BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS WEEK

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (16:40): I rise today to pay tribute to those involved in Brain Injury Awareness Week which occurred during the winter break, between 15 and 19 August. I want to pay particular tribute to the Brain Injury Network of South Australia (BINSA), the work of its Executive Officer, Mariann McNamara, and its many staff and volunteers.

Brain injury affects many people. It is difficult to get accurate statistical data about it, but it is estimated that 6,000 new cases in Australia annually are admitted to hospital with traumatic brain injury, and this includes stroke. Many require hospitalisation and do not have significant residual impairment. However, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data indicates that approximately 15 per cent need rehabilitation and ongoing care. Estimates of incidents range from 100 to 377 per 100,000 population per annum in Australia. In 1993, 110,200 people in Australia reported requiring daily assistance or supervision for their personal care and daily activities as a result of acquired brain injury.

Acquired brain injury is injury to the brain which results in the deterioration of cognitive, physical, emotional or independent functioning. It can occur as a result of trauma, hypoxia, infection, tumour, substance abuse, degenerative neurological diseases or stroke. These impairments to cognitive abilities or physical functioning may be either temporary or permanent and cause partial or total disability or psychosocial adjustment.

Many people find that their lives are quite different after an acquired brain injury. Often it is the emotional and psychological effects that have the most impact after formal rehabilitation is complete. Understanding what has happened and learning new strategies to make the most of living with acquired brain injury may be very important steps for an individual.

The Brain Injury Network's Learning and Lifeskills Program is designed to assist people to do this in a supportive environment. Activities include an Assuming Control Course (an eight-week course held at the University of South Australia), seminars, workshops and forums on life management issues and topics and social and recreational activities.

Many participants of the Springboard program were honoured during Brain Injury Awareness Week, and these people are involved in activities from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday each week. This program includes many professional therapists who support people to make the most of the abilities that they have, but the contribution of volunteers is central to the philosophy and operation of the Springboard program.

Volunteers from the general community provide crucial services and support to individual therapy and group activities. The program cannot operate without the volunteers. If people were to go to the BINSA website, they would see photos of people playing balloon volleyball, where people line up in chairs with a net over which they pass the volleyball. They have things like visits from the SAPOL Dog Operations Unit, a regular footy tip competition, barbecues and pancake days, where there is much fellowship and people clearly enjoying each other's company.

Some of the services provided by BINSA volunteers include interpreters. When people lose the power of speech, it is very important to have somebody read what they are trying to communicate and convey that to the rest of the community. I particularly noted that a regular figure in the press gallery here, Michael Jacobs, received an award for his contribution to news coverage and reporting of people with brain injury.

Time expired.