I am pleased to be wri�ng my first edi�on of the STEPS Program Newsle�er. Life at

The STEPS Program has been very busy since taking over from Are� in the role as

Program Manager. We are con�nuing the work of suppor�ng people and their

families/carers who have experienced a brain injury across Queensland. Thanks to

everyone I have met, spoken with over recent months for your warm welcome to

this fabulous STEPS Program community. (See more details in the Staff

news sec�on)

From the ManagerFrom the ManagerFrom the ManagerFrom the Manager

I am very pleased to announce that The

STEPS Program Peer Leaders were

awarded the Metro South Health District

Board Chair Award in the Empower

People category on the 26th July. We had

four of our fabulous Peer Leaders – Tegan

Eiby (Rockhampton), Jos Harrington and

Marty Westgard (Gold Coast) and Nick

Johnson (Brisbane North) a�end this

ceremony, at the Princess Alexandra

Hospital, to accept this award on behalf of

ALL our Peer Leaders. We celebrated this

occasion with lunch a8erwards –

see photos.

September 2016September 2016September 2016September 2016

Issue 43Issue 43Issue 43Issue 43

NewsletterNewsletterNewsletterNewsletter Special points of interest:

• Board Chair Awards

• Regional Visits

• Acquired Brain Injury

Transi�onal

Rehabilita�on Service

Inside this issue:

Staff News 2

Volunteer Week 2

STEPS Skills Program

Reports

∗ Mackay

∗ Beaudesert

∗ Chermside

∗ Bundaberg

3

Network Group

Reports

∗ Emerald

∗ Ipswich

∗ Young ABI Brisbane

South

∗ Toowoomba

4

Spotlight On..

Beaudesert

6

How to Join the

STEPS Program

Facebook page

8

Leader Training 8

STEPS Program

Network Groups in

Queensland

8

Regional Visits

∗ Yeppoon and

Rockhampton

6

Christmas Party date 7

Acquired Brain Injury

Transi�onal Rehabili-

ta�on Service

7

Princess Alexandra Hospital

Board Chair AwardsBoard Chair AwardsBoard Chair AwardsBoard Chair Awards Richard Ashby (Chief Execu�ve of Metro

South Health Service) wrote : “I would

like to recognise each of you for your

dedica�on and contribu�on to improving

community integra�on for people with

acquired brain injury. As volunteer Peer

Leaders, you play a cri�cal role in

facilita�ng engagement with par�cipants

of the STEPS Program, ensuring the

ongoing success of this valuable

program”.

I couldn’t agree more! Congratula�ons

to all our Peer Leaders.

Sue

There have been a few changes over

recent months at The STEPS

Program. Are� has finished her role

with the STEPS Program and has

moved to the new Transi�onal

Rehabilita�on Service which is a

specialist service to improve the

pathway of care for adults with brain

injury as part of the Brain Injury

Rehabilita�on Unit at the Princess

Alexandra Hospital (see ar�cle on

page 7 for more details). Are�’s

commitment and passion to

establishing and sustaining The

STEPS Program over the last 10+

years has been unwavering and I

want to thank her for her support

and wish her all the best in her new

role.

Ben Turner has been an integral part

of The STEPS Program over many

years. Ben and Are� worked

together to grow The STEPS Program

to what is it today. Ben has now

completed his project with the

Division of Rehabilita�on at the PA

Hospital and has been appointed as

Rehabilita�on Coordinator/

Occupa�onal Therapist at ABIOS. I

want to thank Ben for his dedica�on

to The STEPS Program and I’m sure

his compassion for people with brain

injury and his hard-working quali�es

will be an asset to ABIOS. I wish Ben

every success in his new role at

ABIOS.

As some of you may know I have

worked as a Rehabilita�on Co-

ordinator with ABIOS for the last 15

years. I was involved in the project

stage of The STEPS Program and I

worked with Are� in the very early

phases of STEPS and assisted in

developing the STEPS Skills Program

workbook . I was very grateful to be

involved in running the very first

STEPS Skills Program run at the

ABIOS office at Buranda and I have

been so pleased to see The STEPS

Program grow to what it is today. I

am very excited to return to working

in The STEPS Program as Ac�ng

STEPS Program Manager for 12

months. I hope to par�cipate in

some STEPS Program ac�vi�es over

the coming months either face-to-

face or via telephone and

teleconference to meet as many of

you – the STEPS Program

community.

