a bonus.

He now tells his story to others in hope that they will think about what they do and the consequences of those actions.

How wrong were those doctors! They don’t know the power of a mother’s love and determination to never give up.

Brenden has always been a wonderful caring person but now he has a purpose to help others whether disabled or not.”

I’ve never loved or been more proud than I am of you Brenden you set a great example for others. - Ann

Brenden is part of our Community Education Team (CET) and often shares his personal story and struggles. Ann came along to support her son for his first presentation at Lake Macquarie PCYC... and ended up part of the session herself.

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Spotlight on stroke

Ray moved to Australia in 2006 with his wife and 4 year old son. Three months later he had a massive stroke.

This is his recovery story.

“I

used to be a very active person both physically and mentally. Being Canadian, yes, I even played ice hockey. But my stoke affected everything. I used to have a very high level engineering job, but I couldn’t work anymore. At first I couldn’t walk, talk or even swallow. I had to have a tracheotomy and be fed through my belly. But slowly things came back. Not everything but more than not.

Ray of hope My stroke was a hereditary thing, actually, it was a split in my carotid artery. My paternal grandmother, and other relatives suffered strokes in the past. I was in bed and hit the side table on the way to the floor, and my wife found me there.

I lost around two thirds of the right side so I’m very lucky to be here.

Not only did if affect me, but my wife and my son. My four year old basically lost most of what kids expect to be able to do with their dads. And my wife and I had these grand visions for life together, and raising our son. But I’m very happy with how he did turn out and I’m proud of the young man he is today at 19 years old.

There’s also the social side of things that stroke affected.

I’d not been in Australia long and so didn’t have many friends here yet. As one does when they move to the other side of the world, I still spoke to people back in Canada a couple times a week. You try and stay in contact. But some friends don’t know how to deal with somebody who has a brain injury. I’ve seen it with other people with brain injury as well, people just don’t know how to respond so it goes in the ‘too hard basket’ and they lose touch and unfortunately you get that kind of thing.

Recovery, as with many things, went in stages. Like when I first started getting physio at Rankin Park, some people you just click with and they’ll help you get that next level pretty well.

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I’ve had a few great physio’s and OT’s and also speech pathologists. The physio that I have now is probably the best I’ve ever had. He’s got me from being able to do regular walking to now we’re working towards running a 5k. Right now I’m at just under two hours to be able to walk a 5k, and I want to do it within an hour. He’s going to help me with that and then we’ll look at the 10ks as well.

I used to actually race a 10k in under 25 minutes before my stroke. And fourteen years later (about a year ago) I got to the point where I could walk 5ks non stop. Going from a stroke to doing it in 2 hours is a good thing!

It’s taken a lot of work, and it’s the ‘use it or lose it’ thing, so I try to increase everything I’m doing. I keep at it.

Originally it was a social worker at Rankin Park that introduced me to Headstart over ten years ago now. Will was originally my support worker and then he became a co-worker.

I was a competitive 10k runner but couldn’t do that or ride my bike anymore. I can only use the recumbent one that I have now.

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I like to keep active and work on my fitness capacity during my community shifts, including a lot of walking and the occasional ride on my custom, reclining and one-handed control, tricycle. Because of my balance problem I can’t ride a regular bike anymore.

A recumbent tricycle is like a lounge chair that you just lie back on and the support worker will go with me and help keep me safe from obstacles and cars.

I only have half my sight too, so I can’t see on the left side. I have to move my head. I did most of my cycling over several years, when I lived in Medowie, with Denielle and other CSW’s. I have just started doing it in Newcastle about a month ago with Daniel.

While the companionship is great, the support workers are also there in case something should happen to me, and allows my wife to continue to work part time and also study part time. We can’t live off Centrelink on it’s own, so it’s good to have Headstart to make sure that I stay safe and don’t fall.

One morning a week Daniel (prior it was Craig) takes me to the Raymond Terrace Men’s Shed in case I need help when I am there doing woodwork like making toys and furniture. They also help me do errands and exercise like walking and cycling on those mornings. Leading up to Christmas last year Headstart helped me man the shed’s pop-up non-profit shop selling some of the stuff we make as well as taking custom orders.

He also takes me for walks and doing errands that morning when needed.

I’ve had different workers over time and they’ve all been good. It’s a case of different workers for different days and for different activities. Which is also good for the social aspect of it too. You’re not hearing the same story over and over!

I go out for a day a week with Denielle, my longest serving worker. She currently takes me to my regular Physio appointment, for walks as well as to HMRI (Hunter Medical Research Institute) in Newcastle where I help University of Newcastle research scientists in the Priority Research Centre (PRC) for Stroke and Brain Injury. I’m volunteering and work with the researchers there to help them find people who might be interested in helping with research.

I work helping them design research projects, for instance a diet study that supports people to eat well for better health after stroke and for stroke prevention.

I’ve been doing some talks for them too, providing information to the public and helping them make some videos and social media. There’s a lot I can’t do after my stroke, but this is one of the things I can do and it’s also giving back.

To watch a short video of Ray talking about why he is doing research at HMRI, scan this QR code with your smartphone or visit vimeo.com/561655786

On another morning Zeb (sometimes others) takes me to Rutherford for an Aphasia support group and group communication therapy with a speech pathologist.

Physically, my main goal is that I want to be able to formerly finish a 10k running race.

It’s important to me that I do it when the race is actually still on. Sure I could probably start right now and finish sometime next week, but I want to be able to finish it when the race hasn’t yet closed. I have 13 marathons under my belt from before my stroke, but I suspect that would require more time than the race is actually open!

Psychologically, that big goal is to be on the team of researchers that makes a discovery that goes nationally.

