With COVID restrictions easing during the last 12 months, we have moved back to delivering more face-to-face sessions for our clients.
We have continued to offer Telehealth sessions to those who prefer this method of delivery, and it has allowed us to reach out to participants who live in rural and remote areas, including the Flinders ranges, ensuring they receive the specialist services that they need.
We have also further developed the outreach service to the Riverland, reaching out to clients in Berri, Loxton, Waikerie, Renmark and Barmera, with the team now regularly visiting the Riverland on a monthly basis.
The Rewire team continues to expand in both staff and participant numbers ensuring we are providing more services to people living in the community with a brain injury.
We have provided many opportunities for student placements across all disciplines and all hubs from Flinders University and UniSA. At the start of 2022 we welcomed the biggest cohort of new graduates to date, implementing our new graduate framework with positive feedback. In addition to this we have increased our scope of service to include Counselling services through the city and Southern Hubs.
The Catch-up groups in all hubs have continued to meet on a weekly basis, with each group growing in numbers. The groups have enjoyed meeting at either the hub or in the community and some have enjoyed some time at the local bowling alley.
Across the past 12 months we were pleased to expand our therapeutic group program to include our first Dance Group in the Central Hub which has received positive feedback from our clients.
“I like the inclusion, dance group makes me feel normal.
Dance gives you dignity.”
– Clinton
“I love the laughter and getting to know each other, making new connections. I came across one of the other dance group members in the street the other day and we both smiled at each other and were able to say hello using each others names.”
– Pam
This program focusses on improving balance and gait, social participation and promoting fun and well-being.
Our Speech pathologists delivered our first Telegain group, which is a 12-week online group program designed for people with chronic Aphasia. The group aims to create opportunities for communicative success, allow people to share their personal life history, and provide support for living successfully with Aphasia through networking with others.
BISA remains committed to ensuring Rewire staff are enabled to keep developing their skills and are well supported to ensure they can deliver the best possible services. In July, staff engaged in the inaugural ‘Refresh’ week with a workshop on Suicide prevention run by Wesley LifeForce. Staff have also participated in monthly Rewire in-services, engaging with external presenters or providers, and learning from their peers on various interesting topics. In addition, we have had a focus on staff wellbeing and team development. In October 2021 staff teamed up to play lawn bowls and in March 2022 they tried their hand at disc golf.
BISA has continued to provide external training for support workers in understanding the impacts of ABI. This year this training has been further developed to be run in-house with a regular schedule of dates planned for the coming year.
Staff from the Northern Hub were involved in a Bunnings sausage sizzle fundraiser and managed to raise a total of $1,573 to go towards more gym equipment.
– Bob’s Story:
One foot in front of the other – Progress onto the dance floor
Bob revealed in early 2021 that his son Matt was due to get hitched to his long-term girlfriend Emma later that year.
Bob reported he was feeling apprehensive regarding dancing with his new daughter-in-law and with his wife Michelle in front of a big crowd of wedding guests.
Therefore, Bob dedicated a portion of each of his weekly Physiotherapy sessions over the course of 2021 to practising his partner dancing to a variety of artists (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole to name a few!).
Bob progressed in his technique, from a simple two step on the spot, to twirling his Physiotherapist around the clinic floor with ever growing sureness in his role as the leading man.
Due to COVID throwing some spanners in the works, Matt and Emma finally said “I do” in Feb 2022 and you can see Bob’s hard work paid off as he sweeps both the bride and Michelle around the dance floor amongst family and friends!
