Useful Links
ABI INFORMATION SERVICES
NATIONAL
- Brain Injury Australia Brain Injury Australia (BIA) is the national peak acquired brain injury organisation representing, through its state member organisations, the interests and needs of people with acquired brain injury, their families and carers
- National Young Carers Website A website with useful information for young carers
- Infoxchange Australia Infoxchange Australia works to provide Information Communication Technology (ICT) to vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals and communities, and the community sector organisations that, through service delivery or advocacy, support them.
- The Brain Foundation The mission of The Brain Foundation is to reduce the incidence and impact of diseases, disorders and injuries of the brain, spine and nervous system through the provision of support, community education and research.
- Extended Families Australia (EFA) EFA is an association that provides opportunities for mature-aged people to develop loving and caring "grandparent" relationships with children who have a disability.
- Brain Research Institute The Brain Research Institute perform internationally competitive research to help understand the structure and function of the human brain. Their studies include both healthy people and people affected by injury and disease.
- Job Access Job Access help and provide workplace solutions for the employment of people with a disability.
- The Brain Injury Association of Queensland Provide information, in particular statistics on Acquired Brain Injury.
- Technical Solutions Australia Electronics for people with a disability.
STATEWIDE
- ARBIAS ( Acquired Brain Injury Assessment and Consulting)
ARBIAS provides services for people with acquired brain injury (ABI) from any cause, whilst maintaining its specialisation in the areas of alcohol and other drug related brain injury.
- ARTS ACCESS Arts Access provides access to arts and cultural activities for people who are disadvantaged, including people with a disability.
- Brain Injury Matters (BIM) (formerly Bear in Mind) Brain Injury Matters Inc (BIM) facilitates self-advocacy and community education for people living with an acquired brain injury. BIM aims to;
- help people living with ABI to realise potential for a full life within a supportive community.
- increase community awareness about ABI
- Disability Housing Trust The Disability Housing Trust is a non-government charitable trust established to promote and develop new housing options and encourage new investment in housing for people with disabilities.
- Guide Dogs Victoria Promoting safe independent travel for people living with low vision or blindness
- Action on Disability in Ethnic Communities (ADEC) A community based organisation that represents the rights and needs of disabled people of non-English speaking backgrounds and their carers. ADEC provides advocacy, information, service referral, education, training and consultancy.
ABI Behaviour Consultancy provides behaviour
management support to people with a non-compensable
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), their families and the
people working with them.
- Association for Children with a Disability Inc The Association for Children with a Disability Inc provide information, support and advocacy for families who have a child or young adult with any type of disability or developmental delay across Victoria.
- The Bouverie Centre Provides specialist family counselling for people affected by ABI, including people with ABI, spouses, children, parents and carers.
- Carers Network The Network is the Victorian peak body of organisations and individuals that support carers of people with a mental illness. It comprises of carers or former carers linked with carer groups; representatives of statewide carer organisations with a significant carer focus and workers from carer support programs.
- Carers Victoria Carers Victoria is a state wide service that provides support to carers while in their caring role, as well as education, training and advocacy programs to increase awareness of carers and carer's issues.
- Community Brain Disorders Assessment and Treatment Service (CBDATS) Provides a consultative and treatment service to support clients with the dual diagnosis of ABI (or neurodegenerative disease) and psychiatric disroder.
- Department of Human Services The Department of Human Services provides information and delivers services in the areas of health, community services, aged care and public housing in the state of Victoria.
- Primary Care Partnerships
Over 800 agencies have come together in 31 Primary Care Partnerships (PCPs) across Victoria with the aim to improve the overall health and wellbeing of Victorians by:
- Improving the experience and outcomes for people who use primary care services.
- Reducing the preventable use of hospital, medical and residential services through a greater emphasis on health promotion programs and by responding to the early signs of disease and/or people's need for support.
- Melbourne Citymission
Melbourne Citymission (MCM) seeks to take a lead role in creating inclusive and resourceful communities, where opportunity and fairness are embraced as a way of life.
MCM provide resources and choices to those who are marginalised and living with disadvantage, delivering services that respect the rights of individuals and embrace diversity.
Melbourne Citymission currently provides over 60 different programs to thousands of Victorians of many faiths and cultures. Our vision is a fair and just community where people have equal access to opportunities and resources
- Statewide ABI Paediatric Co-Ordinators Melbourne Citymission Provides consultation services for all staff (ie. health education) working with children with an ABI.
- The Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability Inc (VALID) VALID is an advocacy group for adults with intellectual disabilities and their families. VALID is funded by the State government and managed by an independent committee made up of people with a disability, family members and concerned citizens.
- Victoria Coalition ABI Service Providers (VCASP) VCASP's purpose is to represent the views of the Victorian Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) sector in presenting the needs of people with ABI, and their carers, to all relevant policy and funding bodies.
- Wesley Mission Wesley Mission has a real mission – to minister to a community with real needs. The community includes the vulnerable and marginalised. It includes the lonely, hurt and fragile, the homeless, mentally ill, aged, disabled, unemployed. It includes the spiritually lost. Wesley Mission believe it takes love, faith, and commitment to engage actively in the lives of those around us. The ministry is as diverse as the needs they face, so they shape their programs, church services, activities and people to support those in need effectively – wherever they are. Through witness, work and the help of supporters they can turn lives around for good.
- Shoestrings An organisation designed to contribute in an extraordinary way to a variety of communities world wide. There are thousands of "individuals" that feel isolated as a result of a particular experience and Shoestrings are about tying these individuals to shoestring tight commuities.
