Edition 14
December 2007
Empower
Empowering TAC clients by sharing stories and information
Making resolutions
Andrew Remenyi,
Clinical Psychologist
With New Year’s Eve not too far
away, empower is exploring the
issue of making resolutions.
Not just New Year’s Eve resolutions,
but resolutions that can be made
all year round.
It’s important for people who have
acquired a disability to make
resolutions to pursue their dreams
and goals despite their changed
circumstances. For most people
making a resolution can be relatively
easy but keeping it can be tougher.
A technique to help you stay on
track is the SMARTS approach.
Keep your goals:
Specific
Identify exactly what your goal is.
‘To be happy’ is too general.
Instead, work out exactly what you
would like to do that will make you
happy and make that your goal.
Measurable
It’s important to measure progress
towards meeting your goals. Include
precise amounts, dates, etc, in your
goals. For example, to be ready for
work in four months time, I will have
completed my training course.
Achievable
Your goals should match your
capability and interests. Set goals
that are not too easy or too hard,
but challenging, so achieving them
will give you personal satisfaction.
Realistic
People who make resolutions and pursue
meaningful goals usually have happier and
more successful lives.
Consider your circumstances
before setting goals. If you don’t
have the time, money or ability to
achieve a goal then it is unrealistic.
Instead build on the strengths and
experience you have. Be flexible and
willing to change as circumstances
change and you progress.
Timeframe
Setting a timeframe to achieve your
goals gives you clear targets to work
towards, commits you to a start and
end date, maintains your interest
and builds in an urgency to achieve.
Support
To help through difficult stages, seek
the support of people close to you
and health professionals you trust.
In this empower we meet three
inspirational people who have made
resolutions and are taking steps to
make them a reality. Country girl
Sam has resolved to study and live
with friends in Melbourne despite a
serious accident last Christmas.
Delia has resolved to pursue her
counselling work and help others
with a disability. And Chris is
determined to pursue the sports he
enjoys despite his disability and a
recent health scare.
Sam, Delia and Chris show us what
it’s like to make a resolution and
work towards it. Perhaps things
won’t work out exactly how we
imagined them, but if we keep to
our task and are willing to change
our goals as our situation changes
we can keep moving forward and
use our SMARTS to get to where we
want to be.
2 Empower
A Life Guard’s story
Sam Moorfoot
Hi my name is Sam and I’m twenty
years old. I grew up in Moyston, a
small country town just outside
Ararat. Let me take you back to the
holiday season last year. I had just
celebrated Christmas with my family,
after spending nine months working
and travelling Europe, and was
looking forward to kicking up my
heels on New Year’s Eve. I was
working part-time as a life guard for
the Ararat YMCA. And like many of
my friends, I planned to move to
Melbourne in early 2007 to attend
university. I was so excited to see
what the big city had to offer! I had
so many goals and dreams; I really
felt that the world was my oyster.
Then, on December 28, my life
changed in an instant. I was driving
home from work on a country road
when my car collided with a truck.
I broke ribs, my pelvis and
collarbone and suffered a severe
head injury. The first thing I remember
was waking up in a small dark
hospital room with bare unfriendly
walls. I felt so frightened and
confused; I didn’t know where
I was or what had happened.
When my family came to visit I didn’t
even recognise them and I treated
strangers like old friends. It took
me weeks to get back to something
resembling my old self and it was
then I learnt I had to live the rest of
my life with an acquired brain injury.
This was very difficult to accept at
first. All my plans, everything I had
worked towards seemed to have
gone up in smoke. It was ironic;
I had to defer my university course
in disability studies because I
had acquired a disability myself.
Just the year before, I had looked
after people with cerebral palsy
in England. Now I was the one who
needed looking after.
I needed the support of my family
and friends more than ever. Most of
the people close to me were
fantastic, but some of my friends
didn’t know what to say or how to
act around me. I’m sure many
people living with an ABI can relate
to this.
I wanted to get back to ‘normal’ life
as soon as possible so I resolved
to work as hard as I could to
regain my independence.
I threw myself into my rehab and
worked with a range of remarkable
health professionals including
psychologists, physiotherapists
occupational therapists, speech
pathologists and more… Basics
such as walking, talking, eating and
getting dressed all had to relearned.
Even appropriate behaviour had
to be retaught, I kept ever yone
entertained at times with some
of my inappropriate actions. It’s
funny to look back on now. I think
my recover y may have been faster
than some of the other patients
in hospital because of my positive
attitude. I refused to feel sorr y for
myself or to constantly think about
the accident. I couldn’t change the
past but I could shape the future.
