Thank you for supporting Spinal Life Australia

The Peer Support program is vital for Australians coming to terms with physical disabilities.

Acquiring a physical disability like spinal cord damage is a life-changing experience. It affects every part of your life and often the journey back to independence can be a challenging one, both physically and mentally.

The Spinal Life Peer Support program is a free service that provides face-to-face support while in hospital, right through to group meetings in the community when a person returns home.

For the past 18 years, Spinal Life has provided peer support to more than 1800 people, and there is more work to be done.

Katie Hammond, a Peer Support Officer, recalls her first experience in hospital:

‘When I was first hoisted out of bed, I looked at myself in the mirror and thought ‘what the hell’. I thought about relationships, I thought about kids, I thought about all those things people want to achieve in life’

Now I give everything a go and never let my disability define who I am or what I’m capable of.”

In her role as Peer Support Officer, Katie says: ‘It’s important to stay positive and push the boundaries of what you’re capable of and I want to inspire others to adopt that same philosophy.”

All Australians are encouraged to donate to Spinal Life to support initiatives such as the Peer Support program, to assist people navigating life after injury, illness or diagnosis with much-needed mentoring and guidance.  

Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.