Brain Injury SA

📣 Calling all carers! Join us for our upcoming Carers Information Session:

🧠 Behaviours of Concern after ABI

Acquired brain injury doesn't just change what a person can do — it can change how they act. Research shows that over half of people with severe brain injury display behaviours of concern, such as aggression, irritability, apathy, or socially inappropriate behaviour, and for many these become a long-term, ongoing part of daily life rather than something that simply fades with time.

These changes can be confusing and exhausting for the people who love and support them. Around 7 in 10 family carers report significant caregiver burden, often alongside emotional stress, disrupted routines, and social isolation — made harder when carers don't fully understand why these behaviours happen or how to respond.

This session provides a general overview of behaviours of concern after ABI and aims to help you make sense of what you're seeing, why it happens, and practical ways to respond — so you feel more confident, less alone, and better equipped to support your family member. It will also provide information on how to get professional support if needed.

📆 When: Thursday 15 October, 10am to 12pm
📍 Where: BISA South Hub – 15 Alexander Kelly Drive, Noarlunga Centre
🎟️ Registration is essential → https://ow.ly/MbEG50ZTnyT

📬 The October edition of BISA News is here!

This month we've got programs coming up for carers, training opportunities for support workers, and a chance to nominate a BISA staff member for a customer service award.

Whether you're a person living with brain injury, a family member, carer, supporter, or service provider, there's something in here for you.

📖 Read the October edition → https://ow.ly/552l50ZTmGR
📩 Not subscribed yet? Sign up free → https://ow.ly/U4as50ZTmGP

🧠 Do you have a brain injury and want to connect with someone who understands?

Our Peer Support Program connects people living with brain injury with others who have their own lived experience — providing a space to share, listen, connect and feel understood.

You don’t have to navigate life after brain injury alone.

🤝 Our Peer Support Program is:
➡️ Free and open to all adults (18+) who have sustained a brain injury
➡️ 5 sessions over 5 weeks, at a time that suits you
➡️ Available face-to-face at any BISA hub, or via phone or video call

If you’re ready to connect with someone who understands, we’d love to hear from you!

Register your interest today and access supportive, understanding connection through our Peer Support Program → https://ow.ly/fgRZ50ZRiVQ

🧠💻 Last week our Occupational Therapy team visited Inhousing & Stretchy Tech to explore some of the innovative technology available to support accessibility and participation.

Will from Stretchy Tech took the team through a range of accessible gaming and computer-use options, as well as their tech hub, where clients can trial smart home products such as accessible door handles, voice-activated technology and more.

Stretchy Tech provides advice and information to support therapists, while also working alongside clients to explore and use technology that can help meet their individual needs. Their team includes three Occupational Therapists and two technicians who can provide support throughout this process.

✨ A big thank you to Will and the Stretchy Tech team for having us! It was fantastic to see the possibilities that accessible technology can offer and learn more about the work being done to support people living with acquired brain injury and disability.

✨ We love sharing community initiatives ✨

🧠 There's still a chance to take part in the Body Image after Injury study being conducted by Adelaide University.

Participating in this research will help identify better ways to assess and support people during recovery and rehabilitation.

Who can participate? You may be eligible if you:
➡️ Are aged 18 years or older
➡️ Have lived experience of traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury
➡️ Sustained your injury at least 4 weeks ago
➡️ Are living with residual physical impairment
➡️ Are able to read and answer questions in English

What is involved?
➡️ Participants will complete a short anonymous online survey (approximately takes 10 minutes to complete)
➡️ Participants will be asked to share their experience of body image and body awareness after injury and/ or surgery

For more information and to participate in the study, visit → https://ow.ly/EiWB50ZO7KS

🧠 Brain Injury SA is exhibiting at the Carer Expo next week!

Hosted by Carers SA, the Carer Expo provides a valuable opportunity to meet local service providers, access information and resources and talk to those who could provide support to you and the person you care for.

📅 When: Thursday 1 October, 10am to 2.30pm
📍 Where: St Clair Recreation Centre - 109 Woodville Road, Woodville South
🎟️ Cost: FREE entry. Get your free ticket here → https://ow.ly/bgAu50ZO7lE

We hope to see you there!

