Brain Injury Association of NZ Inc.

OUR ASSOCIATION

The Brain Injury Association of NZ was incorporated on 29 March 1996 and currently has branches in Auckland, Tauranga, Waikato, Gisborne, Whanganui, Palmerston North, and Nelson.

OUR AIM

The Association was established to assist people and families of people suffering from acquired brain injury by:

• Working for and promoting the rehabiltiation of the brain injured
• Promoting international and national study and research into brain injury
• By fostering mutual help and cooperation between the brain injured, their parents, guardians, relatives and friends and all those entrusted with the care, support and training of people with brain injury
• Establishing support organisations having facilities to help the families of the brain injured in any way that may be needed

CURRENT ISSUES

The Association is currently highlighting a number of issues. These include:

• The inequity that exists for those people with acquired brain injury who are not eligible for ACC rehabilitation. Health funding does not at present provide for rehabilitation at anywhere near the same level of support
• The need for ACC to establish contracts with professional rehabititation providers in all parts of New Zealand. In most parts of New Zealand community based services do not exist. In simple terms, ACC case managers do not have local services available to make referrals to. In addition, there is an urgent need to finalise guidelines of best practice to measure the performance of service providers and gives potential providers the knowledge of what standards they must adhere to.
• There needs to be consistency in application of the ACC Act throughout New Zealand particularly with regard to TIL and CPI regulations
• That the ACC Work Capacity Assessment Process is fairly implemented and the special needs of the brain injured are properly considered
• The need for more understanding by the medical profession on the needs of people with ABI, particularly general practitioners
• The requirement for greater understanding of and better facilities available for the onging education of children with brain injury. In particular, the BIA NZ wishes to ensure that adequate assistance is provided for children and their families to make the bridge from school to work. We believe in helping to maximise a child's potential
• The difficulty that non profit organisations have in raising funds in today's competitive climate
• The lack of support available for brain injured people exhibiting behavioural problems including the ability to access adequate, secure facilities for brain injured people who are not necessarily reliant on the Mental Health System.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Brain Injury Association of New Zealand
North Shore LIFE Centre
3 William Laurie Place
Albany, Auckland 
PO Box 83
Albany Village 0755
Auckland 
  
ph 09 414 5693 
fax 09 415 5643 
email national@brain-injury.org.nz
website www.brain-injury.org.nz

This information has been supplied and approved by the Brain Injury Association of New Zealand and is copyright protected. The content and design of this page must not be reproduced electronically or in print without the written permission of UBM Medica (NZ) Ltd.