Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Rehabilitation
Concussion and traumatic brain injury, multi-trauma and burns
The Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) team provides specialist rehabilitation for adults who have experienced a concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI), multi-trauma or burns. Our interdisciplinary team of medical and allied health professionals work with people to deliver goal-focused and time-limited rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation appointments are provided within the Community Rehabilitation Centre at the McKellar Centre in North Geelong and can also be provided at the client’s home or in the local community.
The Community Rehabilitation Centre has a purpose built gym, access to specialist rehabilitation equipment and customised clinical treatment spaces. A hydrotherapy pool is also available on site and clients can access the pool as part of their physiotherapy with the ABI team.
Client appointments can be individual or within a group and are based around the person’s goals for recovery. The ABI team commonly supports people to:
- manage day to day tasks at home
- adjust to the changes in their life
- return to study or work
- return to sport, hobbies and social activities
- return to driving
The ABI team is made up of allied health and medical professionals from the following backgrounds: rehabilitation medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, exercise physiology, recreation therapy, social work, clinical psychology, neuropsychology, dietetics and podiatry. All team members have experience working with people after concussion and brain injury. Clients may work with one or more health professionals depending on their needs and goals for recovery.
Cost
There is no out of pocket cost for appointments.
The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and WorkSafe will cover the cost of rehabilitation for people with an approved claim.
ABI Support Groups
ABI Memory Skills Group
The ABI Memory Skills Group is a program for adults who have experienced a change in their memory after acquired brain injury.
Group participants will learn strategies to help manage their memory difficulties. The group runs for two hours per week for six weeks. To see if the group improves your memory we will also ask you to complete some questionnaires before the group starts and again after the group finishes. Suitability for the group will be assessed on referral.
The group is led by a Clinical Neuropsychologist and co-facilitated by Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy.
Where: McKellar Centre Community Rehabilitation Centre, 45-95 Ballarat Rd, North Geelong.
For more information please call (03) 4215 5301.
EnAble: Brain Injury Information and Coping Skills Group
EnAble is a group program run by psychologists for McKellar clients who have experienced a brain injury. A family member / friend may also find participation in the group valuable.
Participants will learn about the common changes associated with brain injury and strategies to manage changes in their thinking skills, emotions, and behaviour.
The group consists of two sessions that run for two hours each including a break for coffee/tea.
Where: McKellar Centre Community Rehabilitation Centre, 45-95 Ballarat Rd, North Geelong.
For more information please call (03) 4215 5301.
Persistent Post Concussion Group
Persistent post-concussion occurs when concussion symptoms persist
beyond the expected recovery period (i.e. four weeks).
This group is an evidence-based intervention program that offers
adults with persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) an interactive
environment to meet others with PPCS and to reduce the negative impacts
on daily life.
The six-week group session runs at the McKellar Centre for two hours,
with a follow-up session one month later. The group is led by a specialist
interdiscplinary ABI team.
More information: (03) 4215 5301, ABI Rehabilitation Team
How to refer
A General Practitioner (GP), medical specialist or any health professional can make a referral. Referrals are received by:
Email: [email protected]
Fax: (03) 4215 6376
Post: McKellar Community Rehabilitation Centre, 45-95 Ballarat Road, North Geelong 3215
PO Box 281, Geelong VIC 3220
Electronic referral: referralNET (Geelong region only)
In your referral, please include a summary of the person’s injury, current symptoms and issues, goals for rehabilitation and any relevant risks.
All referrals are triaged and if not suitable for community rehabilitation, the referral may be forwarded on to a more appropriate service or feedback provided to the referrer.
Last Modified: Monday, 11 September 2023
Contact Us
Phone (03) 4215 5301
McKellar Community Rehabilitation Centre
45-95 Ballarat Road, North Geelong 3215
PO Box 281, Geelong VIC 3220
Social Skills Group
The Social Skills Group is for people living in the community with an acquired brain injury (ABI). It is an opportunity share ideas and experiences and learn new ways to deal with the changes that a brain injury can bring about.
The aim of the group is:
Where: McKellar Centre Community Rehabilitation Centre, 45-95 Ballarat Rd, North Geelong.
There is free visitor parking available near to the entrance to the CRC. Please report to the CRC reception to let them know you have arrived.