Carer program highlights to kick off 2026
March 25, 2026
Caring for someone with a brain injury can be isolating but no carer should have to navigate it alone. It's been a busy start to the year for our carer team, running a range of events right across Victoria with a focus on connection, wellbeing and support.
The community has welcomed many new carers who experienced their very first activity, mixing with others who return month after month, sharing their experiences and challenges faced in their caring role.
For many carers, routines are back in full swing and the responsibilities of supporting someone day to day continue without much pause. One thing we often hear from carers is how little “me time” there can be. That is why these small opportunities to step out for a few hours can matter so much.
Melbourne Aquarium
We kicked off the year in with lunches and creative activities across suburban and regional Victoria. A highlight was a trip to the Melbourne Aquarium where carers were able to learn about how the penguins and other marine life interact, feed and survive. These excursions are particularly beneficial as they allow our carers to completely take their minds away from their daily role and immerse themselves in the experience and connect to something new. For some individuals, this journey sparked a new interest in marine life that they would like to continue to pursue.
A focus for our program is to continue providing a range of interactive activities that can at least for a short-term provide an uninterrupted escape and potentially spark a new interest that can broaden their perspective on life.
The best bit was the penguins, just watching them being fed and hearing the stories about how they mate, interact, feeding schedule. It felt like I was taken away to another place (Antartica). I didn't once think about my caring role, as I could just enjoy the animals and beauty and appreciate where I was without worrying. I think if I didn't feel great again or was getting overwhelmed, I could almost go back there or watch something about penguins and feel connected to them again. It was like I had something else to focus on and be connected to, but not my caring or usual life.
Julie speaking about her Aquarium experience.
Painting Class
Our western carers released their creative talents at the Two Sisters Creative Arts studio where for many, they were able to step out of their comfort zone and try something new. This was a guided session suitable for all skill levels where facilitators were able to assist our carers in producing artwork that they may not have felt possible.
Activities such as this can be daunting for our carers, however, we do them because it provides an opportunity for our carers to lean on each and connect with each other as they are challenging themselves. At BrainLink, we have long advocated for Art Therapy as a beneficial practice for people living with an acquired brain injury. Some of the same benefits can also apply to carers, supporting self-regulation and emotional resilience. More importantly however, the opportunity to achieve something as a group, further bonds our community together.
Having a laugh with others and experiencing something new and getting out of my comfort zone.
Monica speaking about her painting class experience.
Trip to the Nobbies
Our team took a group of our carers down to Phillip Island to visit the spectacular Nobbies reserve and enjoy the dramatic clifftop scenery in one of Victoria's top coastal destinations. This was a great opportunity for our carers to get away and enjoy the sunshine as they took a well-earned break from their daily challenges.
Lunches and Morning Tea's
There is nothing more satisfying than sharing good food with good company. Talking to people who simply "get it" can make an immeasurable difference in our carer's week. Amongst other activities, the carer team held close to a dozen lunches across suburban and regional Victoria. Our carers have enjoyed a mix of cuisines from classic pub food at the Moe Racing Club to a Chinese Banquet to celebrate the Luna New Year. For many of our carers, coming together and connecting over a meal is one of the most valuable activities they can participate in. This is why we ensure food is a foundation of the carer program.
I loved the layout of the tables so that we had at 12 spaces at each table and were able toconverse with each other and there were many shared stories and conversations, laughs andsharing. It was really nice to hear some snippets of Chinese and Asian culture from otherBrainlink carers. The seating and placement of guests was well thought out. The room was filledwith chatter, laughter and sharing.
Kerrin speaking about her Secret Garden Chinese Banquet experience.
Upcoming Carer Program Events
We are busy adding new events to our calendar across all of our regions. See what we have planned for April below:
Get in touch with us
If you would like to learn more about how BrainLink supports carers in Victoria and get involved, please reach out.