Otherwise it would be nice to travel again. I know that none of us can really do that now, but one day getting back to Canada again would be good. Seeing more of our country here would be nice too.”

Fancy hearing Ray’s Canadian accent as he shares about why he chooses Headstart?

Scan the QR code with your smartphone or visit vimeo.com/561666907 NewsLink June 2021 I

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Spotlight on stroke Continued from previous page

Ray’s stroke and ABI research at HMRI This zoom pic is one of the university stroke researchers consulting with me about a study that I was helping her with.

This was to hopefully improve the healthy eating habits of people who have survived strokes, in order to reduce the odds of having further strokes.

“O

ver more than 5 years I have been a participant in a number of studies with these scientists in various areas of recovery and treatments. About 3 years ago my involvement grew and I became a volunteer Research Assistant with them as part of their Stroke Research Register-Hunter. In part that is helping the scientists with the creation of studies with the point of view of people living with stroke.

A large part of my efforts are in helping to promote recovery and prevention studies by the PRC scientists into the public and recruiting those who had a stroke, TIA, or other brain injury. We are hoping they will join our register.

The register is a database of people who might want to be considered as volunteer participants in studies.

When a study comes up that they may be suitable for, the person is contacted to see if they would be interested in being considered further.

If conditions are right for both the volunteer and researcher, the person can join the study. They can also leave the study at any time they choose.

The work of the register also provides a way to get feedback to the researchers from those living with stroke as well as the larger community. I am looking for the help of those living with stroke, TIA’s or other brain injury to consider joining the register so that I can help researchers find participants that can give them the best quality information to be used in their studies. As a frequent participant myself, I think other volunteers would find it interesting, satisfying and a pleasant experience.

Right now there are several studies that are currently recruiting including several about exercise, nutrition, using affected arms, fatigue, making a stroke-related website, and medical/social experiences after leaving hospital. There are always new studies that look for potential volunteers on the register too.

I am also helping the PRC organize another “Spotlight on Stroke” forum on November 1 & 2 where the spotlight will be talking about “Inclusion In The Workplace” as well NewsLink June 2021 I

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as discussing other current research underway, including, opportunities to talk to researchers privately about peoples questions and getting the input from those living with stroke and other brain injuries.

It’s all about helping people who come after us to cope better with stroke and brain injury. We’re looking for people to help me help the researchers to help us.”

Help Ray help others with ABI. Find out more about joining the HMRI Stroke Research Register-Hunter.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to visit the website: www.hmri.org.au/ stroke-register

Spotlight on stroke

Still smiling Mark is passionate about gardening - whether it’s growing flowers for Tracey or herbs for the kitchen. Support workers Georgia lends a hand.

You don’t need to spend much time with Mark and Tracey to see how much they love each other.

It’s that passion that keeps Tracey going as she balances the role of wife, mother, carer, career woman and Headstart board member.

After Mark had his first stroke, a word that I learned early was hope.

It’s something I think for us has been very important. To always have hope that we not only have each other, but that improvements could happen, and did happen. Mark worked really really hard with all his therapy. He is a bit of a superhero really!

Mark’s stroke is a result of radiation treatment he had for brain tumours that he had as teen. Back in 1979, radiation treatment was given in a general area. There was no helmets to protect any other areas so damage has been done. But that did give Mark lots of years of quality life. And you’d do it all again. It’s just the way technology was then compared to nowadays.

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So we went from two people that were both working and having time apart, and then back together and when something like this happens you are thrown in 24/7 with each other all the time. That can be difficult because you both go through a huge change in life. And I think that without having the right supports we wouldn’t have functioned as well as we do.

When Mark had his stroke our daughter was 10. So my role needed to be mum as well… mum and dad in a lot of ways. So it was important that I could fill that role as well, which I’d never have been to do without Headstart’s support, so we were quite lucky there.

Spotlight on stroke

Watch more of Mark & Tracey’s story. Scan the QR code with your phone camera for video (or visit the link vimeo.com/563637616)

Back in 2011 when the hospital Social Worker gave me the Headstart application, it was something I didn’t think that I’d need. I remember when Mark first came home and Kesley and Sue came for a visit to chat and see what supports could be offered. I was just lucky that I had someone tell me about this organisation that has been just invaluable in our lives. I know myself, I wouldn’t have been able to return to work without Headstart support, which you know I have been fortunate to be able to do. I wouldn’t do as well as what I do as a carer without the supports I received.

I think for Mark too, it’s good for him to get away from his wife at times.

We’ve probably been through one of the toughest times just recently when stroke came back for the fourth time in March this year. I know for me emotionally it was my roughest time.

I think Mark’s left eye now has been closed. It may open… it may not. And that was his good eye. It was his good side, his seeing eye. And to me that was such a cruel, cruel thing and to get back up after that has been a lot harder with some medical decisions

that were made during that time. I see a psychologist so that I keep my own mental health in check because if I’m not good for me, I’m good for nobody.

This guy keeps smiling and he just keeps going.

Mark’s resilience and his ability to just keep getting back up is amazing!

But it’s tough, it’s definitely tough.

Fatigue has been one of the real struggles for Mark. He has been able to do some trials at the HMRI (Hunter Medical Research Institute), who do some absolutely amazing studies. One of the medications in particular has made a big difference with his fatigue. Otherwise we deal with fatigue with plenty of rest and sleep to recharge.

Stroke is one of those things where you become a member of a club that you didn’t know existed. You become a life member instantly, a club that you can’t leave. But there are silver linings for these things.

I have a group of ladies and we call each other our “stroke wives”.

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We have come into each other’s lives through adversity after our husband’s had strokes or acquired brain injuries.