I want to be known as
Sam, not Sam the girl
who had the car accident.
There are so many people to thank
that have given, both myself and my
family, so much support emotionally,
financially and physically since my
accident, without which I would not
have had such a positive recovery.
Today I’ve re-evaluated my goals.
I still want to study but realise that
a three year course might be a bit
much for me at the moment. I am
investigating one year TAFE courses
and to help prepare for study I
am reading a lot to improve my
concentration. I’m facing my fear
of driving and working with an
instructor to rebuild my confidence
Despite her ABI, country girl Sam wants to
establish her independence in Melbourne
and polish my skills. I’m planning on
living with friends in Melbourne next
year and am looking forward to
continuing with my life guard work.
Moving to a big city and establishing
your independence is hard enough
for a young person. Doing this with an
ABI will be even harder. I understand
the ABI will affect everything –
my employment prospects, my
social life, the way I think and feel.
Socialising with friends will be
different. I realise I can’t go clubbing
all night anymore because I tire
easily now.
Still I’ve promised myself not to let
this accident stop me from enjoying
being a young person and taking
advantage of the opportunities most
people my age enjoy. I don’t want this
accident to define who I am - I want
to be known as Sam, not Sam the girl
who had the car accident. I honestly
feel like my journey is just beginning.
Taking a TAFE course is a great
way to get into study. Many TAFE
courses employ disability liaison
officers who can help you find
a course you are interested in.
Get in touch with your closest
TAFE for more information.
The Council of Adult Education
(CAE) also may be able to offer
you a suitable shor t course
of study. Call 9652 0611
or 1800 601 111 for fur ther
information.
3 Empower
Making the most of my
second chance
Chris Martin
Right at the moment I’m pleased
with myself because I have just tied
my neck tie with one hand in less
than five minutes. Previously it took
me half an hour. My next aim is to
regularly do the top button of my
business shirts. It’s very difficult;
I’ve only managed to do it twice so
far. You see I’m learning to do
everything one-handed after my arm
was crushed when I was run over by
a truck a couple of years ago.
My left arm was reattached without
an elbow. It now has so much metal
it looks like a construction site.
My head copped a decent whack
too and my cheeks now have
metal plates in them. Both hips
are also full of metal. I can barely
comprehend the surgery involved
and have enormous admiration for all
the surgeons, doctors and nurses.
Chris is learning to do everything one-handed.
I didn’t just focus on physical
injuries. After the accident I was
uncomfortable about leaving the
hospital ward and facing the outside
world. Again I set and achieved
small targets - in the first place to
leave my hospital bed and get a cup
of tea and then to leave the hospital
and go out in public without feeling
overwhelmed by people and the
rush. Small steps all the way.
I’m back in my office and have
also learnt to drive one-handed.
Independence has been
tremendously important.
I don’t remember anything about the
accident. One moment I was jogging
and the next I woke in hospital doped
up on morphine with my mind playing
tricks. I thought I was a great mate
of Bill Clinton and Bill (who was
running the entire world!) had asked
me to run the Southern Hemisphere.
Nothing wrong with my ego! Seems
ridiculous looking at it now, but at the
time it couldn’t have been more real.
When I recovered my wits and found
out I’d been hit by a truck I was so
amazed and grateful just to be alive.
It still gives me great satisfaction
to achieve targets. My next aim is to
play tennis and sail regularly again.
I’ve learnt to play golf one-handed.
Unfortunately skiing and bike riding
are probably not a good idea. I’d love
to have a crack at the Lorne Pier
to Pub Swim but I still need a lot
more strength and fitness – one
day maybe… I’m happy just to get
out there and have a go.
I’ve been a businessman my entire
career, now spanning 47 years, so I
used a business approach
throughout my rehabilitation. My
whole life has been full of budgets,
targets, challenges, wins and
losses. So everything in rehab and
afterwards at home has been about
setting and achieving targets and
then pacing myself to ensure I didn’t
push too hard, too soon. For
example, I’d swim a length of the
pool one day and then two the next.
I’d walk a kilometre in the gym one
day, then aim to do more the next
day and so on...
Sport is a great way to distract me
from the one constant in my life –
pain. Since the accident I’ve tried
several things to help with pain
including medication, pain
management clinics and relaxation
techniques. They’ve all been useful
but I find the best way to cope with
pain is not to think about it, to
concentrate on something else.
For instance, when I’m swimming
I’m concentrating so much on my
stroke and staying afloat I don’t
feel a thing! I find distraction and
concentration on what is distracting
me to be terribly important.
I’m also very interested in people
with disabilities since my accident.
Sometimes I’ll see a person with
a disability on the street, tap them
on the shoulder and share stories.
