Cheryl Koenig

The NSW Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program's website contains an extensive list of links to Australian and International websites relating to brain injury.

Click here to visit their links page. 

Looking Ahead

Looking Ahead is a practical resource for teachers and other carers working with children who return to school after an acquired brain injury.

Cheryl was filmed & interviewed for their DVD/CD 'Looking Ahead - returning to school after a brain injury'.

An initiative of Kaleidoscope's Paediatric Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team (PBIRT), it was developed in conjunction with local teachers and both Children's Hospitals in Sydney.

The project was brought to fruition by the enthusiasm of Barbara Lewis from Northern Sydney Carer Support and with the provision of a grant from the Motor Accident Authority (MAA).

For more information email Barbara Lewis at BMLewis@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au or phone the Carer Support Service on (02) 8877 5141.

Critical Bridges

Cheryl and Jonathan were part of an educational DVD called 'Critical Bridges - Meeting Challenges at Points of Transition in Education by Working Together'.

The DVD highlights some of the challenges faced by people with disability as they navigate their way through society. It includes a series of interviews with senior representatives from government departments, community organisations, service providers, people living with a disability and parents of people with a disability.

The DVD was a collaborative project between the Disability Council of NSW and the NSW Department of Education and Training.

For copies please contact the Disability Council of NSW on (02) 9211 2866 or via email at info.disabilitycouncil@dadhc.nsw.gov.au.

Brain Injury Rehabilitation Programs

In New South Wales there are fourteen specialised Brain Injury Units offering Brain Injury Rehabilitation Programs (BIRP). These are located across four major Sydney metropolitan hospitals and ten regional hospitals and provide in-patient, out-patient and community-based treatment.

For information regarding the nearest BIRP visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/birp

From Cheryl... 

With any kind of brain injury, it is important never to give up hope and to be prepared to pursue alternative arrangements if you do not feel that every effort is being made to promote recovery. It is also important to realise that there is not one ‘magic bullet’ or overnight cure — recovery from traumatic brain injury takes years of hard work and determination.

I can highly recommend:

Gavin Williams PhD
Senior Physiotherapist
ABI Unit
Epworth Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre
89 Bridge Road
Richmond VIC  3121

T. (03) 9426 8727
F. (03) 9426 8734

In my opinion, this is the best specialised rehabilitation hospital in Australia, and statistics seem to support this with 97% of all Traumatic Brain Injury patients achieving independent walking (as reported by the physiotherapy journal, 'inmotion' in April 2005).

The staff here are trained in Bobath Therapy. For more information relating to Bobath Therapy visit www.bobath.org.uk 

Brain Injury Associations

Brain Injury Associations are the leading advocacy body for people with acquired brain injury, their families, carers and other interested organisations. They represent the needs of these people to government, service providers, the broader community and the media.

Brain Injury Association of New South Wales
(02) 9868 5261
www.bia.nsw.org.au

Brain Injury Association of Queensland
(07) 3367 1049
www.biaq.com.au

Headway Victoria
(03) 9482 2955
www.headwayvictoria.org.au

Brain Injury Association of Tasmania
(03) 6278 7299
www.biat.org.au

Brain Injury Options Coordination (South Australia)
(08) 3872 1479
www.dfc.sa.gov.au/disability-services/bloc.asp

Somerville Community Services (Northern Territory)
(08) 8945 1533
www.somerville.com.au

Carers NSW Inc.

Cheryl is a representative for Carers NSW Inc.

Carers NSW Inc.
Roden Cutler House
Level 18
24 Campbell Street
Sydney NSW 2000

T. (02) 9280 4744
F. (02) 9280 4755

Carers can call: 1800 242 636 (free call except from mobiles)

contact@carersnsw.asn.au
www.carersnsw.asn.au
www.youngcarersnsw.asn.au