We are still great supports for each other and we really ‘get’ what the other one’s going through. Even though our journeys are all a little different we can still really relate to bits and pieces. I think it is really important not to feel like you’re a Robinson Crusoe. It can be a lonely journey without others who can relate to what you’re going through.

After a few years being with Headstart I became a member of the Board and I’ve been doing that ever since. I felt there was such a great organisation I wanted to be involved in that side of things, and do what I could. It was good for me, both mentally as well, because I could start to use some of my training that I had. They reeled me in to become Treasurer, so I think that was good for me, and obviously, I believed Headstart were a great organisation and I’m proud to be part of the Board and helping to make the decisions and guide it through this ever changing word of disability.

Tracey is an avid blogger on the topic of stroke and an advocate for carers.

She knows how challenging it can be. Here’s one of Tracey’s blog posts which kicked off 2021, a year that became even more challenging with Mark’s fourth significant stroke a few months ago.

How he has the biggest smile and most positive attitude of anyone I’ve ever met. How he continues to strive for improvement (not that how he is isn’t just perfect) but so he can continue to kick goals.

I think of all my special friends I have now. The ones that wouldn’t have been apart of our life. Now I just couldn’t imagine them not a part of it.

I think of the friends that include me in their travel plans, even when I can’t, New Year’s Day 2021 ... For most the but they still ask. I thank you for that. promise of good things to come.

Mark’s special friends, his mates, the We feel that way too, but it’s hard not ones that call in and have a drink with him. The ones that know fake bourbon to take some time to reflect on the still gives him a “dusty” morning. significance of the day to us.

I think of our families. Wow where do I start there. The love support and list of things they have done over the years is endless. In the early days when I could only leave the house 3 Gone were plans, goals and dreams hrs a week, they managed to get Sam we had. Things like where we would to swimming, dancing, school, home, see ourselves now. Plans as a family of collect from school if sick, play dates, what we would achieve. Certainly not all her extra curricular activities. where we are.

They’d hang with Mark as times I grieve the loss of my old life the life improved to allow me to attend as it was and we planned, the husband these things. Modified Hawks I had, the conversations we can no Nest working tirelessly so that longer have, the plans we can no Christmases could be celebrated longer make. I sometimes, though together. Took Sam on holidays and not often, miss the friends that camping (something I’m not sure I’d disappeared. The ones that it was too have ever done!). Helped with driving hard or uncomfortable for. lessons. They did groceries, gave If I stop and dwell on the “what could me company and basically anything have been” it can be a sad life. that was needed they stepped in and helped out.

On this day I allow myself the time 1/1/21 marks 10 years since that fateful day when Mark had that catastrophic stroke that changed the course of our life.

it takes to have a cup of coffee something taught to my early in this journey. I wallow, I take a moment.

After that it’s time to put my big girl pants on. It’s time to reflect on the things that are good, the things that I can easily see make it ok, the things that are not only good, but great, and very positive.

To our workers and therapists. You keep me sane, you keep Mark on track and adjust so easily to the swings and roundabouts life throws us.

We have many, many things to be grateful for and after “coffee time” that’s exactly where our focus will be.

We will make plans. We will set goals and most importantly we will I think of Mark, he’s had the biggest be grateful. Thank you, you’ve all loss of all but he just doesn’t helped us on this journey, we are very complain. I stop and think about what appreciative of your support. May an awesome man I’m married to.

2021 bring love, peace and happiness.

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Something for the carers out there

Two little, very powerful words

10 Years ago one of my dear Stroke Wives gave me some great advice. It went along the lines of when someone offers to help or do something for you say “Yes”, “Yes, thank you” “Yes”. You suddenly find yourself in a situation where you would have looked after things yourself but now you actually need to say “Yes” when help is offered.

My Stroke Wife, who is 4 months ahead of me in my Stroke Wife role, told me that life would be easier if I just said “Yes” when people offered to help out in some way.

It really was a foreign concept to me.

I have always been very independent.

Mark and I both have been. To allow people to help out was not something that was natural. But I did.

There’s been times too when I’ve said “yes” to find myself taking on too much or agreeing to something that really wasn’t right for me.

This leads me to the new word I have been practicing. No. I’ve learnt how powerful it can be to say “No”, ‘No, thank you” “No” Sometimes it’s ok to say “no” to something that doesn’t suit you. Saying “no” to something that is actually going to add to your life.

“No” doesn’t mean never. No just means not now and I can’t actually take that one right now.

Often as carers we try to be everything to everyone. Sometimes to we have to just be us. That’s not a bad thing and it doesn’t mean that you don’t want to do something or that you don’t want to be a carer anymore or that something is wrong. For me it means I just don’t have the mental or physical capacity to take on anything extra. What I have at the time is all I can do.

Carer or not I think it is normal and natural that we all feel that way at times.

Practice using those two little powerful words and see if it helps. I know it certainly has me. - Tracey

Spotlight on stroke

Gabbi had a stroke at just 7 yeas of age. Over two decades (and lots of rehab) later she’s got a lot to live for.

Sew good

CSW Renee and Gabbi love to sew together. For a video scan the QR code with your phone camera (or visit the link vimeo.com/560685106).

“W

hen I was seven I had my

stroke. We lived in Sydney then. I was in the lounge room and I said to my mum “I have a headache.”

I was stumbling like a drunk person and struggling to stand up. After lying down I still had the headache and so mum rang the ambulance.

Because I answered all the questions properly they said there was nothing wrong. As a precaution they said “If you want to come to the hospital drive behind us”. As we were driving it was grey and cold outside, but I said to my mum “It’s too bright”. She said “but there’s no sun.” But for me it was so bright. At the hospital they put me on a drip and I woke up 21 days later.

