Media release
Monday, 29 June 2009

Tasmania’s hidden disability exposed

The Brain Injury Association of Tasmania (BIAT) launched an advertising campaign to raise awareness of acquired brain injury and its increasing impacts on the Tasmanian community.

BIAT CEO Deborah Byrne said it is estimated around 2500 people sustain a brain injury in Tasmania each year.

“With the number of brain injuries increasing in Tasmania each year, it is important people understand that brain injury can happen to anyone, that it is forever and that prevention is the key,” Mrs Byrne said.

{flv}biat_ad{/flv} 

“With Tasmania’s horror road toll continuing to rise, it’s important that we remember the serious injuries as well as the fatalities.

“In 2008, statistics show 35 people acquired a brain injury (ABI) following a motor vehicle accident on Tasmania’s roads.

“For the families left behind it is incredibly tragic to have lost a loved one in an accident, but we must also remember those who are left behind who now have to live with a disability or a brain injury, and whose lives are completely changed forever.

“These people are often the forgotten ones when it comes to dealing with these road tragedies.”

Mrs Byrne said common causes of ABI include sporting and motor vehicle accidents, alcohol related violence, strokes, binge drinking, assaults, falls and substance abuse or poisoning to name a few.

“Following ABI people often experience a combination of difficulties with communication, thinking, physical functioning and control of people’s behaviours and emotions,” she said.

“ABI is often known as the invisible or hidden disability as its long term problems are usually in the areas of thinking and behaviour and not as easy to see as many physical disabilities.

“As a consequence, the difficulties people with an ABI face are easily ignored and often misunderstood.”

One person who knows the reality of this only to well is 37 year old Michael Bennet who sustained a brain injury as result of a motor vehicle crash at the age of 19.  Michael’s story is featured in the BIAT advertisements.

“In April 1992, five rugby mates and I were travelling back from rugby training in Launceston when we were side swiped by a Mazda, which was torn in two by the impact,” Michael said.

“Both of my team-mates in the front of the car died instantly.  My other team mate Stuart, who had earlier swapped seats with me, later died from internal injuries caused by the lap-sash seat belt.

“I sustained a fractured skull, many broken ribs, a smashed wrist and a brain injury.  I was in the Intensive Care Unit for 12 days and the High Dependency Unit for two months.  I was then moved to a place called Rehab Tas, where I learned to talk and walk again.

“Before my accident, I assumed that the mates I had through sport and school were going to be there for the rest of my life.  I was wrong.

“In fact, after my accident I had very little contact from my old rugby team mates and now, many of them will cross the road rather than talk to me.

“I wanted to get involved with BIAT and in particular with this campaign to raise awareness about ABI and to help people understand the impact a brain injury can have on your life, your friends and your future.

“People don’t realise that the damage is permanent, brain injury changes lives – forever.”

The Brain Injury Association of Tasmania is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation working for people living with or affected by acquired brain injury in Tasmania.

{back}