Spinal Injuries Association Peer Support Officer Katie Franz shares her thoughts on Channel 10 News about the state government’s recent announcement that there would be changes to learner driver tests, which would allow learners to speed five times, and up to five km/h over the limit in, a 30-minute driving test. View the two-minute video here.

THEY’RE a tough audience. Anyone who has ever fronted a room full of teenagers knows that they often bring with them a take-no-prisoners approach.

Over the past eight years I’ve learnt that if you want teenagers to listen to you then you’d better be laugh-out-loud funny or have a powerful, personal message that shocks the hell out of them.

And when it comes to the latter, I don’t think anyone is doing it better than SEAT, the Spinal Education Awareness Team presenters.

Rarely would a pedestrian crossing make news but for one Queensland community, it will change their lives.

The Spinal Injuries Association welcomes the completion of work and the opening of the first ever pedestrian crossing in the township of Home Hill where Highway 1 passes through the main street.

The majority of Home Hill residents, which includes members of the Association, live on the east side of the town. They naturally wanted to access the buildings and services on the west side of the main street, many of which are ‘exclusive’ because they are not available on the east side of the street.

Property owners and business tenants in Home Hill on the west side of the main street pay similar outlays as those on the east side. However, given the bulk of the residents live on the east side, the lack of a safe, convenient pedestrian crossing meant property owners and tenants were denied equal opportunity to markets, sales and profits.

As a result of advocacy by residents and Association members, Helen Basse and Scott Stidston, the Department of Transport and Main Roads has lived up to its slogan of ‘Connecting Queensland’ with the design and construction of a controlled pedestrian crossing that meets the needs of all of the community.

Association Board member Scott Stidston jointly activated and opened the crossing today with Minister for Main Roads, the Hon. Craig Wallace MP.

“This initiative will maximise the social and economic performance of the region,” said Mr Stidston.

Two budget initiatives announced this week have been met with approval by the Spinal Injuries Association, the peak body for people with spinal cord injuries in Queensland.

Spinal Injuries Association CEO Mark Henley said two announcements in the State Budget delivered by Treasurer Andrew Fraser would have significant benefits for Queenslanders with spinal cord injuries.

“The $3.2 million expansion of the Spinal Cord Injuries Response (SCIR) initiative is a tremendous outcome for people living with quadriplegia or paraplegia sustained through trauma or disease,” Mr Henley said.

“SCIR provides health, disability and personal support for people once they leave the Spinal Injuries Unit. This additional funding will improve the quality of life of people with spinal cord injuries in Queensland. It is a great decision.”

Mr Henley said the State Government’s announcement of the Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Concession Scheme would also be welcome news to Queenslanders who have medical conditions, including people with spinal cord injuries, who require temperature control.

“Some of our members experience major health issues as they have a physical intolerance to heat. They lose the ability to regulate their body temperature, which can result in life-threatening medical complications. This Scheme will make a difference to these members’ power bills and provide some relief.

“While there is still a long way to go before people with spinal cord injuries in Queensland have all of their support needs met, these two announcements by the Queensland Government are a very positive step forward. We look forward to continuing to work productively with the State Government and particularly the Disability Services Minister and her department to improve the quality of life of people with spinal cord injury in Queensland.”

A 13.29 percent electricity price hike announced last week by the Queensland Competition Authority will result in significant financial hardship and risk the lives of some people with spinal cord injuries.

Spinal Injuries Association CEO Mark Henley said that people who require air conditioners due to their physical intolerance to heat and cold may risk not using them given the increased electricity costs they will incur.

“We have been asking the State Government for some time to introduce a Medical Cooling Electricity Rebate, which some other states already have introduced, ” Mr Henley said.

“Some of our members (those who have high-level paraplegia or quadriplegia) experience major health issues as they have a physical intolerance to heat. They lose the ability to regulate their body temperature, which can result in life threatening medical complications.

“It is imperative that they live in an environment where they can control their temperature so air conditioners are not a luxury, but essential items for their health and well-being. If they can’t afford to use them, they are at serious risk.

“We have said before that because of the current electricity costs, there is an urgent need to cover the costs of operating air conditioners through such a rebate.

“This has now become even more dire following today’s announcement.”

Mr Henley called on the Queensland Government to urgently introduce concessions or rebates for people who are unable to regulate their body temperatures.

In memory of a Spinal Injuries Association member who passed away in August 2009, Robert Towns Lions Club is supporting the organisation in order to make a difference to the quality of life for other North Queenslanders who have that level of injury.