I am also pleased to let you know

that Tanya Ashton has also been

appointed to the Ac�ng posi�on of

STEPS Program Coordinator for the

next 12 months. Tanya will con�nue

to work with the Network Groups

and STEPS Program sites that she

currently supervises.

Tanya and I are both looking forward

to working with you and con�nuing

the fantas�c work of The STEPS

Program community.

Sue WrightSue WrightSue WrightSue Wright

Na�onal Volunteer Week was held

between the 9th and 15

th May. It is

an annual celebra�on to

acknowledge the generous

contribu�on of our volunteers. In

Australia in 2016, 6 million people

volunteered their �me, WOW!

But we did things a li�le differently

in the STEPS Program Community

this year and we celebrated and

acknowledged Volunteer Week and

our volunteers a li�le later.

To acknowledge the valued and

important contribu�ons of our Peer

and Community

Volunteers we

set about

designing and

having made the first STEPS

Program badge. A special men�on

and thanks to Kelsey, Admin Officer

who made it happen. As you can

imagine making a badge is not a

quick process, actually longer than I

thought! But we got there in the end

and during August we sent out to

our Peer and Community Volunteers

a le�er and badge thanking them for

their contribu�ons, the meaningful

connec�ons they establish with

people with brain injury and their

families and the important role they

play in enhancing people’s

community par�cipa�on. The STEPS

Program would not be what it is

today without leaders assis�ng with

STEPS Skills Programs and STEPS

Network Groups. Some examples of

feedback from par�cipants of STEPS

Skills Programs demonstrates how

your efforts make a difference. So

from all of us in the STEPS Program

Community a BIG THANK YOU to all

of our volunteers.

Learnt

a lot

Topics –

informa�ve/

Useful

Improved

Knowledge of Self

-Management

Helped Develop

Connec�ons with

the Community

Venue –

Comfortable,

Good for Learning

2009 88% 92% 82% 73% 96%

2010 86% 89% 85% 77% 96%

2011 92% 95% 89% 84% 97%

2012 91% 94% 86% 74% 96%

2013 91% 94% 89% 81% 92%

2014 89% 89% 87% 81% 100%

2015 94% 95% 91% 83% 97% Page 2

Chermside Chermside Chermside Chermside by Nick Johnson and Jacquie Izzardby Nick Johnson and Jacquie Izzardby Nick Johnson and Jacquie Izzardby Nick Johnson and Jacquie Izzard In week three, the leaders changed

it up and decided to do the

mindfulness ac�vity their own way.

Rather than the mindful breathing

ac�vity, we did ‘mindful ea�ng of

chocolate’. It was an instant success

because let’s face it, who doesn’t

like chocolate?!

For the breakup ac�vity, the group

decided to go to Sandgate for a

social gathering, followed by fish and

chips. Aside from the gale-forced

winds, it was a beau�ful day out by

the ocean. We all sat around, shared

Page 3

Another fantas�c bunch of people

have just completed a STEPS Skills

Program in Chermside, led by

Jacquie Izzard and Nick Johnson.

The group had a diverse range of

people, but it was immediately clear

that they would all get along well.

MackayMackayMackayMackay

BeaudesertBeaudesertBeaudesertBeaudesert A lot has been happening in

Beaudesert this year. We were

excited to be able to run a 2 day

Leader Training Program a�ended

by 5 par�cipants back in May. This

allowed us to go forward and

organised the first Beaudesert STEPS

Skills Program since 2010. The Skills

Program started on 1st August and

on Monday, 12th September they

held their break up ac�vity. The

Beaudesert STEPS Network Group

and catch up monthly from October,

if the morning tea from their break

up ac�vity- sandwiches, sushi, fruit,

biscuits and tarts, is anything to go

by they will have yummy food!

On 16th May the STEPS Skills Program

commenced in Mackay. The

program was led by our very

experienced leaders Peyawadee

Pe�s (STEPS Peer Leader) and Sue

Jorgensen (Trained STEPS Leader/

Social Worker). It was great to see

such a posi�ve response to the

adver�sement for the program with

11 par�cipants commencing the

program. The program was run

from the Commonwealth Respite

and Care Link Centre, a venue the

Mackay STEPS Network Group use

for their monthly catch ups. Many

of the par�cipants had met each

other during either their hospital

stay or rehab, so it didn’t take too

much �me for the group to feel

comfortable to share and

connect. As you can see in the

photo the group enjoyed a beau�ful

high tea for their 6 week break up

group was led by Peer Leader, Lizz

Hills and Service Provider Leader,

Rebecca Shorter from FSG and

would not have been possible

without their support and involve-

ment. John Ca�ell a peer leader in

training also a�ended and provided

support . 7 Par�cipants joined the

program and met each Monday at

the local Beaudesert Library. The

group are hoping to form a

stories, jokes and had a few laughs.