✨🏆 Nominations are now open for our Customer Service Award!

Our Customer Service Award celebrates a BISA staff member who goes above and beyond in delivering exceptional service — whether it's someone from our administration team, advocacy, our appeals team, or one of our therapists.

This is a fantastic opportunity for our staff to be recognised for providing outstanding service to you, and your nomination helps us celebrate their incredible work!

Nominations can be made online, or in-person in our hubs with a hardcopy nomination form.

Nominations close Friday 13 November 2026. Submit a nomination online → https://ow.ly/8f4b50ZO80S

We'd love to hear from you so we can recognise them at our end of year celebrations!

Pictured: 2025 Customer Service Award recipient – Rebekah. Presented by Andersons Solicitors.

It's Dementia Action Week and it's time to talk about Dementia 🧠

Dementia Action Week is a reminder of the importance of talking openly about dementia, building understanding and creating communities where people living with dementia feel supported and included.

This year, Dementia Australia’s message is “It’s time to talk about dementia”, encouraging everyone to start conversations that can help reduce stigma, improve understanding and connect people with the support they need.

At Brain Injury SA, we know that every person’s experience of brain injury is different. While dementia and acquired brain injury are different conditions, both can impact a person’s communication, relationships, independence and participation in the community.

Creating inclusive communities starts with understanding. Taking the time to listen, communicate with patience and find ways for people to remain connected and involved can make a meaningful difference.

This Dementia Action Week, 21–27 September, take some time to learn more, start a conversation and consider how we can help create communities where people experiencing cognitive changes feel understood, supported and included.

It’s time to talk about dementia, and to make sure everyone has a place in the conversation → https://ow.ly/gihe50ZMpb8

🌻 Spring has sprung, and we’re heading to the Adelaide Botanic Garden for our next BISE Group Session!

Come along for a relaxed morning of conversation and connection at the Adelaide Botanic Garden. We'll meet at the Botanic Lodge Café for morning tea.

📅 When: Wednesday 7 October, 10.30am to 12pm
📍 Where: Adelaide Botanic Garden – North Terrace, Adelaide
🎟️ Cost: Free to attend. Registration is essential.

To register for one of our upcoming BISE Group sessions, please contact Ed at [email protected]

🧠💻 Free Dementia Action Week Webinars

As part of Dementia Action Week 2026, the Wicking Dementia Centre is offering a week of free lunchtime webinars from Monday 21 to Friday 25 September.

These short, 30-minute sessions provide an opportunity to hear from leading experts, build your understanding of dementia and explore how we can create more inclusive and supportive communities for people living with dementia.

Online sessions include:
🧠 What Every Aged Care Professional Should Know About the Brain and Dementia
📅 When: Monday 21 September
🕦 Time: 11.30am - 12pm (ACST)
💻 Webinar Details: https://ow.ly/SNM250ZMpn2

🧠 Seeing the Person, Hearing the Message – What Do People with Lived Experience of Dementia Think We Need to Do Better?
📅 When: Tuesday 22 September
🕦 Time: 11.30am - 12pm (ACST)
💻 Webinar Details: https://ow.ly/ceUg50ZMpn1

🧠 Bite-Sized Learning for the Workplace
📅 When: Wednesday 23 September
🕦 Time: 11.30am - 12pm (ACST)
💻 Webinar Details: https://ow.ly/LbcQ50ZMpn4

🧠 Understanding Responsive Behaviours Through a Neuroscience Lens
📅 When: Thursday 24 September
🕦 Time: 11.30am - 12pm (ACST)
💻 Webinar Details: https://ow.ly/mmp950ZMpn6

🧠 Dementia Inclusive Design and Environments
📅 When: Friday 25 September
🕦 Time: 11.30am - 12pm (ACST)
💻 Webinar Details: https://ow.ly/CulY50ZMpmZ

The webinars are open to health professionals, carers, students and anyone interested in learning more about dementia.

A great opportunity to learn, challenge perceptions and gain practical insights during Dementia Action Week.