On Wednesday, 19 May the hardworking community group presented the Spinal Injuries Association with $2,000 to purchase wheelchair cushions for the organisation’s Equipment Hire service.

Robert Towns Lions Club President Ed Brown said the group wanted to assist the Association because a former member of the organisation, Alan Pierce, passed away last year.

“We supported Alan with various equipment and things in the past, and he often spoke of how the Association was there for him, so we wanted to give something back,” Ed said.

“We like to support local charities and we’re pleased these cushions will make an enormous difference to the people who use them.”

Spinal Injuries Association North Queensland Manager Cathy Lengyel said the pressure-relieving cushions would be added to the organisation’s Equipment Hire service at their Cranbrook office.

“The service is available to people who have a disability or anyone in the community who requires equipment for short or long-term hire,” Ms Lengyel said.

“These cushions are vital for people who use wheelchairs for 12+ hours a day and who are at risk of skin breakdown and pressure sores. A lesion or pressure sore can result in days or weeks in bed recovering, which is of course a huge inconvenience for people who are trying to live independently.”

For almost two years Brisbane’s Suzanne Mulligan did not go into her kitchen or cook a single dish.

Not because she’s averse to cooking and creating dishes – quite the opposite.

Suzanne had begun to experience a gradual loss of mobility in her lower body from around July 2008, when she noticed a strange sensation in her legs while jogging.

Within two months Suzanne had to use a wheelchair. After months of tests both locally and interstate, doctors finally discovered after several Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRIs) that Suzanne had sustained spinal cord damage at the T4 level (from the waist down).

In what doctors continue to call a “medical mystery” no-one can say how Suzanne sustained this damage.

“There was no event or trauma involved, the injury has happened without my knowing,” Suzanne said.

“The past few years have been hugely challenging as I’ve had to learn to accept that I can no longer walk and what this means in terms of losing aspects of my independence, and re-learning things that used to come so naturally.”

Suzanne said even simple tasks that most people took for granted such as putting on shoes and socks or showering could become monumental challenges.

“Cooking became something that I thought I could no longer do,” she said.

“And because I’d been an enthusiastic cook and would always experiment with different recipes, it was really difficult to hand over the cooking reins to my husband Terry.

“He has been doing so well though and he’s actually learned a lot about cooking during this period.”

However, just last month Suzanne was inspired to ease her way back into her kitchen after a visit from Spinal Injuries Association Peer Support Officer Katie Franz.

Katie, who sustained paraplegia in a car accident 15 years ago, showed Suzanne how she cooks in her kitchen, by preparing food on a cutting board on her lap, and how she situates utensils and ingredients in easy-to-reach places on her kitchen bench.

“When you first sustain a spinal cord injury, it takes years to learn what your new capabilities are now that you use a wheelchair,” Katie said.

“Because I’ve been using a wheelchair for almost half of my life, I have the benefit of experience and can share that with clients like Suzanne, who are still adapting to the changes in their body and how to negotiate their environment.”

One of Suzanne’s first forays back into the kitchen was to bake cupcakes for a food photography competition she entered through her local camera club.

Suzanne’s photograph was awarded an Honour in the competition, which she said had further cemented her commitment to return to her love of cooking.

A cavalcade of cars and bikes will cruise through Townsville to promote driver and pedestrian safety on local roads on Sunday, 7 November for the third annual Cruise for a Cause event.

To highlight Spinal Injuries Awareness Week (7 – 13 November), hundreds of motoring enthusiasts are expected to parade their pride and joy, with vehicles ranging from hot rods to utes, custom cars and bikes.

The Cruise for a Cause will begin at Willows Shoppingtown at 9am, before the colourful convoy cruise to Strand Park from 9.30am, where the vehicles will remain on show until 2pm.

Every year in Queensland around 90 people sustain a spinal cord injury – the majority sustained from car, motorbike and pedestrian accidents.

Often the annual road toll is reported in the news, but less is discussed about the people left behind with life-changing spinal cord and brain injuries following road trauma.

For more information about Cruise for a Cause, please contact David Soelberg on 0418 155 728 or Darryl Henderson on 0429 424 746, or email cruiseforacause@spinal.com.au.

The Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) will be conducting sporting tests to assist in identifying future paralympic talent as we head towards the London Paralympic Games in 2012.

