There is a range of resources available that address ABI. The following pages separate these into web links and publications by Bouverie staff. Please select from the menu on the left to view these lists.
Brain Link www.brainlink.org.au
This website provides good information on ABI and services, broken down into the different types of ABI, including TBI, stroke, hypoxia, and children and ABI. The site also has good information on support groups, and lists of resources for people with ABI, carers and professionals.
There is also a page dedicated to families and the services available for them.
The website coordinates an email network for professionals and families.
Information and resources available on the website include:
- Changed Lives – information on ABI and resources, available in 17 languages.
- Guide to state wide services – outline of ABI services and contact details.
- Neuropsychological Assessment – a guide for families and people with ABI, and a good reference for new workers in the ABI field.
- Glossary of Terms – includes medical and professional definitions.
- Parents guide “Growing up with acquired brain injury” – great overview of issues and services and helpful ideas for parents with a child with ABI.
- Mental health and ABI – good booklet explaining mental health issues, services and ideas of help. Useful for families, clients and professionals.
- Children and young people with ABI – great booklet on this topic covering many areas and useful hints to help families. A good guide for any worker.
- Fact sheets – on numerous topics, including understanding the brain, getting the best from your health care team, rehabilitation, and getting your life organised.
Brain Injury Association of Queensland www.braininjury.org.au
This website outlines ABI and services available in Queensland. There is a section on personal stories including one entitled ‘Challenges of a Carer’.
The website has a collection of great, comprehensive and easy to follow fact sheets on a large number of topics. These can be downloaded for free.
The fact sheets are grouped under the following headings:
- Causes
- Behavioural
- Cognitive
- Medical
- Sensory/motor
- Psychological
- Family/carer
- Children
- Statistics and Issues Papers.
ARBIAS http://www.arbias.org.au/
This website provides information on ABI and alcohol/drugs-related brain injury.
It has information on services for people with ABI and their families, self care, and training programs available for workers in this field. The information is available in 26 languages.
Specific information for the Koorie population is available at http://www.arbias.org.au/information-on-arbi-for-the-koori-community/
Turning Point – Drug and Alcohol and ABI www.turningpoint.org.au/abi/index.html
This provides workes with information on how to identify ABI, and is good for workers dealing with A&D and determining whether the client also has an ABI.
The site provides links and references to Alcohol and Drug treatments and services, and is a good reference for families, clients and professionals who want to understand and access Alcohol and Drug services.
Kids and ABI: Paediatric Rehabilitation Information – Royal Children’s Hospital www.rch.org.au/rehab/resources.cfm?doc_id=9489
This website contains information sheets on ABI for professionals and family members, as well as general information, and information on communication, cognitive skills, medical information, and motor skills.
There is also information about support services and research.
Westmead Children’s Hospital Sydney www.chw.edu.au/prof/services/rehab/brain_injury/information_sheets/
Information sheets about children and ABI are available on this website.
Carers Victoria www.carersvic.org.au/index.htm
This website has information for carers and professionals, including about education programs, support services and resources.
The Carers Support Kit is available, and provides facts and ideas for carers. Carer’s tell their stories, reflecting on their lives as carers of family members with ABI.
The site also has information on counselling services and support groups for carers, relevant publications. Information is available in 13 languages.
Carers Australia www.carersaustralia.com.au
This is the umbrella body for the various carers associations in Australia. The website has up to date information on carer issues, government initiatives and funding. It also has carer fact sheets, and links to the different carers association.
DISTSS – Training http://www.distss.org.au/
This site has an up-to-date list of training available in the disability field, including ABI.
The resource Getting Your Head Around ABI is available free, either as a CD-ROM or on-line at www.distss.org.au/training_resources/abi/startHere.htm . This provides education on ABI with case studies and active learning. It is intended for workers at approximately the Certificate 3 – 4 level.
Action Disability for Ethics Communities www.adec.org.au
This provides a list of support groups for disabled carers in 12 different languages. Each group has a facilitator, and a brochure available on the website. Information about respite services is also available.
