The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program (BIRP) leads and coordinates:
- equitable access to brain injury rehabilitation services across NSW
- seamless transition between inpatient and community care
- delivery of best practice brain injury rehabilitation
- research and evaluation of services and outcomes.
Local health districts (LHDs) provide governance and financial management for the BIRP services located in their district.
The NSW BIRP is a network of metropolitan and rural inpatient, transitional and community specialist rehabilitation services for children, young people and adults following an acquired brain injury.
Services
Inpatient and community-based adult and paediatric services are offered as part of the BIRP. This varies within each of the LHDs.
Understanding brain injury specialist rehabilitation in NSW, part D: brain injury specialist rehabilitation programs has more detail on the types of services offered as part of the BIRP.
Inpatient referral
Adult inpatient services
There are three adult inpatient BIRP units, all located in the Sydney metropolitan area – Liverpool Hospital, Westmead Hospital, and Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney.
Suitability for admission to these specialist units is medically assessed and based on age, nature and severity of injury and readiness for specialist rehabilitation. Referrals are managed by the inpatient medical teams.
Paediatric inpatient services
Inpatient specialist brain injury rehabilitation services are available at the major children’s trauma hospitals in NSW – Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and John Hunter Children’s Hospital.
Referral for assessment for specialist inpatient services can be made by the medical team once the child is medically stable.
Community referral
Anyone requiring community-based brain injury specialist rehabilitation services can be referred to their local BIRP service for assessment. Services available can vary to meet local needs, and may include transitional living programs, outpatient clinics, community rehabilitation programs and/or case management services.
Referrals can be made by inpatient services, general practitioners, community health services and, in some circumstances, by the injured person themselves.
All people referred to a community BIRP service will be assessed for suitability for the programs available at that BIRP before services can be offered.
Service details
The BIRP directory has details of the services provided and the referral process for all of the BIRP service.
Statewide BIRP service directory
Resources
Measuring outcomes in brain injury rehabilitation programs in NSW (PDF 1.4 MB)
A history and overview of outcome measurement in the BIRP
Published: February 2022. Next review: 2027.