Yes, it was quite a shock.

My dad was down the south coast at the time with a friend. My mum had to tell him to come home and his hair went grey overnight.

When I woke up I couldn’t walk or talk or draw. Nothing. But then I got moved around the wards and slowly I got better. I had intense physiotherapy, OT, hydrotherapy, everything. I did that until I was about thirteen. It was intense, I’d even leave school to go and do things.

Then when I hit high school I stopped everything because I wanted to focus on school. My parents were OK with that, and it wasn’t until I moved down here to Newcastle that I heard about the NDIS and applied for it, and more recently got back into physiotherapy and that sort of stuff.

Technically I had three strokes while I was in the ICU. So that’s why mine is so severe compared to others, and it depends on which side of the brain and where in the brain it decides to burst. I had to have three operations and they had to remove the bone (skull) for the swelling to go down.

Thankfully I don’t get headaches today, only if I’m on a screen for too long sometimes.

The doctors told me my stroke was caused by a malformation of a blood vessel. In a blood vessel there’s large, medium and small, and I was missing the medium vessel. We have blood clots that go through our body each day, and it went through the large fine but couldn’t go any further and burst.

It’s quite interesting because lots of kids have stokes around 7 years old. I can’t remember the statistic, but it’s quite a lot.

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My parents moved to Forster and I did my schooling and things up there. I was at Uni doing teaching.

That has been my big goal, to be a teacher, because I’ve seen the massive difference that they make when they’re actually on board with someone with a disability, especially when they’re in a mainstream school.

Especially back in 2000. Things have developed more over recent years.

I got married in 2019 to my lovely husband Luke. He’s great. We met at Uni, we were in the same class.

I got halfway (though my teaching degree) and then health complications happened, so I deferred. I could go back in time if I wanted to. When I left Uni I was a teachers aid, and I loved it! I did that for a while because I had them at school. They do so much work, just by sitting there and listening. Especially if you daydream - and I’m a daydreamer - if I’m not interested in the topic, so they would, write down the formulas and use little tricks that would actually teach me more than the teacher did.

I had a job in 2019, working in an office. I loved the interactions and everything about it. So right now I’m doing a Cert 3 in Business Admin and I’ll be finished by June.

After all the past years of not doing any rehab has made it a bit harder for me. I’ve now got a Second Skin splint and also a leg splint. They’re amazing!

They help me walk better so my foot doesn’t drop, or I don’t roll my ankle as much. It stretched my arm out more and I can use my fingers a bit better now.

At around 25 years old I was finding that my muscles in my arm were getting shorter and things were getting more difficult to do. I was losing strength and some things I couldn’t do anymore. So I decided to start again and went to my physio.

She said if I’d left it another five years there wouldn’t be a lot that we could do. But because I came in then we could still build things back up.

I know it’s hard but don’t give up. You just cannot! I’ve had times when I’ve thought “that’s it”. But you can’t.

You’ve got to keep going.

You’re here for a reason.

So my health has improved. I am now a lot more independent. But it’s still ok to ask for help. I try to be very independent but there’s time when I still need help, especially with things like household duties and getting around. I don’t have my licence yet but I am working towards that in June.

So I’ve decided this year I’ll start to work towards getting it and not being dependent on people driving me places. I am able to catch a bus but that’s hard if I need to be somewhere at a certain time. You either get there half an hour early or half an hour late!

I’m very privileged with the life I’ve had. My parents and my whole family have been there 100%. And they’ve always said “you can do it”.

My husband is a huge support too.

It’s been six months or so with Headstart. It’s going really great!

It’s good to get support with people who ‘get it’ with brain injury and things like that, because I’ve been with others and it’s not the same. If I have an issue I ring Dianne and she understands it straight away. Everyone Gabbi in hospital after her stroke, age 7. at Headstart just ‘gets it’. I mean all brain injuries are different anyway so it’s good that there’s one place that specialises in it.

Get to know Gabbi!

In a few years time I either see myself Favourite Food: Pizza in Business Admin, or one of my teaches in TAFE is suggesting that I Favourite Movie: do Case Management. I’m thinking The theory of everything disability or with people that are Favourite Music: homeless. I’d like work in something The Script. And Coldplay. that makes a difference. I had an epiphany the other day when I was at Favourite Sports: Tennis or soccer TAFE: I want to work somewhere that Favourite Hobby: Sewing and photography makes a difference.

Renee and I get on really well and we Favourite Place: Home, with family often do sewing which is relaxing, it’s just a fun hobby. When Bethany comes over we go out and do things or we sit and chat. I love going to the beach with my husband but sometimes it’s a bit difficult because he works so I’ve got my support workers to do that with me now.

What I like about Headstart is that they try to match you with someone that’s like you: the same interests, the same type of personality. So I get in really well with Ren and Bethany because they like sewing too!

One of Gabbi’s hobbies is photography. She took these great shots at the butterfly house at Coffs.

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Favourite Cartoon: Winnie the Pooh Favourite Famous Person: Emma Watson

Three words to describe yourself: Kind, passionate, caring.

Trae was born here in the Hunter.

He has since lived all along the east coast of NSW, Victoria and Queensland as his Mum moved around a lot. Trae’s now back.

“I was born here in the Hunter.

It’s the turf I grew up on.

It’s what I know, it’s just comfy.”

“M

brain injury came about from an unexpected assault. It was 11 Sept 2004. A date I’ll never forget. I was hit on the head from behind.

They flew me from Gunnedah - where it happened - to St George Hospital in Sydney, where they operated because I had a depressed scull fracture. I died on the table and they had to jump start me. After that they stabilized me and transferred me down to Westmead Brain Injury Unit.