- Office of the Public Advocate Promoting the human rights, interests and dignity of Victorians with a disability.
EASTERN REGION
- EACH (Eastern Access Community Health) EACH delivers a range of community health services that improve the physical, mental and social well-being of individuals, families and communities in Melbourne's eastern suburbs.
- Eastern Health Eastern Health provide a range of health care services to the community residing in Melbourne's eastern suburbs.
NORTHERN REGION
- Broadmeadows Disability Services (Hume) The Broadmeadows Disability Support Service, ABI Social Support program is funded by TAC and the department of Human Services and provides social support for people with an ABI. For more information, visit the Grassroots website.
- Dianella Community Health Dianella Community Health is committed to making a comprehensive range of health services accessible to all age groups in the community across six sites from Glenroy to Craigieburn.
- Moreland Community Health Service. Moreland Community Health Service operates across and beyond the Moreland region and have sites offering differing services in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy. For more information, visit their website.
- Travellers Aid Disability Access Service (TADAS) TADAS is a non-for profit agency providing a range of services for people travelling to, in and around, the City of Melbourne.
SOUTHERN REGION
- IMPACT Leisure Association Inc. IMPACT Leisure Association Inc. provide a range of day support, recreation and leisure, psychosocial rehabilitation, and respite for people with disabilities. For more information, visit the website or email IMPACT.
- LIAISE program, Bunurong Community Care A skills development community integration program for adults with Acquired Brain Injury resulting from stroke, accident or illness. Independent living skills, assistance in accessing community resources, support counselling. Ages 18-64, non-compensable. For more information, contact Dianne on 8792-2267.
- Southern Health Southern Health provides comprehensive health care services to people in the south-eastern suburbs of metropolitan Melbourne.
WESTERN REGION
- ISIS Primary Care ISIS Primary Care works in partnership with local communities in the Western Metropolitan Region of Melbourne to provide responsive, interconnected health and community services.
- MetroAccess The MetroAccess initiative aims to increase the participation of people with disabilities in their local communities. It is a partnership between the Department of Human Services and local government across Victoria.
MetroAccess uses the strengths, resources and creativity of local people to make the whole community more welcoming and inclusive of people with disabilities. - Access for All Abilities Program The Access for All Abilities (AAA) program offers a diverse range of sport and recreation activities and encourages clubs and sporting communities to be inclusive of people with a disability.
- Melbourne Disability Services Guide The Melbourne Disability Services Guide, your local guide to Disability Services in the City of Melbourne . The Melbourne Disability Services Guide brings together information from a wide range of sources to make it easy for you to find what you're looking for.
Headache and Migraine Resources
Brain Tumour resources
- Brain Tumour Australia Provide information and support to people diagnosed with brain tumours, their familes, carers and health professionals.
- The Cancer Council of Victoria The Cancer Council Victoria is a non-profit organisation involved in cancer research and cancer support, prevention and advocacy.
- The Sydney Neuro-Oncology Group The Sydney Neuro-Oncology Group is a charitable organisation, which aims to improve the management of brain tumours through targeted research, information sharing and constant scrutiny of treatment options
- Cure for Life Foundation Cure For Life Foundation(CFLF) is devoted to saving lives of people suffering from brain tumours, through advances in research and education in neurosurgery.
- The Brain Foundation The mission of The Brain Foundation is to reduce the incidence and impact of diseases, disorders and injuries of the brain, spine and nervous system through the provision of support, community education and research.
Stroke Resources
- National Stroke Foundation
- Strokidz Strokidz are a group located in Melbourne who provide support for children and families affected by stroke.
- SAFE - Stroke Awareness For Everyone
- The Stroke Association of Victoria (SAV) SAV is a non-for-profit incorporated organisation that is run by unpaid volunteers who provide a range of support and information services for people affected by stroke, their families and carers. SAV will also advocate.
General Services/Links and Useful Resources
- Disability Attendant Support Service (DASSI) DASSI is a not for profit organisation providing one-to-one attendant support to people with a disability who need assistance to live, learn and work independently in the community. Individual attendant support can include assistance with personal care, household tasks, mobility, rehabilitation, social/recreational, educational and support within the workplace. DASSI works across Metropolitan Melbourne and in the Regional areas of Ballarat and Geelong.
- My Connected Community (mc2) is a virtual meeting place where you can connect with people who share your interests. Join a community, or start your own community with family, friends or colleagues.
- Epilepsy Australia Epilepsy Australia is the national coalition of Australian Epilepsy Associations raising their voices as one to advance the cause of all Australians living with epilepsy. Actively delivering counseling, support and information to all who access the service, Epilepsy Australia is committed to raising awareness and understanding of the very real issues faced by those living with epilepsy.
- Can-Survive Can-Survive offer the hope, inspiration and the skills to help you continue to live through this challenging time.
- Royal Children's Hospital (ABI unit)
- Victorian Legal Aid
- MD Junction.com A community of patients, family members and friends dedicated to dealing with Asthma, together.
Online information and referral directory.
- Association for Children with a Disability
Association for Children with a Disability is an information, support and advocacy organisation for families of children with a disability in Victoria, Australia. - National Disability Service- Victoria Promoting the development of quality services and life opportunities for Australians with disabilities.
- Statewide Community Health Centres Click on the link above to see the list of all Commuity Health Centres in the state.
Health and medical information for consumers, quality
assured by the Victorian Government.
Updated 6th August, 2008.
Please note that the information is current at time of update. If anything appears to be incorrect or if you would like to add a service, please email the Information & Administration Coordinator.