When: Sunday, 16 May 2010
Where: St Joseph’s Nudgee College, 2199 Sandgate Road, Boondall QLD
Time: 10am – 2pm

The Toyota Paralympic Talent Search Program is an initiative of the APC. Its main goal is to identify people with physical disabilities and vision impairments who display the athletic potential to one day make it to paralympic level competition.

• Fact sheet (PDF, 151 kB)
• Information flyer (PDF, 232 kB)
• Registration form (PDF, 94 kB)

The Paralympic Talent Search day is only open to people with disabilities which would enable them to participate in events currently on the Paralympic Games schedule. Pre-registration for participants is required and can be done by returning a registration form to Andrea Johnstone, Australian Paralympic Committee, GPO Box 951, Brisbane QLD 4001 or andrea.johnstone@paralympic.org.au.

For more information please contact Andrea Johnstone on (07) 3551 1705 or andrea.johnstone@paralympic.org.au.

Two Brisbane volunteers have spoken to a total of 350,000 Queensland school children in their combined 40 years of service to the community.

Wayne Leo and Robert Spencer, both sustained spinal cord injuries in accidents as young men. Wayne’s motorbike accident was 26 years ago, while Robert’s sporting accident was 34 years ago this June.

Determined to prevent this all-encompassing injury in others, Wayne and Robert have both been valuable members of the Spinal Education Awareness Team (SEAT) program for many years.

Wayne speaks to his 250,000th student while presenting at Karalee State School.

Wayne is a founding member of the program, which formed 23 years ago. Earlier this month, Wayne spoke to his 250,000th student while presenting at Karalee State School; while Robert spoke to his 100,000th student during a visit to Craigslea State School earlier this month. This year marks Robert’s 17th year with SEAT.

Both men have spoken to, and inspired, children from Prep to Year 12 in almost every corner of the state during their time with SEAT.

As a young, married man and father, Wayne, from Riverhills, was a Corporal and in his 14th year with the Australian Army when he was hit by a car while riding his motorbike home from work. The driver did not stop. The impact of the accident led to Wayne sustaining paraplegia, which means he has no function or movement from his chest down.

“Kids in general think they’re invincible and that nothing bad will ever happen to them,” Wayne said.

“When I present, I tell the students to enjoy life, but just to exercise some basic caution and think about the consequences of their actions.

“Once they realise how easily a split second action such as texting while driving or diving into the ocean without checking its depth can lead to a lifelong, permanent injury, you can see their attitudes changing.

“At the moment there is no cure for a spinal cord injury and we don’t know how long until one is found. Prevention through the SEAT program is so important to make Queensland school children aware, and ultimately encourage them to stay safe.

“I always say, if I save at least one child a year from a lifetime using a wheelchair, then I’ve done my job.”

Two days before his 18th birthday, Robert was playing a game of rugby league when he was kneed in the chin during a tackle. The impact broke his neck and led to him sustaining quadriplegia.

Robert speaks to his 100,000th student during a visit to Craigslea State School.

Robert’s positivity and sense of humour inspires the children he speaks to and demonstrates that having a physical disability is not the end of the world.

“My presentations wouldn’t be as effective if they were purely a lecture, you need to talk to the kids at their level and appeal to them on their terms,” Robert said.

Recently, Robert has also started talking to employees around south-east Queensland as part of the growing SEAT at WORK program. To date, Energex apprentices, Watpac construction workers and TNT employees have been motivated by Robert’s story to make safety a priority in the workplace.

Spinal Injuries Association CEO Mark Henley, who has worked with Wayne and Robert since they began with SEAT, said both men’s commitment to the program and the safety of Queensland school children was extraordinary.

“I’m not aware of many people who have volunteered for so many years, and spoken to that volume of children,” Mr Henley said.

“Wayne and Robert are integral members of SEAT and their loyalty to the program and dedication to injury prevention is deserving of the highest recognition and praise.

“Who knows how many injuries Wayne and Robert have prevented by sharing what happened to them and deterring children from acting dangerously?”

Mr Henley said to have Wayne and Robert’s student milestones celebrated in the Spinal Injuries Association’s 50th anniversary year made the occasions even more significant.

Coinciding with the success of SEAT in the past 10 years, Queensland has gone from having the highest incidence of spinal cord injuries in Australia to today having the second lowest.

Currently, there are 16 presenters volunteering throughout Queensland. Collectively since SEAT began in 1987, more than 1.3 million school children have viewed a presentation.