Living My Life

Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust specialise in clients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and we currently provide the following Living My Life services:

• We will support you to understand the range of programmes and services in your local community. We will support you to be able to make decisions about how you would like to be part of your community, what support you need, and who can provide it.
  
• You will be provided with a summary of your preferred support options

We will support you individually and/or in groups to:

• Work on things that are meaningful to you
  
• Build interests, activities, and relationships within the community
  
• Find ways to live where you want, and do the things you want to
  
• Do what is important in your everyday life, find work opportunities, stay in work, and carry out your life role(s) alongside other Kiwis
  
• Develop your skills to look after yourself

Reconnect after Brain Injury ("Reconnect")

• Community-based rehabilitation programme that meets Monday – Friday from 9.30am – 12.30pm in Bishopdale
  
• Clients eligible for the programme are assigned to one or two groups to attend on a weekly basis
  
• These groups consist of up to 10 clients

What do I do when I attend Reconnect?

• Receive ongoing education related to brain injury, local community services, and general well-being
  
• Practice skills that assist with maintaining independence such as meal preparation, budgeting, gardening, basic home maintenance, hygiene, and use of public transport
  
• Utilise strategies beneficial following a brain injury (e.g. communication, memory, planning, and problem solving strategies) in real life situations
• Engage in cognitively stimulating activities and physical exercise to improve / maintain functioning and well-being
  
• Explore services, events, and activities within the local community
• Interact socially with the other clients that also attend the group programme
  

• Community-based rehabilitation programme specialising in wood-working that meets Monday – Friday from 9am – 12pm in Wigram
• Clients eligible for the programme are assigned to either one or two morning time slots per week
• These groups consist of up to 8 clients at any one time

What do I do when I attend Tas-Tech?

• Participate in a positive work-like environment
• Plan and complete your own wood-working projects with support tailored to individual needs (some previous projects have included: coffee tables, shelving units, jewellery boxes, picture frames, chopping blocks, and much more)
• Utilise strategies beneficial following a brain injury (e.g. communication, memory, planning, and problem solving strategies) in real life situations
• Socialise with other clients that also attend Tas-Tech

• Unique art studio environments offering supported group based art sessions for those with creativity goals
• Clients eligible for the programme are assigned to one group to attend on a weekly basis
• These groups consist of up to 8 clients

What do I do when I attend Ōtautahi Creative Spaces Trust/Art Metro?

• Participate in a positive art studio environment
• Plan and create art work of your choice with assistance and prompting by staff members tailored to your individual needs
• Utilise strategies beneficial following a TBI (e.g. communication, memory, planning, and problem solving strategies) in real life situations
• Socialise with other clients who also attend

Support and coordination to help clients achieve their goals; whether they be:

• Increasing/maintaining independence at home
• Connecting with their community
• Seeking/maintaining employment (in collaboration with Workbridge)
• Finding strategies to build confidence in areas of life that are important to the client

• Peer support and opportunities to build relationships with others who share common goals and challenges
• Safe, supportive environment to practice skills in order to maximise participation in the areas of life important to the individual
• Promote well-being and maintain overall functioning
• Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust maintains strong relationships with the client, their family/whānau, ACC, and any other agencies involved in the client’s rehabilitation and/or care to ensure all parties are working towards common goals and to seek appropriate help for the client if/when needed

• Clients are primarily referred to our programmes via their individual ACC Case Manager or insurance provider.
• We also accept privately-funded clients. Please contact us to find out more.
• Spaces are limited and clients undergo a screening process to ensure they are the right fit for their chosen programme

Allied Health Professionals, Rehabilitation Coaches specialising in brain injury, Art Tutors, Woodwork Instructors, Employment Consultants (Workbridge)

Christchurch City, Waimakariri District, Selwyn District