ABI Behaviour Consultancy www.abibehaviour.org.au
Provides behaviour management support to people with ABI, their families and people working with them.
Brain Foundation Victoria http://www.brainaustralia.org.au/
The Brain Foundation is an Australian registered charity which raises money to fund on-going, crucial research in Australia into brain diseases and all other known neurological disorders as well as brain and spinal injuries. Information and research is available on the website.
Brain Disorders Programme Victoria http://www.bdpv.org/
The Brain Disorders Programme of Victoria is a state wide service for persons aged 16-64 who suffer a combination of Brain Impairment and Psychiatric Illness. It consists of:
- a community team (CBDATS)
- an inpatient unit (Mary Guthrie House)
- a transitional living unit (Step 2).
Information about these services is available on the website.
Melbourne Citymission State-wide ABI Peadiatric Coordinators http://www.melbournecitymission.org.au/strong-vibrant-communities/services/disability-services/state-wide-abi-paediatric-coordinators.html
The state-wide ABI Paediatric Coordinators provide information, mentoring and support to anyone working with a child or young person with and acquired brain injury. They are available to provide training, mentoring support, to assist workers identify suitable services and to provide secondary consultation on individual cases. Information is available on the website.
Office of the Public Advocate, Victoria http://www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au/
This office promotes the human rights, interests and dignity of Victorians with a disability. Information about their services, as well as relevant news, publications and research is available on the website.
Transport Accident Commission (TAC) http://tacsafety.com.au/jsp/homepage/home.jsp
Worksafe Victoria www.workcover.vic.gov.au
Charles, N., Butera-Prinzi, F. & Perlesz, A., ‘Families living with acquired brain injury: a multiple family group experience,’ NeuroRehabilitation, Vol 22, No. 1, 2007, pp. 61-67.
Butera-Prinzi, F. & Perlesz, A., ‘Children’s experience of living with a parent with a head injury,’ Brain Injury, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2004, pp. 83-101.
Perlesz, A., Kinsella, GJ. & Crowe, S., ‘Psychological Distress and Family Satisfaction following Traumatic Brain Injury: Injured Individuals and their Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Carers,’ The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, Vol. 15, No. 3, 2000, pp. 909-929.
Watts, R. & Perlesz, A., ‘Psychosocial Outcome Risk Indicator: Predicting psychosocial outcome following traumatic brain injury,’ Brain Injury, Vol. 13, 1999, pp. 113-124.
Perlesz, A., Kinsella, G. & Crowe, S., ‘Impact of traumatic brain injury on the family: A critical review,’ Rehabilitation Psychology, Vol. 44, 1999, pp. 6-35.
Perlesz, A., 'Complex Responses to Trauma : Challenges in Bearing Witness,' The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, Vol. 20, No.1,1999, pp. 11 -19.
Perlesz, A., & O'Loughlan, M., ‘Changes in stress and burden in families seeking therapy following traumatic brain injury: A follow-up study,’ International Journal of Rehabilitation Research Vol. 21, 1998, pp. 339-354.
Perlesz, A., Kinsella, G. & Crowe, S. 'Family psychosocial outcome following traumatic brain injury,' om Ponsford, P. Snow & V. Anderson (Eds) International Perspectives in Traumatic Brain Injury. Proceedings of the 5th Conference of the International Association for the Study of Traumatic Brain Injury. Bowen Hills, Australian Academic, Press, 1996, p. 470-475
Perlesz, A., Furlong, M., & McLachlan, D., Family work and acquired brain damage, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, Vol. 13, No. 3, 1992, pp. 145-153.
Perlesz, A., Furlong, M., & McLachlan, D., " Family-centered rehabilitation: Family therapy for the head-injured and their relatives", in R. Harris, R. Burns, & R. Rees (eds.), Recovery from Brain Injury: Expectations, Needs, and Processes, Institute for the Study of Learning Difficulties, Adelaide, 1989, pp. 180-191.
Invited Address
Perlesz, A. (2003). Research paradigms go head to head: Invisible voices in brain injury research. Invited address, Australian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment Conference, Sydney, April, 2003.
