Support Groups

This is a support group for people who have acquired an incomplete spinal cord injury or condition as the result of accident or injury, medical, surgical, viral, neurological or vascular cause. The group is specifically aimed at people who can:

• walk unassisted
• walk with a cane, crutches, a frame, or other assistance
• walk but who may also use a wheelchair

It’s an initiative by the Victorian Spinal Cord Services, Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre and Independence Australia as a direct result of the increasing number of people with incomplete injuries we were seeing come through our services. We wanted to address the severe lack of support services available for the unique circumstances and experiences faced by people with spinal injuries who can walk.

Our support group provides a friendly and informal setting for people with incomplete spinal cord injuries or conditions to share information, experiences, knowledge and support.

The common experiences amongst people with incomplete spinal cord injuries with some capacity to walk include:

• significant concerns that may not be understood or visible to others e.g. changes in bowel or bladder functioning, pain, fatigue, motor or sensory changes, sexual changes, changes in hopes and expectations about the future
• not going through specialist spinal cord injury rehabilitation
• feelings of isolation from other people with incomplete spinal cord injuries like their own
• being unsure of relevant services and supports in the community

If this support group can help you, we would love to see you join us. Meetings are coordinate to match demand, please contact us if you would like to attend and we will let you know when the next meeting will be held. All meetings are held in wheelchair friendly venues with ramps to the meeting rooms and plenty of accessible parking nearby. The meetings are free. We also provide light refreshments and catering at no charge.

To register your interest and find out when the next meeting will be held, please contact Jenny Koadlow on 03 9418 0410 or 0403 046 816, or email [email protected].

When a loved one sustains a spinal cord injury, life changes not only for that person but also for those around them. This is a support group specifically for family members and/ or friends.

The group is an initiative by Independence Australia, with the support of the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Hospital and AQA to support partners and family members of people with a physical disability. It’s an opportunity to have your questions answered in a confidential and supportive group. You can also share information, experiences, knowledge and support in a friendly and informal setting.

Our meetings are held on a monthly basis and focus on the areas of interest to the group. The common experiences we share among family members are:

• worries about the future for family member
• housing modifications/accommodation
• funding issues
• being unsure of relevant services and supports in the community
• health issues including pressure sores, bladder and bowel care
• what to do about self care
• relationship and sexuality issues

It is free to attend and we also provide light refreshments at no charge. We meet monthly. RSVP’s are essential so you can get  updates of the date, time and location at The Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre in Kew. Sessions are facilitated by Jenny Koadlow and AQA’s Peer Support Coordinator, Nazim Erdem.

Just remember to RSVP for every session by calling Jenny Koadlow on 03 9418 0410 or 0403 046 816, or email [email protected].

Jenny is our clinical psychologist who has worked for many years with individuals, couples, families and groups in the disability sector.