When I was in a coma they do a thing called Glasgow Coma Scale Score, and I was 3 on 15, with 1 being brain dead and 15 being normal. I was 3 so I was pretty out of it.

A man driven I think I was about a month and a half in Westmead where I had to learn to walk and talk, shower, dress myself, absolutely everything again. That’s kind of trippy, because I went into the coma knowing how to do everything.

I blew the Westmead staff away because they had never seen anybody recovery as quickly as I did.

What changed immediately after my injury was everyone’s view of me. Especially my mum’s outlook. She just wasn’t sure whether I was going to snap and attack my brothers. That was kind of scary for her. But I think was more frustrating for me, because I was like “I’m not going to attack them!” So it was frustration. I don’t deal well with frustration. I lived with Mum for a short while after my injury and then lived with my brother. There’s six of us: four of us boys and two girls. I think I’ve got a better relationship with my brothers and sisters now than I had before my brain injury. I don’t know why exactly, I think it’s because they’ve seen a big change in me.

And they’ve realized what they almost lost.

My memory has been affected by my injury. That’s the biggest challenge for me. Also my balance. If I get dizzy from exhaustion I’ll lose my balance. That’s something that I’ve just learned to deal with. My head injury is hidden, and so if you saw me down the street you would have no idea. I meet people, I say”Listen, I’m probably not gonna remember your name, because I had a head injury and my memory is gone.” And they usually understand from that.

I live in Raymond Terrace, on my own. My mum lives in Maitland. I’ve lived on my own probably for last 12 months. Before I was in share accommodation. I prefer living on my own because it’s your own space, your own time. Time out.

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Trae loves the freedom of having his licence. Scan the QR code with your phone camera (or visit the link vimeo.com/563640883 for more).

I found out about Headstart three and a half years ago through my case worker at PIR (Partners in Recovery).

She said “I think it would be good if you had a look at Headstart.” Before that I didn’t know… I just battled on. I didn’t know that there was supports and stuff like Headstart. I applied for the NDIS on my own, I got all the paperwork and all the hospital reports and everything else. I knew what I wanted and I went out and got it.

Headstart has done miraculous things for me. I don’t see my supports as ‘supports’, they’re my friends. We’ll have a laugh and joke and it’s like you’re with a best mate.

And that’s what I like. I can’t deal with the word ‘support’ really. I can’t look at them like that, because then there’s no connect connection. They’re like friends.

They help me go into the community, they help me do shopping and cooking. Before I had a licence they‘d take me regularly to doctors appointments and everything.

But I’m pretty independent, most of them will tell you that. We might go for walks to Merewether Beach.

They’ll take me shopping. Help me cook things like fried rice and stir fry and stuff like that. My house is usually pretty clean and doesn’t usually need stuff doing.

Sometimes we might just sit down and play Xbox.

I love driving a car again now that I have my licence back. Since the 15th of last month I’ve done 7,000 k’s!

So, yeah, I like driving! I actually haven’t driven a great distance though, probably the furthest was the other side of Dungog. So it’s mainly just around Newcastle.

I’ve got a Nissan Xtrail and I just love the fact that it’s five speed cruise control. That helps stops me speeding.

I get up to any speed limit, cruise control it and that’s where I sit. It just helps keep me under wraps!

I enjoy Headstart’s Rec activities because I get to meet other clients. Not that I can remember names, but I can their faces. Ben came to me and said “If there was anything you could do, what would you do?” and I said “Anything?” He said yes. So I asked for abseiling, thinking there’s no way in hell they’d do it! Well, Ben organised it. So I went abseiling and it was awesome!

I had done abseiling before, when I was a teenager. My first ever abseil was very high - 1500 foot in the Blue Mountains. I’m scared of heights by the way.

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With this abseil, I went good on the first one which was about 15 metres. It was under the trees, so you had the trees around you which helped me get over the height.

Then I went to the next one, which was about 20 metres.

It was above the trees and it was all open. I just froze.

My legs were shaking and looked around and said “no, not happening!” It was scary, I just couldn’t do it. But just the fact that I crossed that bridge, I’m proud of myself for doing the first one. I feel 100% awesome.

That was a big step for me. I don’t care about the last one. It doesn’t matter. I still accomplished the main goal.

In terms of fitness, I did Boot Camp three or four days a week. That’s because I wanted to lose weight. I was 129 kilos. I’m now down to 107. It’s just determination.

Knowing that I can if I can get what I want and I can get what I’m after, that’s what keeps me going.

I recently achieved one of my major goals by finding a job as a delivery driver. I was elated about that! The only problem is they didn’t pay me after my first week so now I’ve applied for another job. Everything happens for a reason so I’ve just got to keep my chin up. When I’m working, it just feels good. When you get paid it feels good because you’ve earned it.

I used to have depression and stuff like that. I think that before my head injury I had a big chemical imbalance.

I guess the head injury just sort of levelled me. I still get frustrated like everyone else but look if I have a problem, my friends or my supports just say “Trae, slowly, it’s OK.” It winds me back and allows me to approach things in a better way.

Before my injury I used to be really laid back and roll with the punches. Take it as it comes. But I guess the head injury sort of just got me from here to where I needed to be. Where I had goals and insights and I’ve got such a clear reading on myself. I know what I can do and what my challenges are.

I won’t say ‘I can’t do’ because you can do anything you want. It’s just a matter of being determined enough.”

