Working together to improve the lives of people with brain impairment

Survey of rehabilitation professionals' experiences of social media use after acquired brain injury (ABI)

Dr Melissa Brunner and Prof Leanne Togher are conducting a survey and are interested in hearing from health professionals who work with people in rehabilitation after ABI, who are willing to take part in research about the use of social media.

This survey specifically aims to determine:

•    How social media is used during rehabilitation after ABI;

•    Any problems people with ABI experience in using social media;

•    Barriers and facilitators to using social media in ABI rehabilitation; and

•    The role of health professionals in supporting the use of social media in ABI rehabilitation.

The survey will take approximately 30 minutes to complete and will provide information about the current and future scope of practice with regards to using social media after an ABI, as well as the enablers and barriers to supporting people in its use.

Findings from this research will further inform rehabilitation pathways, including the design and development of online tools and resources, to support people with ABI in their use of social media as a form of communication, and to provide guidance for rehabilitation professionals in clinical practice.

The participant information statement and consent form are available via the survey link: https://redcap.sydney.edu.au/surveys/?s=8PMLKJ8MYH

Please contact Melissa if you have any questions about the study.

Ethics Approval/Reference Number: 2020/510

Contact Name: Melissa Brunner 

Email: melissa.brunner@sydney.edu.au

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Light Therapy for ABI Study

We are currently seeking referrals for a randomised controlled trial evaluating the impact of in-home light therapy on post-brain injury fatigue, as well as daytime sleepiness, sleep quality and mood. The study entails 7 study visits over a 5-6 month period in the participant's home and exposure to a tailored light therapy program. Ceiling lights and lamps are installed by a certified electrician, using participant's pre-existing fixtures. 

It is for adults aged 18+ who:

·  Have had a TBI (mild, moderate or severe) OR

·  Stroke

·  Reports experiencing significant fatigue

·  Is 3+ months post-injury (participants may also be many years post-injury eg. 20-30 years).

·  Lives within the greater Melbourne area (up to 2 hr drive).

The study has been developed at Monash University in conjunction with the Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre (MERRC) by Professors Jennie Ponsford, Shantha Rajaratnam, Steven Lockley and myself. The project has been approved by the Epworth HealthCare Human Research Ethics Committee.

If you would like any further information or would like to refer a potential participant, please don’t hesitate to contact me at laura.connolly@monash.edu or 

0419 372 468. Download the flyer here

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CyberAbility Training and Workshops

While cyberscams can happen to anyone, people with ABI may be more at risk, particularly of romance scams. From the stories of people with ABI, their family members and clinicians, the need for tailored cyber safety training was strongly endorsed.The CyberABIlity team (Monash University, Li-Ve Tasmania) in collaboration with people with lived experience of scams and brain injury have developed an online cybersafety program tailored for people with ABI, funded by the TAC. Eight self-directed online modules and workbook activities explore the most important aspects of recognising scams and staying safe online. 

We are launching the CyberABIlity web-based training in Melbourne in October.

People with lived experience of brain injury, family members, carers, advocates, therapists, service providers and funders are invited to attend the launch. There will be an opportunity for attendees to get hands-on support in accessing the web platform and the training modules, completing a personalised cybersafety plan, and self-evaluating their online safety skills. The date for the launch will be announced soon. To stay up to date with our project, please register your interest at www.cyberability.org.au. Promoting this to your clients and networks would also be appreciated.

Dr Kate Gould, Monash University, and the CyberABIlity team

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Seeking people with ABI to participate in an online conversation skills program

We are seeking participants with ABI and their communication partners to participate in a study of the convers-ABI-lity program. The program involves a person with ABI and their communication partner participating in online self-guided activities and weekly sessions with a speech pathologist over 10 weeks. For this program, we are recruiting people with acquired brain injury who are NOT currently receiving speech pathology intervention focused on communication. The information statement is available here. We are looking for people who:

• Had a brain injury (e.g., a traumatic brain injury, stroke, or other type of brain injury) at least 6 months ago
• Are aged 18 and over
• Have difficulties in conversations, and would like to improve their conversation skills
• Are able to read short paragraphs of information
• Have a computer or tablet at home which is connected to the Internet
• Have a family member or carer available to participate in the program with them

The study has been developed by team of researchers at the University of Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney including Professor Leanne Togher, Associate Professor Emma Power, Dr Rachael Rietdijk and Dr Melissa Brunner, and is supported by funding from icare NSW. This study has been approved by the Western Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee.

