Supporting a person with a brain injury
For clinicians, vocational providers and the family and carers of people with a brain injury.
What is a brain injury?
A brain injury refers to any damage to the brain. It can occur through an accident or trauma, such as a car accident or assault, or though illness, such as a stroke or brain tumour. It can be referred to as an acquired brain injury.
What are the effects of a brain injury?
The effects of brain injury are different for each person, depending on how severe the injury was and which parts of the brain were affected. The brain controls everything in our body: our thinking, memory, movement, strength, coordination, speech, vision, mood and behaviour. An injury to the brain can affect any or all of these functions.
Some effects of brain injury will be obvious, such as walking with a limp, inability to use one arm or poor vision. Others may not be visible, such as memory problems, mental fatigue, difficulties concentrating, planning or multitasking. Sometimes people experience changes to their personality. These may be subtle, like being more talkative, or more noticeable, like difficulty controlling emotions or interacting with other people.
Some people with a brain injury may not be aware of the changes from their injury. It is worthwhile talking with other people, such as their family, rehabilitation clinicians and case managers about whether the person’s work goals are suitable and safe.
Recovery
The brain can recover over time, with most of the recovery occurring in the first two years. Recovery depends on many factors, such as:
- how the brain was injured
- the severity of the injury
- the person’s access to rehabilitation and support.
Not everyone recovers at the same rate or to the same degree.
Impact of brain injury on returning to work
Returning to work is a common goal for many people with brain injury. It is part of their rehabilitation, like returning to their other life activities and responsibilities. Returning to work can occur at the same time as returning to other daily activities.
Some people may have difficulty adjusting to the expectations of the workplace. How well a person manages at work depends on the demands of their job. One job may require physical strength, coordination and balance, whereas another job may have more demands for cognitive skills, like planning, problem-solving and communication.
There is no best time for a person to return to work after a brain injury. It is best to be guided by the person and their medical and rehabilitation team about their readiness to return to work. Once back at work, the pace and duration of the return-to-work program will vary for each person.
People who support a person’s return to work
The local Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program (BIRP) team has specialised clinicians with experience supporting people with brain injury. They can provide advice about how the person’s brain injury may impact their return to work and how to best manage it through workplace adjustments.
A vocational rehabilitation provider helps the person and their employer navigate the return-to-work process and coordinates the program. Vocational provider involvement is dependent on the person’s funding.
The BIRP team works with the vocational rehabilitation provider to manage the person’s employment program.
Assessments
A workplace assessment considers the physical and cognitive job demands to determine the person’s ability to work in their usual role. It is completed by a vocational rehabilitation provider. The assessment also identifies suitable duties the person can complete if they cannot perform all their usual duties.
A vocational assessment identifies suitable employment options if the person cannot return to their previous role. It considers their employment history, work potential, training and education, interests, work habits and personality. At the same time, it considers the person’s physical, psychological and cognitive abilities.
Vocational counselling
Vocational counselling helps a person adjust to changing their work goal after their brain injury. It can prepare them for transitioning from one workplace or role to another more suitable workplace or role. Vocational counselling can help to identify new employment pathways that align with the person’s strengths, values and interests.
Return-to-work plan
A return-to-work plan includes the proposed duties, work hours and supports that the person will need to resume work. This plan is developed between the employer, employee and vocational provider. Input from the person's brain injury rehabilitation team is often included. There may be more than one return-to-work plan, gradually increasing the duties and hours towards the return-to-work goal.
Workplace adjustments
The term ‘workplace adjustments’ refers to any administrative, environmental or procedural changes that will help a worker manage their work duties. Adjustments will vary from person to person. Some typical adjustments include:
- Start on reduced hours and gradually increase
- Work on non-consecutive days and gradually build to consecutive days
- Allocate tasks that are most familiar to the person
- Schedule more demanding tasks in the morning
- Schedule regular rest breaks to reduce fatigue
- Use a diary, checklists, to-do lists and written notes to help memory
- Provide clear instructions for tasks and the work routine
- Limit distractions in the workplace, which may mean working in a quieter or different work area
- Initially avoid time-pressured work
- Initially supervise work tasks to assist with readjusting to the work routine
Additional resources
Vocation Intervention Program – Understand the pathways to employment and watch some client experience videos.
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program – Consider the services and referral process for the program.
Synapse – Review the support services for people who have been impacted by brain injury and disability. Participate in training for service providers.
Brain Injury Australia – Learn more about brain injury and advocate for people with a brain injury.