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See our karate class in action! Scan the QR code with your phone camera for video (or visit the link vimeo.com/560709987)

Peter has been teaching karate for 60 years (he was18 when he started and he’s 78 now!) Barry, who assists with the class, is 79. So age is definitely no excuse. Neither is disability, with Headstart’s karate class catering to people in wheelchairs and also people with vision impairment. Class Sensei Peter explains more.

Headstart’s weekly karate class is part of our rec calendar. Don’t know your kata from your dōjō? Brush up on your karate lingo here!

Gōjū-ryū is Japanese for “hard-soft style”, is one of the main traditional Okinawan styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques. The Headstart class uses this style of karate.

Sensei in karate is a name attributed to a karate instructor or teacher.

Sensei is originally a Japanese word that means ‘born before. ‘ But in the context of karate, it means a teacher since a teacher precedes his or her students in terms of experience. Peter is a highly experienced Sensei and teaches our class.

“H

eadstart’s karate class began

28 years ago. Sue McHattie started it to help people with balance, coordination, listening and following instructions.

Wayne would be one of the original ones who did karate when we moved to this hall. He had a break for a couple of years, and he’s back this year. Wayne even used to have a black belt in the past. Leah’s been here a long time too, about 15 years.

What a lot of people forget about karate - they look at it Kata is a Japanese word describing detailed patterns of movements as a fighting art - but really, practiced either solo or in pairs. Karate kata are executed as a specified series of a variety of moves, with stepping and turning, while attempting to originally, all the kata and the movements that we do was a maintain perfect form. life prolonging exercise.

A dōjō is a hall or place for immersive learning or meditation, a school for training in various arts of self-defense (such as judo or karate). A Dojo is not a gym. It is not a place a student comes to hang out or play. Students are there to train, improve and build self confidence, self discipline and perfect their martial art.

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What we do a lot with Gōjū-ryū, when we show a move for instance, we’ll show you the self defense so that people understand why we’re doing things.

Wayne (pictured left) has been doing Headstart’s karate class for over a decade. The weekly class caters for a wide range of disabilities.

Then we overstretch some of the moves depending about what problems people are having.

Being successful in karate is more of a motivation thing because a lot of people with nowhere near the difficulties some of these people have just don’t have the patience. People might be saying, “Well, I’ve got this condition or I can’t do it because of mobility or this or that”. We say to everybody just come and have a look and try it out.

Sometimes we just do small things like turning your hands in certain ways. Often they may not seem like karate moves. If you look at the history of martial arts, some of the people that were living close to the water, like fishermen in Okinawa for instance. So, if they were in a boat pulling in nets and or whatever they had to learn balance, they had to learn specific hand movements. Whereas if they were in the mountains they would do a lot of legwork because they’d run up and down mountains.

So we’re talking about functional fitness and helping with everyday

movements. So if you’ve got a weakness - whether you apply it to fighting or to training as we do - the old saying goes “Sometimes you’ve got to be flexible, sometimes you got to be resistant.”

So sometimes you’ve got to be an oak. Sometimes you’ve got to be a willow.

Some people who come here are too tight, so we try really hard to get them to loosen up. Another person’s very loose but they don’t have much strength. So then you work on strength. Today Wayne came complaining about his back, so I sort of tempered the session towards his problem and everybody else fits in. Another time someone comes in with a limp and we tailor the session to help them however we can. Their minds are remarkable too, I’ve learned a lot of things from them as well!

I’ve just had a hip replacement. So I’m still basically doing some legwork.

So, we did the same thing. I said ‘just for me, we’ll do this’. There’s a lot people can take home as well, they

can practice things in their own time.

With these moves you don’t need a partner, unlike judo or other things.

The support workers often like to do the same exercises. If they can do a bit they then can understand how to help the people that they’re working with. So that becomes a two way street.

Sometimes we get implements that you use in karate like a bamboo sword, and they learn to grab from the bottom. They learn to grab from the top so it’s just like reaching for a cup or something like that.

We do like to push people just a little bit, to an extent, “Come on. I know you can do it!” We assess things all the time. We’ve got a basic plan, but then we assess, who’s here on the day, who needs more help and basically everyone fits in.

It stops the body from rusting. If you don’t use it you lose it! But it’s not only the physical side, it’s the mental side too, remembering the movements and focusing is also good for the mind.

Fancy looking as good as Peter at 78? Come along to karate on a Thursday morning and be part of the history.

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Rec Roundup

Nikki and James, Tree Tops Adventure Park

“This quarter has been busy and we’ve seen some beautiful places and had lots of fun! Here’s a glimpse of what’s been going on”. - Nikki, Rec Coordinator

Marika and Therese doing some seated yoga

The group at the Fort Scratchley tunnels tour

Women’s Group

CSW Stefan with Jeff and Ken Sean at cooking class at the footy (Knights v Eels)

Wayne at aqua golf

Women’s group gather 4 or 5 times a month. Activities vary from art galleries to Barramundi fish farm tours. The one consistency seems to be a nice lunch!

“Women’s group braved the icy breeze and headed to The 16 Footers Club in Belmont. The views of Lake Macquarie were amazing and the food was delicious.

Marika entertained us with singing and there was lots of conversation and laughter. In fact Jody, a staff member (pictured below) said our group had made her day! Jody has been working at the club for 34 years.” - CSW Katja

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Kynan’s 8-week fitness challenge

l a v i t s e F a lgi

Kurri Kurri 2021

a t s o N

Who doesn’t love a bit of nostalgia? The annual Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival was held a few months back, and we saved the best pics for NewsLink. The Festival is all about rock ‘n roll, classic cars, hot rods, fashion, music, dancing and everything good about the 50's and 60's. Mark (top), Jeff (middle) and Pete (bottom) all made their own way there and had a great time. Classic cars, classic fellas, what more can we say?!

