NIISQ Agency

We would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday this festive season 🎅 Please be aware that our office will be closed starting from 4pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and will resume regular operations on Thursday 2 January 2025. See you next year 🎄

News coverage on a NIISQ-funded study 🗞️ We’re working with the University of the Sunshine Coast on a study about people with spinal cord or traumatic brain injury using electronic technology devices in their home for safety, home control, entertainment and socialisation. The popular regional Australia television news service, WIN News, recently covered it! They spoke to a participant of the study who is a former teacher that became a paraplegic after a backyard fall. They also interviewed UniSC lead researcher Dr Michelle Verdonck 🎥 NIISQ is proud to sponsor and partner on this study, and we are excited to see what positive outcomes it has in the future. Watch the video clip here: https://bit.ly/41D1sig

Meet NIISQ participant, Jason, in our new participant video 🎥 In 2017, Jason sustained a traumatic brain injury in a motor vehicle accident, along with multiple other injuries resulting in chronic pain. Learn about the many ways NIISQ has made a difference in Jason’s life. He credits the NIISQ Agency for helping him regain his independence through goal setting, including regaining his driver’s licence, contributing to his community, and establishing his farm stay. Watch Jason’s story here: https://bit.ly/4gwjhDK

Introducing NIISQ Medical Advisor, Dr Rachael Nunan ✨ We’re proud to welcome Dr Rachael Nunan, who brings her extensive experience as a rehabilitation physician to the role of NIISQ Medical Advisor. In this role, Dr Nunan will improve the way the NIISQ Agency delivers medical and healthcare treatment, care and support to participant, while also providing advice to support eligibility decisions. Dr Nunan is a rehabilitation medicine physician with over 20-years' experience across Australia. Since 2016, she has worked at the Princess Alexandra Hospital Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service. She has significant expertise in brain injury rehabilitation, amputation rehabilitation, general rehabilitation, spasticity management, cancer rehabilitation, and stroke rehabilitation. Dr Nunan has co-authored papers in spasticity and been a clinical investigator in two international multicenter spasticity trials. We look forward to working with Dr Nunan to ensure NIISQ-funded treatment, care and support is of the highest clinical standard and provides the best health outcomes for our participants 🙌

🚀 Join our supportive and innovative team – We’re recruiting for a permanent, flexible, full-time Principal Support Planner (AO7) 🚀 Are you passionate about helping others and making a significant impact in the health and disability sector? We want to hear from you! As Principal Support Planner you assess, identify, monitor and review treatment, care and support needs of eligible NIISQ participants with complex injuries and disabilities. You will also be responsible for leading and supporting other team members in decision-making by providing expert technical guidance, coaching, and peer supervision. For more information on the role, and our Agency, visit: https://bit.ly/3ZAw2b1 📩 Interested? To learn more and apply, visit: https://bit.ly/49lefrr #JoinOurTeam

We’re seeking volunteers, aged 18 years or older, who have either a spinal cord or traumatic brain injury (or are the guardian of a person with TBI), and have experience using electronic technology around the home to support activities of daily living. We’re working with the University of the Sunshine Coast on a NIISQ-funded study about using electronic technology devices in their home for safety, home control, entertainment and socialisation 🧑💻 This is a two-part study. For part 1, you will be invited to complete an online survey and participate in an interview. For part 2, you will be invited to a round table discussion workshop. Participation in both parts can be in person or online. Interested, or know of someone who might be? Please complete an expression of interest form here: https://bit.ly/4giFJ35. (Ethics approval: A242174).

As part of the Queensland Brain Injury Collaborative (QBIC) and NIISQ Agency Roadshow in Toowoomba recently, representatives from the Queensland Ballet for Brain Injury, Ally Champion and Olivia Rooney, engaged the attendees in an inclusive and entertaining interactive presentation. The program, developed with guidance from health professionals, highlighted benefits such as improved balance and mobility, improved coordination, memory, and confidence, with a focus on socialisation. Read the full story and watch their presentation via the link below, proving that there is an inner ballet dancer in all of us. https://bit.ly/3VaPckW #QBIC #NIISQ #QueenslandBallet #BrainInjury

Yesterday we celebrated International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) 2024. We welcomed special guests from The Hopkins Centre at Griffith University, including human rights activist Kevin Cocks AM GAICD and Research Fellow Kelsey Chapman. Kelsey is currently leading The Dignity Project in understanding how people with disability experience social, personal, and systemic dignity. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4fUnQYU We were also proud to officially launch the NIISQ Agency Disability Service Plan (DSP) and heard from some of the working group members about the purpose and significance of the co-designed DSP for the NIISQ Agency and our employees with disability 📝 To bring the day’s event to a close, we premiered our new participant video sharing Jan’s story and the difference NIISQ has made in her life since she suffered a brachial plexus injury in 2021 🎥 Watch Jan’s video here: https://bit.ly/4eZLZfq Disability as a result of road trauma is just one part of the bigger picture – but we are committed to making a difference in any effort and support we can today and every day. #InternationalDayofPeoplewithDisability #IDPwD #DisabilityServicePlan

“I’ve got family, I’ve got NIISQ, I’ve got friends. My life is fabulous”. In honour of International Day of People with Disability today, we are thrilled to share NIISQ participant Jan’s story in her film debut 🎥 On Father’s Day 2021, Jan was involved in a head-on motorbike collision that left her with multiple injuries, including compound fractures to her legs and a brachial plexus injury – losing use of her right arm and hand. Learn about the many ways NIISQ has made a difference in Jan’s life, from funding treatment to modifying her home and vehicle to make it more accessible. Watch Jan’s story here: https://bit.ly/4eZLZfq

Jason recently shared his story at the Queensland Brain Injury Collaborative (QBIC) and NIISQ Agency Roadshow Toowoomba Community Event. His whole life changed on 10 August 2017 when he was in a car accident and sustained a broken back and neck, and a traumatic brain injury. Jason is a Disability Advocate and spends his time embracing the changes he has experienced since the accident and looking for ways to connect, give back and to continue to improve. His passion for community, sustainability and animals is reflected in his farm project a 'Stones Throw Away.' To view Jason’s presentation and learn more about Stones Throw Away, please click the link below 👇 https://bit.ly/3CWJX1W #NIISQ #QBIC