It was great to see everyone smiling

and having a good �me!

The par�cipants have been invited

to a�end the Brisbane North

Network Group.

The Bundaberg STEPS Skills Program

for 2016 commenced on Friday, 22nd

July u�lising an a8ernoon �meslot

from 1- 3pm.The program was

delivered with two facilitators in the

Ozcare training room with a group of

nine par�cipants. A8er week one, it

was obvious that this group was

interested in understanding more

about each other, and how brain

injury had affected their life, either

directly or indirectly. The group was

able to achieve this by concentra�ng

on the workbook content, whilst

also making each other feel

comfortable during group ac�vi�es

and discussions. Each week there

was plenty of stories and laughs

shared in our program which made

it comfortable for all involved.

The way in which the group was able

to engage with each other and

par�cipate con�nued un�l our

comple�on of week six. A credit to

everyone involved. It didn’t take

long for us to realise that given that

some people had to travel each

week, it would be ok for par�cipants

to bring their lunch along so more of

the delicious snacks provided were

consumed.

The decision was made by the group

to meet for a lunch at one of the

more popular licensed venues in

Bundaberg for lunch on week six.

The name of the chosen venue was

The Spo�ed Dog Tavern. A venue

that is renowned for its tapas,

burgers, pizzas and salads.

We finished off by congratula�ng

and, thanking everyone for

par�cipa�ng in a successful 2016

STEPS Skills Program and reminding

everyone that they are encouraged

to and welcome to join the local

Network Group, Bundaberg Brain

Injury Friends.

BundabergBundabergBundabergBundaberg Shane IslesShane IslesShane IslesShane Isles

EmeraldEmeraldEmeraldEmerald The Emerald STEPS Network Group

held a BBQ for the Emerald

community at the beau�ful Emerald

Community Gardens, on Saturday,

17th September to raise awareness

about Brain Injury as part of

Disability Ac�on Week (11th – 17

th

September) . The BBQ was a great

success and was enjoyed by the 30

or more people who a�ended. The

Network Group Leader, Alan Thomas

injury in the Emerald community

and to help support those in their

recovery.

Well done to the Emerald STEPS

Network Group!

and the Emerald Network group

have been mee�ng for several years

and are supported by Disability

Services Local Area Coordinator, Jo

Fanning. The group aims to increase

awareness about brain

Page 4

Toowoomba Toowoomba Toowoomba Toowoomba

Page 5

had a “Guess Who” game. Each member brought along a

baby photo and we all had to guess who belonged to the

photo. There were plenty of laughs and discussions about

which person belonged to which baby photo.

As always there was plenty of food and a great day was had

by all.

From Sue: Thanks to the Toowoomba Network Group for a

fabulous day and the delicious lunch. I was impressed with

your wonderful STEPS Program T-shirts and way you value

each member of your group. It is obvious you embrace the

STEPS Program spirit.

Young ABI Brisbane SouthYoung ABI Brisbane SouthYoung ABI Brisbane SouthYoung ABI Brisbane South

IpswichIpswichIpswichIpswich

On 22nd August Sue Wright kindly a�ended our

Toowoomba Network Group mee�ng for a meet

and greet at St Anthony’s Parish Hall. Our group

The Young ABI Brisbane South

Network Group had a break in the

first half of the year, but has been

mee�ng regularly since June on the

4th Wednesday of the month at 12

noon (usually). The group have

found that mee�ng at South Bank is

a good op�on with its central

loca�on and they enjoy the

opportunity to try a range of

different op�ons for lunch. Since

mee�ng in June, members have

enjoyed Japanese, Mexican, Greek,

experiences, hearing about study,

work, volunteering, and holidays.

We are looking forward to seeing

everyone again in October for pizza

and pasta.

and Indian with a plan for Italian in

October Yumm! The group usually

decide at the end of lunch where

they will go to next. The September

mee�ng (Indian) saw a great turnout

with 10 members enjoying the

company, connec�on and food. Kali,

a past peer leader of the group

returned from overseas for a short

stay and managed to come along, as

well as a number of returning

members. There was lots of

catching up, and sharing of

In June the Ipswich Network Group braved

the cold to enjoy lunch and barefoot bowls

at the United Sports Club. The ac�vity was

well a�ended and gave a few members a

chance to try or play lawn bowls again.

