Community reintegration and social connection for people with brain injury: an evidence-based symposium, Professor Jacinta Douglas

Christchurch, Thursday 13th February 2020 / Auckland, Friday 14th February 2020

Social isolation and loneliness are frequent problems for people with acquired brain injury (ABI).  Problems with social connection can arise from a range of impairments including cognitive, especially executive function deficits, communication problems, social disinhibition, and problems with anxiety and depression as well as from a lack of community knowledge and understanding of brain injury and its consequences. Although the problem of social isolation following ABI is well documented, attempts to develop effective interventions to improve community connection for adults with ABI have seen relatively little success. This workshop covers information on the latest research with the key objectives of increasing social activity, increasing social functioning (skills and behaviours) and supporting people to develop and maintain satisfying social relationships in the community. The workshop is open to all people involved in supporting those with brain injury: health professionals, care providers, disability advocates, family and friend of people with brain injury, and ACC case managers.

Professor Jacinta Douglas is an international research leader on rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury. Professor Douglas holds the Summer Foundation Chair of Living Well with Brain Injury at La Trobe University in the Living with Disability Research Centre. Jacinta’s qualifications span the disciplines of speech pathology, clinical psychology and neuropsychology. Her research contribution has advanced knowledge in the domains of interpersonal communication and psychosocial functioning following brain injury. Professor Douglas currently leads a three-year multi component community connection (M-Com Connect) research project funded by the Institute of Safety Compensation and Research Recovery to investigate innovative strategies to support social activity, social relationships and community inclusion for people with severe brain injury who live in a range of different environments. Jacinta is a Fellow of the Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment and the Speech Pathology Association of Australia and is founding co-editor of the multidisciplinary journal Brain Impairment.

Early-bird registration - before 7 December 2019

• $35 for current financial NZRA members

After 7 December 2019:

• $50 for current financial NZRA members
• $75 for Non-members

ASSBI/NZRA Inaugural Trans-Tasman Rehabilitation Conference 2019

Wellington, NZ | 2-4 May 2019

Early bird rates for conference registration closes on 31st March 2019

The NZRA is excited to announce that we will be holding our biennial rehabilitation conference in partnership with the Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI) in Wellington, 2019.  Building on the World Health Organization's Rehabilitation Strategy to 2030, the theme of this conference will be: "A call for action".  We have two excellent speakers coming from the UK: Professor Jonathan Evans and Professor Fiona Jones.  In addition, we have as invited speakers the fabulous Dr Matire Harwood (Director pf Tōmaiora, Māori Health Research, Auckland University, Clinical Director of Tamaki Healthcare PHO, and 2017 L'Oréal UNESCO For Women in Science Fellow), Professor Fary Khan (Royal Melbourne Hospital; Melbourne University), and Professor Robyn Tate (University of Sydney). 

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• Click here to register for this conference.
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This conference is kindly sponsored by ACC.