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Headstart Community Education Team

Changing lives

Headstart began doing lectures at PCYC in 1987 (almost 34 years ago) when the local police asked Sue McHattie to join and setup a presentation.

“O

ur traffic offender intervention program is an

alternative to losing your licence. We have different presenters such as alcohol and other drug experts, legal experts and also crash consequences.

This is where Headstart comes in. It’s the real life stories that have the greatest impact.

Headstart’s CET have changed, hundreds of lives because they are mentioned in every reflection that I get back.

Over the seven years that I've been running the program with PCYC’s at different locations, I’ve always had Headstart be a part of it as it creates the greatest change in people’s driving. Otherwise they’d never get to meet someone who's brain has been injured as a result of a car crash. I think the presentations powerful because usually most people would see these guys on the news. And then they come in here and their real life, and they get to have the conversation with them, and hearing how much a person's life changes from a silly decision whether they're at fault or not. And the ripple effect that this creates.

When the Headstart team get up and tell their personal stories it is heartbreaking. Then at the end of it we have question and answer time, and every single

person just wants to ask so many questions of the guys, they finally get to ask, “Why? What happened?

What’s different?” and the communication between everyone is and the changes you see in people from that is amazing.

I always get the CET team on my day one of the program, and in the morning you can say to him. You look like you're forced to be here. You don't want to be here. By the end of the program you're gonna say “everyone should do this” by the end of day one, they're all like, “why doesn't everyone have to do this, this is the best program ever”. And I do believe as because they get those real life stories in front of them, not in a movie not out of a book not in a newspaper, but real life people.

They are also teaching all the offenders about what an acquired brain injury is whether it’s from a stroke, a crash or something else. So it’s great for people learning about brain injuries and that everyone’s is different. And one thing they’ve added the past couple of years which is great, is the basketball video. “Your head is not a basketball”. And that does get mentioned quite a bit in the feedback too. It’s very funny tongue in cheek video, but it works.”

I think everybody should hear the presentation at least once in their life.

- Sarah Lenton Assistant Manager, PCYC Lake Macquarie

Check out our new Community Education Team video: Scan the QR code with your smartphone to watch our new CET 3 min promo video.

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Onwards and upwards for Sarah Sarah has been a support worker for several years. She gives us an update on her transition to nursing.

“I

started at Headstart in about July 2017. My previous job was at a local café on the beach which I had worked at since finishing school. Seeking a career change, Headstart was recommended various times.

I’ve been working at Headstart for almost four years now and I haven’t looked back since!

Working as a CSW at Headstart I’ve had the opportunity to work with numerous consumers, many who I still work with on a regular basis today. Being able to support and watch each consumer reach their goals and progress in life has been the best part of it.

I’ve even been lucky enough to support consumers plan and attend trips away!

After a few years of employment with Headstart I enrolled in a nursing degree at the University of Newcastle. I chose nursing as I loved being able to create a difference in people’s lives and has been a career interest of mine since finishing school.

The Nursing degree is 3-year full time course consisting of about 30 hours per week of classes and self-directed study. Throughout my degree so far, I’ve attended placements (unpaid work experience hours) in Wollongong It’s given me the opportunity Hospital, Belmont Hospital and Shellharbour Hospital.

to build on and discover new skills to assist and make a difference in the lives of people impacted by brain injury.

I’ve been able to work alongside various professionals as they deliver direct care and goal planning with consumers, helping them achieve their goals and passions again. Many goals including supporting consumers to learn to walk again, in-home skills such as cooking and cleaning, community skills and returning to sport and recreational activities.

My future plan is to graduate as a Registered Nurse in 2022 and secure a position at one of the major hospitals in Newcastle. I also plan to conquer post graduate study in either Paramedicine or Clinical Nursing after I gain a solid standard of nursing experience. The Headstart team have been there every step of the way in supporting my career goals. I still plan to work at Headstart until I graduate, and who knows... I might never leave!

- Sarah

The team at Headstart have been very supportive and flexible with my university commitments. I’ve been able to still provide support to consumers and have time off when needed. I’m very grateful for this!

Progressing into my nursing career, I recently secured a new job at one of the local hospitals in Newcastle as an assistant nurse, now being my primary Monday to Friday job.

I still work regularly of a weekend at Headstart and various weekdays when I’m not at the hospital.

Mark and Sarah hit the Merewether surf. Brenden and Sarah relaxing.

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Sarah and her workmates.

Fond memories of gentleman Ged On Monday 24th May, we farewelled Gerard “Ged” Lockley, who passed peacefully on the morning of Friday 30th April, at the age of seventy-one.

The memorial was held at Ged’s his butt would make it to a bin, group house, and hosted by his because he wasn’t like those others sister Clare, along with housemates that would leave their butts on and staff. The service was full of the ground. He had a reverence tears and laughter as we heard from for life, never understanding that Ged’s housemates about what it was “Glen Hector” and how he could like living with Ged. Ged was born have done that to himself and the in Liverpool, UK and so the service assassination of John Lennon, who was highlighted with a couple of was a peace maker, yes Ged, that Ged’s favourite Beatles songs, and of should never have happened. course Gerry and the Pacemaker’s Our Friday pool games could take “Ferry Cross the Mersey”. close to an hour as we were evenly We then had the opportunity to lay a flower in Ged’s memory.

Ged has been a consumer with Headstart since 2013 and will be sadly missed.

A tribute from Pat Turner: Remembering Ged and his favourite songs we use to sing whilst driving in the car. John Lennon’s “Imagine” and Gerry and The Pacemakers “Ferry Cross the Mersey”. He would always ask “How many people do you know that went on that ferry?”

