Resources and support groups
Discover support groups and information for people with a severe injury.
If you’re coping with a severe injury, finding the right resources and support can be an empowering step towards making informed decisions.
Many organisations and charities in NSW exist to help people living with a severe injury by funding research and projects, connecting communities, providing information and advocacy.
Spinal cord injuries
Groups and associations
The main support groups and associations for people living with a spinal injury in NSW are:
Both not-for-profit organisations provide a range of information and support services.
Clinical treatment and rehabilitation
The State Spinal Cord Service is the key provider of clinical treatment for spinal cord injuries in NSW. As part of the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, their work focuses on spinal cord recovery; helping people with spinal cord injury build independence, achieve their personal goals and regain full participation in the community.
They regularly publish reports, newsletters and research findings that are relevant to both people with spinal cord injury and healthcare providers.
Through the State Spinal Cord Service, you may be referred to The NSW Spinal Outreach Service. This includes the Metropolitan Spinal Outreach Service and the Rural Spinal Cord Injury Service who offer specialist multi-disciplinary support, education, health promotion, counselling and advocacy and information and resources.
Brain injuries
Groups and associations
The main support groups and associations for people living with a brain injury in NSW are:
Both not-for-profit organisations provide a range of information and support services.
Clinical treatment and rehabilitation
Many people with a brain injury in NSW are treated through the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program (BIRP) which includes three adult and two paediatric inpatient BIRP teams:
- Liverpool Hospital, Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit
- Royal Rehab, Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team
- Westmead Brain Injury Rehabilitation Services
- Children's Hospital at Westmead, Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team
- Sydney Children's Hospital, Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team
- John Hunter Children's Hospital, Kaleidoscope.
There are also a number of community based metropolitan and rural and regional BIRP units.
Their work focuses on improving health and social participation for people living with a traumatic brain injury and their families, including children and young people.
Amputees
The main support groups and associations for people living with amputations in NSW are:
Both not-for-profit organisations provide a range of information and support to amputees and their families, including peer support.