For further information about this study, contact Rachael Rietdijk at rachael.rietdijk@sydney.edu.au.

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Behaviour Support: Provision by Australian Disability Service Providers

Hi everyone,
Our team is conducting a research project titled “Behaviour Support: Provision by Australian Disability Service Providers”, which will help to build an understanding of who is developing behaviour support plans in Australia. As you may be aware, there are many people involved in this work across various disciplines, and with various experience and training. This research will help us to gain a snapshot of the current field of practice.  

This research is being led by Dr Alinka Fisher from Disability and Community Inclusion, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University and Associate Investigators Dr Glenn Kelly, Dr Peter Kremer and Ms Kymberly Louise (Research Assistant)  Ethics approval has been sought from the Flinders University Human Research Ethics Committee (Project number: 4624).

Participation involves the completion of a short 15-minute survey by those who are responsible for writing/developing individual behaviour support plans for people living in community settings in Australia (including schools and residential care). Upon completion respondents will have the option to go into a draw to win an Ipad.

We would appreciate it if you could circulate the details of this study to anyone who may be interested and also meet inclusion criteria (i.e., they are responsible for writing behaviour support plans). We also have the survey being circulated on social media (Twitter and LinkedIn) via #BSPractionerSurvey. 

The survey is anonymous, and respondents can choose not to answer questions or withdraw from the survey at any time. More detailed information about the survey, including its purpose, participant involvement and information about the research team is available via the survey link.

The survey can be accessed here: https://qualtrics.flinders.edu.au/jfe/form/SV_01GnQTU9jvQpy74

It will close on Monday the 20th of December 2021.
Thanks in advance for supporting this research.  
Alinka, Glenn, Peter, Kymberly

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WALT Institute Presents an Advanced Masterclass: How To Resolve Conflict of Competing Goals for Better Work/Life Balance!

Saturday 4^th December 10am – 11:30am AEDT 

Register HERE

Do you find it hard to get your own goals completed?

Are you confused as to where to even start with your goals?

Are you afraid to focus on your personal goals before professional goals?

If you are confused about where to start with your goals or how to juggle between work and personal demands, or are afraid to even start to achieve a goal because it seems so huge, then this FREE Advanced Masterclass is a MUST for you!

In this Masterclass you will learn:

Key #1 Why you must create short-term goals that align with your purpose
Key #2 Why you don’t need to set complex, difficult goals to achieve well at work
Key #3 You’ll be shocked to learn why the highest achievers in STEMM are not necessarily the most talented people!

A must to help you stay focussed, achieve your goals that align to your purpose, and set yourself up to achieve your career goals.

Find out how!

Register HERE

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Pocket MEC: Development of a screening version of the Montreal Protocol for the Evaluation of Communication. (GU ref no: 2021/847)  

Speech pathologists with expertise in working with people with Right Hemisphere Stroke or Traumatic Brain Injury who have used the Montreal Protocol for the Evaluation of Communication (MEC) are purposefully being recruited.  The aim of the project is to gather recommendations on essential items from the MEC that should be retained in a screening tool, called the Pocket MEC.  

Please find information about the research here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Participant_Information. If you consent to participate, please access an online survey via the following link:   

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZBM2Z2F   

If you have any questions about your participation in this research, contact Ronelle Hewetson at r.hewetson@griffith.edu.au 

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Seeking speech pathologists perspectives on the important issues that matter for successful NDIS funding for people with ABI and communication disability – Emma Power, emma.power@uts.edu.au

Hi colleagues

Given the high profile issues occurring around the NDIS in media and government circles, our team (see below led my Emma Power) are keen to get clinician’s perspectives on the important issues that matter for successful NDIS funding for people with ABI and communication disability (for now and also the future!). The information sheet and consent are attached.

Who is doing this research:

Ms Anna Parker (speech pathology student at UTS) with academic supervisors, Associate Professor Emma Power, Ms Melissa Miao and Dr Brooke Ryan (speech pathology, UTS).

Who can participate:

Speech pathologists who have had at least 6 months experience working with adults who have an Acquired Brain Injury (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis etc) in the NDIS system.

What will it involve:

Join an online focus group discussion with other speech pathologists, if we can find a time to suit, if not, a 1:1 interview.

Why? The NDIS is critically important to people with ABI and a lot has been happening!

Speech pathologists are needed to join a focus group about NDIS services and assessments for people with ABI.

What works? What are the issues now and into the future that we need to know about?

Please contact: Emma.power@uts.edu.au if you are interested in participating or have any questions!