And I would reply “Only 1 Ged and that’s you!”

A tribute from Simone Windeatt: It was always a rewarding start, my Friday shift with Ged, with him, generally waiting on the sofa chair and jumping to his feet with his smile and twinkle in his eye as he asked “Have you come for me love?” and I would confirm that indeed I had.

Always a perfect gentleman he would lament about the “Language these days” with a disappointed shake of his head, “grown up’s and kids swearing in public.” I remind my kids now that “good manners don’t cost anything” courtesy of Ged’s wisdom. And although a smoker he always made sure

matched but as Ged would say “You have to have a go” and try we did because “you have to have a sense of humour.”

For 2 years I listened to his recall of the biggest fish he caught in lake Macquarie “14 pound, a flathead” and his adventure from the UK to Australia and vice versa on the Orianna and Iberia which was lovely to hear because the joy that Ged received in the telling. His faced would beam with pride when he shared his knowledge of his current and previous residential addresses and of course I would let him know I was impressed.

He had a passion for music, of course Beatles being number one but he did also confess to quiet liking Petula Clark, Jerry and the pacemaker, Cliff and the shadows and many more which he would sing along with as we drove in the car.

My Friday with Ged would end as lovely as it began with Ged commenting that “it is always a pleasure to go out with a lovely lady.” And I would reply that it was always a pleasure to go out with such a polite gentleman” and it was and I will deeply miss those Fridays.

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A trip down memory lane makes it all worthwhile Brian achieved one of his long term goals last month, with the help of CSW Jayden.

It's been 12 long years since Brian was able to travel to Manly Vale, Sydney to visit his mum (and where he grew up). Mum hasn't been able to visit Brian either for the last three years, because there are no family members left for her to travel with.

Understandably, Brian has been very concerned that he'd never see his 91 year old mother again.

Enter CSW Jayden and Brian's physiotherapist, Emily, who led the team working with Brian on his strength and ability over many months. Brian became able to pull himself up to a standing position, which means he can travel further and be away from home for longer than three hours. That's what made this trip possible!

This was CSW Jayden's final shift with Brian and Headstart - Brian's trip to Manly Vale to see Mum and

to visit Manly Dam, where Brian used to spend countless weekends water-skiing. It was an amazing parting shift with an awesome CSW which was priceless to Brian and his family. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jayden! Photos show Jayden with Brian and mum, and Manly Dam - you can still see the ski jump Brian used to use.

Written by Robyn (Brian’s wife)

A kind heart

Headstart consumer Sue (pictured with CSW Tanya), occasionally donates extra groceries and personal items to charity.

Sue’s recent donation to Newcastle’s Soul Cafe led to a special thank you lunch with Matt, the CEO. This is awesome, Sue! Soul Cafe provides hundreds of free sit down and take away meals each week.

They also help people dealing with issues of homelessness, drug or alcohol addiction, crime or violence, poverty, separation, mental health or illness concerns and accommodation needs.

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More info: www.soulcafe.org.au

Sail away with Scott “I volunteer for Sailability Lake Macquarie. I was asked to join them to take the boat they own (Kayle) - which is generally moored in Sydney - out off Newcastle Harbour. They race it to Hobart annually with an entirely disabled crew and group of disabled children. I do enjoy being a volunteer to let me give back to those less fortunate than me!”

“Here I am with the boat they race to Hobart with an entirely disabled crew!” - Scott

Jason: from driving excavators… to cruising the streets!

Jason is thrilled to have received his new mobility scooter. Funded by the NDIS, this sweet ride lets Jason get out on his own, without having to rely on others.

Now he can duck out to the shops for some bread, or to the club for the raffles! Before his injury Jason used to drive excavators. While completing the assessments to show he was capable to use the scooter, the assessors were impressed with his handling of the machine.

In Jason’s words, “I used to drive 30-tonne excavators. This is nothing!”

A big thank you to Caitlin and Alice from Everyday Independence for helping Jason through the assessment and application process with the NDIS. Jason’s landlord has also shown support by providing power to his garage for charging the scooter.

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Waterfall wanderings with Rod “In May I went to Somersby waterfalls with consumer Angie and CSW Rachael. It was a nice warm winter day.

We had a picnic on the bench by the cascading waterfalls. Kids playing around in them from another group. Angie was telling off the wild turkeys who walking near us eyeing off our food. We walked down the steep steps to see the middle waterfall. I was holding on to everything and anything for balance and support, keeping safe, Rachael was helping me too. I got to the bottom for the stairs and walked to the waterfall felt like a freezer, so refreshing and cold.

It felt like I was home, a part of my aboriginal history. It was so worth the walking down.

The waterfall was huge and running down the rocks with power and speed. It was amazing so glad I went. Angie walked a little way but was too much for her and she went back to sit and wait for us in the sun.

Walking back up the stairs was easier, but I had sore legs later on and the following day. It was good, a different challenge”.

- Written by Rod B with Rachael (CSW)

Neil gets creative

“It’s great to be able to work on my art again, I have been focusing on native Australian wild life, landscape and colour.”

We love your work Neil!

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Gary was an official photographer at the Rip Curl Newcastle Cup in April.

The event ran over ten days and the swell came for the finals, with Brazillian Gabriel Medina (pictured) beating fellow countryman Gabriel Medina in the men’s final.

“The quality of surfing was fantastic! The Brazillian’s always put on a good show. I took a couple of thousand photos a day. I don’t edit every single one, just pick out the best ones. I send them to the WSL (World Surfing League) and it’s up to them how they publish them.” - Gary More news & stories on Facebook

Photo: Gary Luke Photographics

Search for Headstart ABI Services

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