I’m involved with Disability Sports
Victoria and Limbs4Life and have
met some really amazing people.
My attitude to people living with
disabilities is far, far broader now.
A recent setback
A couple of months ago I collapsed
and had a fall which has undone a
lot of the good work. I fell on my
back and damaged my sciatic nerve.
The pain was excruciating and I was
not allowed to continue driving until
recently. I have fainted a few times
since the accident and I’ve been
back in hospital to get my heart
rhythms back in order.
This has put me back quite a few
weeks and in many ways I’ve had to
start all over again. But I’ve resolved
to work hard and overcome this latest
hurdle because I refuse to let my
injuries stop me from pursuing the
activities I enjoy. After all, surviving
the accident, especially at my age,
was just amazing. Many people have
told me I’m a miracle, it sounds a bit
overdramatic - but I now believe I am.
In all of this I have been so
fortunate to have a wonder fully
loving, supporting wife and family
and friends who have been with me
all the way. I can’t imagine going
through it all without them.
Would you like to try a new
sport or get back into a sport
you previously enjoyed?
Contact Sport and Recreation
Victoria on (03) 9666 4200 and
enquire about your Access for All
Abilities Regional Provider (AAA).
AAA Regional Providers can help
you access sport and recreation
opportunities.
4 Empower
Resolved to help people with ABI
Delia Portlock
In 1986, I was travelling in my car
with my daughter and three of my
girlfriend’s children when a truck,
failing to see the car, struck us.
Two of my girlfriend’s daughters were
rushed to hospital with lacerations
and bruising. I had sustained an
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and was
left fighting for my life.
After five and a half weeks in a coma,
my journey through rehabilitation
began. It was incredibly challenging
relearning how to walk and talk
while raising three young children.
But, I’ve been fortunate to have
strong family support. My family
kept a journal for me during my
stay in hospital, so that I could
remember everything. The hardest
thing was reading it and learning
the truth about what happened.
crash was to help others and
make a difference to their lives.
I completed a Graduate Diploma in
Health Counselling and became
President of Headway Victoria for
12 years which was a great honour.
Here I talked to a lot of people about
the challenges of getting on with life
with an ABI. I was involved in the
State Disability Advisory Council
and set up a support group in the
western suburbs of Melbourne for
people with ABI. These meetings
were a great way for people in similar
situations to share experiences and
talk through challenges. Over the last
twenty years I’ve met a lot of people
with ABI who have amazing
determination and resilience.
After four and a half years of
rehabilitation, I began regaining my
independence. I resolved to do all
I could to help people with ABI face
the challenges of ever yday life.
I felt the reason I sur vived the
Today I’m pursuing counselling work,
am involved in the community and
enjoy spending time with my children
– who have grown into magnificent
adults. I still want work in the area
of disability – especially in the area of
ABI. That’s why I continue to pursue
life experiences that will help people
living with a disability. I’m proud of
TAC Case Manager
clients in their homes, at hospitals or
rehabilitation units, and in local cafes.
Jade Hurst
When I first meet a TAC client we
complete an assessment together to
clarify their life goals. Then we develop
an ‘individual plan’ that details what
actions need to occur to achieve their
goals. Each person has different
goals. One moment I could be
researching study courses, the next I
could be trying to locate a yoga group
for people with visual impairment.
Before starting at the TAC in 2005
I worked as an occupational therapist
in hospitals and rehabilitation
units in Australia and England.
This provided a good foundation for
my role as a TAC support coordinator
managing the claims of people with
spinal and/or brain injuries. This role
was predominantly office based
and I found I missed working face-toface with clients. Now as a TAC
case manager I enjoy visiting my
Empower is published three times a year
by the Transport Accident Commission.
© Copyright Transport Accident Commission, 2006
I enjoy working with people who are
motivated to change some aspect of
their life and have been amazed by
Delia speaks at Brain Injury Awareness Week.
the fact that I pursued my goals, and
I am determined to keep doing so.
My advice to others with a disability
would be to think about what your
needs are and don’t hesitate to ask
for support. And remember to never,
ever give up.
ABI support groups are a great
way for people who have acquired
a brain injury to meet and share
stories. To find out the location of
your closest ABI support group
contact BrainLink on 9845 2950
or 1800 677 579.
the resilience of some of my clients.
Their positive attitude to get on with
life has been inspirational. It’s always
rewarding to see.
Jade enjoys meeting her clients face to face.
Telephone:
Website:
1300 654 329 or 1800 332 556
Visit www.tac.vic.gov.au
(toll-free outside the Melbourne metro area)
8:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday.