SEED PROJECT: Project Buddies - design and piloting of a program to support people with acquired brain injury to participate in personally meaningful projects

About the Project

Researcher name: Dr Rachel Brough, Senior Research Assistant, THC, Griffith University

People/organisations involved:

Sally Wooler, Clinical Lead, ABI TRS, DAHR MSH

Areti Kennedy, Manager, ABI TRS DAHR, MSH

Dr Christy Hogan, Research Fellow, THC, Griffith University

Dr Jessie Mitchell, Research Fellow, THC, Griffith University

Assoc Prof Melissa Kendall, Senior Research and Development Officer, ABIOS/TRP, DARH MSH

Elizabeth Ambrose, Person with lived experience, Synapse Ambassador, Research Assistant

Aaron Arthur, Allied Health Assistant, ABI TRS, DAHR MSH

Karen Goddard, Rehabilitation Coordinator, ABIOS, DAHR MSH

Anne-Maree Caine, Program Director, Discipline of Occupational Therapy, Griffith University

Prof Tamara Ownsworth, Research Director, THC, Griffith University

This project will explore how to connect people with ABI to project buddies to support them doing meaningful, personal projects.

Due to changes in abilities and opportunities, people with ABI often experience a mismatch between the activities they want or need to do and the activities they actually do. This translation project came about from the qualitative data of interviews with people with ABI and their family members that we conducted for the TRaCE project. Participants described how critically important it was for their well-being and self identity to be supported to do activities or projects that were personally meaningful to them – especially when they were unable to work.

Aim and objective:

The aims of the project are to:

Consult with stakeholders to refine the design of the Project Buddies Program to support people with ABI engage in personally meaningful projects;
Pilot the feasibility and sustainability of the Project Buddies Program and explore its preliminary efficacy for enhancing meaningful participation and improving wellbeing.

Expected outcomes and impact:

This strengths-based program has the potential to improve the wellbeing of people with ABI by providing structure for participants to be more autonomous and have more agency in doing activities that are primarily intrinsically motivating for them. It also has the potential to provide a novel avenue for physical, social and/or cognitive rehabilitation, especially when people are unable to engage in work. It is anticipated that piloting the feasibility and sustainability of the program will establish links and relationships with community service providers that could support future implementation of the program.

This grant provides an opportunity to grow connections for people with brain injury. It will highlight areas where individuals and communities can step in to facilitate meaningful interactions, reduce isolation, and improve mental health outcomes.