Tanya, STEPS Program Coordinator took

to the green for the first �me and now

appreciates the skill involved she is s�ll

learning about bias!

Page 6

Yeppoon and RockhamptonYeppoon and RockhamptonYeppoon and RockhamptonYeppoon and Rockhampton Rehabilita�on Unit at Rockhampton

Hospital to provide an informa�on

session. Although many of the staff

were familiar with the STEPS

Program it was helpful to refresh

and to encourage stronger

connec�ons. On Wednesday and

Thursday I facilitated Leader

Training, and we were fortunate to

have 3 staff from Ozcare par�cipate

in the training and enable STEPS

Skills Programs to re-commence in

Rockhampton. A busy week but I

thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity

to meet our amazing volunteers and

service providers – Thank you. Stay

tuned for our next regional visit.

In August Tanya, STEPS Program

Coordinator, was fortunate to travel

north to attend both the Rockhampton

and Yeppoon STEPS Network Groups.

On Monday I had a quick trip out to

Yeppoon, a beau�ful place to those

that haven’t been, and met with the

Yeppoon STEPS Network Group at

the community health centre. The

chance to meet Jo, STEPS Program

Leader, her husband Luke, many of

the Yeppoon members and 2 great

supporters of the group, Marilyn and

Jenne (Community Health Nursing

Staff) was valuable. The group were

geRng ready for a bbq that Jenne

and Marilyn were organising to raise

awareness of brain injury. The

morning tea was, as usual, amazing!!

Following this visit I headed back

into Rockhampton (about a 40

minute drive) and completed an

informa�on session about the STEPS

Program with staff from Disability

Services Queensland, several staff

from Rockhampton were present

and also staff from Emerald and

Gladstone were able to link in. It’s a

small world, as one of the DSQ staff

in Emerald, Jo is also a leader for the

Emerald STEPS Network Group! This

session was an opportunity to

provide informa�on about the STEPS

Program but also to encourage

referrals for STEPS Skills Programs in

the Rockhampton region. On

Tuesday I had the chance to visit the

Rockhampton STEPS Network Group

who were mee�ng at Victoria Park,

another beau�ful spot right on the

river. Leaders, Sharon and Tegan

along with many members were

there for a great catch up and a

sausage sizzle. I had a chance to

provide an update about NDIS. A8er

the Network Group I headed over to

meet with the staff at the

Beaudesert is rurally located in the Gold Coast hinterland. The loca�on

was named Beaudesert by Ned Hawkins in the early 1840s. Ned was

claiming the area as a sheep sta�on on behalf of his employer, William

Su�or, who lived back in England.

The name Beaudesert means ‘beau�ful desert’. The area was first se�led for growing co�on and farming sheep,

however due to the lack of water, the co�on crops were very poor and was soon surpassed by harves�ng hoop

pine, a whi�sh or light-coloured �mber that has a straight grain and very fine texture.

The town was first se�led in 1847, but it took another 30 years before the first town blocks were sold. By the end

of the 1880s Beaudesert was star�ng to look like a proper township with a store, post office, hotel, blacksmith,

school and church.

If you would like to see a bit of history, The Milbanks Pioneer Co�age was relocated from the Milbanks property

and is available to walk through at the Beaudesert Historical Museum. The Milbanks Pioneer Co�age, a ‘Slab Hut’,

was built by Patrick Milbanks on his property in 1875 using local hand hewn �mbers. Patrick’s grandchildren donat-

ed the Co�age to the museum in 1979 where is has been authen�cally restored with the same materials and tech-

niques Patrick used. Inside, the Co�age is furnished with original furniture, including a four-poster bed, large cedar

sideboard, and lots of other ar�cles that portray the life of the early pioneers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaudesert,_Queensland � http://queenslandplaces.com.au/beaudesert

http://beaudesertmuseum.org.au/main/beaudesert-museum/museum-collections.html http://www.australply.com.au/about/about-hooppine

Brisbane Street, Beaudesert

Page 7

Queensland adults living with brain

injury trauma will now access be�er

rehabilita�on support through the

Queensland Government’s

investment in a new brain injury

program - the Acquired Brain Injury

Transi�onal Rehabilita�on Service

(ABI TRS). The Motor Accident

Insurance Commission has provided

funding for the TRS to develop a

specialist statewide service that will

improve the pathway of care for all

Queensland adults who need

inpa�ent rehabilita�on in the

Princess Alexandra Hospital’s Brain

Injury Rehabilita�on Unit.

