“It has been found upon appropriate clinical assessments, that many people presenting with alcohol and other drug problems, have, in fact, experienced a traumatic brain injury years earlier.”

“A major disadvantage for people with acquired brain injury is that there is no legislated form of assistance as there is for people with mental illness. Unless people with acquired brain injury have the ongoing support of a good network of family and friends, they find it difficult to obtain any form of assistance.”

Scientific evidence suggests that injury to the front and sides of the brain is associated with an increase in aggressive, violent, and criminal behaviour.

“Studies have found that in a relationship in which one partner has an acquired brain injury the chances of marital aggression are increased almost sixfold.”

Brain Injury Australia’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Sheet on Inflicted Traumatic Brain Injury (ITBI).

“The 1999 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) study, The Definition, Incidence and Prevalence of Acquired Brain Injury in Australia, estimated that there were 338,700 Australians (1.9% of the total Australian population) who had a disability related to acquired brain injury. Of these, 160,200 were severely or profoundly affected by acquired brain injury and needed daily support.”

“Anecdotal evidence from within the homelessness..sector as well as empirical research in the criminality field points to the fact that the disabilities arising from Acquired Brain Injury are often either overlooked and/or included under the category of ‘psychiatric or mental illness’ or ‘intellectual disability’. Both clinical and non-clinical workers often assume that the presence of a ‘traditional’ functional disorder is evidence of a mental or psychiatric illness.”

“An acquired brain injury can exacerbate and magnify the risk factors associated with homelessness including family breakdown, loss of social support networks, lack of affordable housing, family violence, unemployment, illness, drug and alcohol use, violence and/or criminal behaviour.”

“As individual parts of the brain controls the various things that we do, some of the following experiences may occur, or they may not. Each person is unique and consequently may not ever undergo any of these changes.”

“This fact sheet talks about what the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is and why it was created. It also lists some of the ways the NDIS is designed to improve the lives of people with disability in Australia.”

Plain-English fact sheet on receiving a first plan for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants in New South Wales (NSW).

“This fact sheet explains how Information, Linkages, and Capacity Building (ILC) will provide you with information, training and support to help you access mainstream services and get ready for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). These supports are referred to as ILC.”

“Depression is a feeling of sadness, loss, despair or hopelessness that does not get better over time and is overwhelming enough to interfere with daily life. There is cause for concern when feeling depressed or losing interest in usual activities occurs at least several days per week and lasts for more than two weeks.”

“Inpatient rehabilitation is designed to help you improve function after a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is usually provided by a team of people including physicians, nurses and other specialized therapists and medical professionals.”

“Driving is an important part of a person’s independent lifestyle and integration into the community. Because we take our driving skills for granted, it is easy to forget that driving is the most dangerous thing we do in our everyday lives. A brain injury can affect the skills needed to drive safely. If and when an injured person may safely return to driving should be addressed early in recovery. The injured person, family members, and health professionals should all be included in this important decision. If anyone has concerns that driving may put the injured person or others in danger, health professionals may recommend pre-driving testing.”

“Fatigue is a feeling of exhaustion, tiredness, weariness or lack of energy. After a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), you may have more than one kind of fatigue.”

“After Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), many couples find that their relationship with each other changes dramatically. These changes are very personal and can be very emotional for both people in the relationship. This fact sheet will help couples understand some of the common changes they may notice in their relationship after TBI. Also, suggestions are given for ways that couples can address some of the more difficult changes they are experiencing.”

“Parental involvement is critical when a young person is returning to school after a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Parents have the most knowledge about their child and are deeply invested in their daughter’s or son’s well-being and future. Often parents become advocates to ensure that all essential supports are in place to enhance their child’s successful return to school. Parents may also be a go-between to make sure all the necessary medical information has been provided so the school can design the best plan for the student. If the student is close to exiting school, vocational rehabilitation professionals may also be involved.”

“Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) can be a devastating experience for the parents of an injured adult child. Parents say they have had no time to prepare for the many changes that occur to their lives as a result of their son/daughter’s brain injury. Often, now that their family have grown, parents are at the stage of planning for their own future. It seems that life and those plans disappear in an instant.”

“Acquired Brain Injury can be a devastating experience for spouses and partners. There is no time to adjust gradually to the injury and nothing can prepare people for the changes that occur. It is common to feel that the ABI is unfair and that the injury and its consequences are undeserved. Life plans can disappear in an instant.”

“Brain Injury not only affects the individual, but it affects the family as a whole. In the process of recovery parents may be preoccupied with the medical crisis and the experiences of siblings are often not recognised. This is a significant and stressful time for brothers and sisters because the sudden and confusing changes caused by the ABI can greatly influence family life. Siblings can be affected in many ways, sometimes for many years after the injury. Understanding how each has been affected by this experience is important to facilitate adjustment to the new situation.”

Brain injury may affect bladder and/or bowel function (incontinence). Following brain injury, a person may need assistance re-establishing and keeping regular bowel movements and/or emptying the bladder.

The “head and neck” was the body region most often injured (59%) in hospitalised cases of assault on women and girls.

Head and neck injuries accounted for 19% of hospitalised do-it-yourself (DIY) fall-related injuries sustained around the home, and 7% of DIY injuries were brain injuries.

Fact Sheets relating to superannuation, personal insurance and brain injury, prepared with assistance from Maurice Blackburn.

“Never shake your baby. This can lead to Shaken Baby Syndrome and cause permanent damage to their developing brain.” Fact Sheet produced by the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, for parents on how to best manage a crying baby.

“The Brain Injury Secondary Consultation Information & Training (BISCIT) project (2000) was conducted to ensure that workers providing services to people with brain injury have access to high-quality information, training, and secondary consulting support about brain injury.”