NSW Brain Injury Rehabilitation Forum May 2011

 

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Brain injury rehabilitation in remote areas -
issues for Aboriginal people
VIRGINIA MITSCH, South West BIRS

 

Title: Brain injury rehabilitation in remote areas - issues for Aboriginal people

Author: Virginia Mitsch, South West Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service- Albury

The challenges of providing brain injury rehabilitation to Aboriginal people following ABI has been discussed anecdotally within brain injury rehabilitation clinicians since the beginning of the program. Living rurally or remotely provides an added complexity to this service delivery.

Hospital data for traumatic brain injury in NSW in 2007 noted a total of 6,886 incidences of TBI with 3.8% recorded as Indigenous people 1. Hospital data collected in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory for a six year period documents a disproportionately high representation of Aboriginal people hospitalised for head injury due to assaults 2.

Despite these numbers and the risk of ABI within the Aboriginal community, research into injury rates, rehabilitation needs and recovery specific to Aboriginal peoples, both in Australia and internationally remains a neglected area 3.

The Remote and Indigenous brain Injury Rehabilitation Service delivery project developed following clinician concern for the equity and effectiveness of delivery to Aboriginal people following brain injury in rural and remote areas.

The issues that emerged within consultation specific to Aboriginal people will be discussed, along with current literature available on Aboriginal people disability and ABI, highlighting the impact on discharge, discharge planning, provision of rehabilitation and care planning.

Real solutions related to service delivery within the BIRP program for Aboriginal people will be highlighted and discussed including proposed guidelines within the Directorate.

 

1. Tate, R.L., Cameron, 1.0., Mathers, M., Rosenkoetter, U., & Genders, M. (2010). Incidence of hospital-treated traumatic brain injury in New South Wales, Australia. Unpublished manuscript, Rehabilitation Studies Unit, University of Sydney.

2. Jamieson, L., Harrison, J., & Berry, J. (2008). Hospitalisations for head injury due to assault among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians, July 1999-June 2005. Medical Journal of Australia, 188(10), 576-579.

3. Keightley, M., Ratnayake, R., Minore, B., Katt, M., Cameron, A., White, R., Bellavance, A., Longboat-White, C., & Colantonio, A. (2009). Rehabilitation challenges for Aboriginal clients recovering from brain injury: A qualitative study engaging health care practitioners. Brain Injury, 23 (3), 250-261.