Are� Kennedy, Manager of the

Acquired Brain Injury Transi�onal

Rehabilita�on Service said the aim

was to maximise the independence

of people in their home and

community environments so they

could experience meaningful life

roles. “The Transi�onal

Rehabilita�on Service will assist

individuals’ in the early transi�on

from hospital to home by providing

an intensive coordinated

rehabilita�on program for eight to

12 weeks with a mix of home and

community based therapy. There will

be both individual and group

programs with contemporary, goal-

directed com-

munity reha-

bilita�on ser-

vices during

the transi�on

from hospital

to home.”

Ms Kennedy said the project will

include a formal research evalua�on

of the service model that integrates

ABI TRS into the current

rehabilita�on con�nuum of the

Brain Injury Rehabilita�on Service.

“Our four-person start-up team is

busy developing policies and

procedures and an evalua�on

framework, with direct client

services expected to commence

from January 2017.”

Wednesday, 30 November 2016

10am-12 noon

Remember this date! Enter it into your phone or write

it in your diary. This is the date for the STEPS Program

Greater Brisbane Christmas Party 2014!

But I don’t live in/ near Brisbane.. What about me?

We value you! Lock in the date, wherever you are! If you

want to travel to Brisbane for the party you are most

welcome to a�end (unfortunately we can’t fund any of

your travel costs).

Otherwise, it would be wonderful if STEPS Program

Network Groups around Queensland could all be

celebra�ng the end of the year in their local communi�es

at the same �me. You might meet in a park or a café, or

have some fun at your usual mee�ng place with some

Christmas ac�vi�es… it is up to you!

If you let us know before the day, we can share your event

news with everyone at the party in Brisbane– we’ll be

connected through the power of communica�on and

shared par�cipa�on.

STEPS Program Greater Brisbane

Christmas Party

When: Wednesday, 30 November 2016

Time: 10:00am– 12noon for morning tea

Where: Frangipani Court, Roma St Parkland, Brisbane

Ge?ng There: Train or car are the best op�ons. It is a

flat, 200m walk from Roma St train sta�on.

Parking: Free for disability parking permit holders;

regular parking is $4.20 per hour

Catering: Sausage sizzle, morning tea and cold

drinks will be provided by STEPS Program

Wet Weather Plans: If we have to relocate the event

due to rain, it will be held at an indoor venue close to

ABIOS office at Buranda. Exact details TBA closer to

the date.

STEPS Program Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service

(ABIOS)

PO Box 6053, Buranda 4102 Ph: (07) 3406 2311 or 1300 727 403 (outside

Brisbane– local call costs from a fixed phone line)

Fax: (07) 3406 2399

Email: STEPS@health.qld.gov.au

18/19 October– Mt Isa. Contact Sue for details. If you are interested in STEPS Program leader training for

your local community, please contact us.

We have ac�ve Network Groups in the communi�es

below:

Atherton, Biloela, Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Fraser

Coast Hinterland, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Mackay ,

Maroochydore, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Towns-

ville, Yarraman, Yeppoon.

Greater Brisbane: Bayside, Brisbane Central, Brisbane

North, Browns Plains, Caboolture, Centenary, Ips-

wich, Logan North, Mt Grava�, Redcliffe/North Lakes,

Taringa Young ABI Brisbane South, Young ABI Bris-

bane North.

Check out our website for full details for any group

h�p://www.health.qld.gov.au/abios/steps/asp/

steps_networkgroups.asp

1. You will need your own

Facebook page. If you need help

to set this up, ask at your local

library OR ask any young person

you know and trust. Be sure to

work out your preferred privacy

seRngs too.

2. Log in to your own Facebook

page

3. On the Search Bar at the top

le8 of the screen type in Skills To

Enable People and Communi�es

4. Click on the green join group

bu�on, as shown below

5. The ‘STEPS Coordinator’ will

then need to approve the request

as Skills To Enable People and

Click on join group

Communi�es is a closed group.

The ‘STEPS Coordinator’ also

needs to approve all posts to the

page.

Join us to keep up to date with

what’s happening with the STEPS

Program.

Of course you can s�ll find STEPS

Program informa�on on our

website www.health.qld.gov.au/

abios/stepsdefault.asp