Peer support « Spinal Life Australia

We understand acquiring Spinal Cord Damage is a life-changing experience. It’s something that affects every part of life from the physical to the mental, social, and economic, with the journey back to independence often being a challenging one. That’s why we have a Peer Support team. A group of passionate individuals who have lived experience with a Spinal Cord Injury and are there to support you and your family.

We can help you:

Understand and manage your Spinal Cord Injury/Damage
- Through 1:1 appointments or family peer support sessions
Learn new ways to adapt and problem solve
Identify vocational and career opportunities
Discover various opportunities for social and sporting connections and physical fitness activities
Learn how to reduce risk and improve safety and wellbeing

We provide practical, non-clinical and non-judgmental advice. From managing your mental and physical health, achieving independence, maintaining relationships and more. Our Peer Support team pride themselves on providing honest and helpful advice, with no question being too personal or off limits.

To book a session with one of our Peer Support Officers, just complete the form below.

Find a Community Peer Support group near you

Available for in-person consultations in: Cairns, Brisbane, Perth

Enquire Now

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The Queensland Peer Support team

Col Mackereth

Katie Hammond

Tim McCallum

The Western Australian Peer Support team

Jodi Gallon

Jane Hutch

Karen Harvey

Chelsey Phillips

Douglas Milne

Col is one of the Peer Support team’s longest serving members, having been part of the team since 2004.

After sustaining his spinal cord injury at the young age of 18, Col has gone on to live a life packed full of adventure and major life events, working as a goat farmer, draftsman, bookkeeper, maths tutor, manager and more as well as going through marriage, kids and building his own home.

Along with Katie, Col frequently visits the Spinal Injuries Unit at Princess Alexandra Hospital to talk with patients with newly acquired spinal injury.

In Col’s own words:

“With everything I’ve achieved in my life, people are surprised I’m not 400 years old.

“Even after everything I’ve achieved since sustaining a spinal cord injury, I believe the best is yet to come and I have great expectations for my future.”

Katie’s passion for fitness and mental health means she’s constantly pushing her boundaries by trying something different or learning something new every day.

Katie says she’s motivated by keeping a positive attitude and educating herself.

When she’s not spending time with her three daughters and husband Jimmy, Katie uses her experiences to help guide others with newly acquired injury.

Katie often works with patients of the Spinal Injuries Unit at Princess Alexandra Hospital to share advice on life after injury.

In Katie’s own words:

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

“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.”

When singer and entertainer Tim first sustained quadriplegia in a diving accident, the doctors told him he would never sing again like he used to.

With determination and plenty of practice, Tim now sings better and louder than ever and went on to gain nation-wide attention during his show-stopping performance on The Voice in 2015.

In Tim’s own words:

“One of the most important things I’ve learnt about living with a spinal cord injury is that you can’t do everything on your own and you need to not be afraid of asking for help sometimes.

“Accessing Peer Support and being able to use the advice and guidance of people with lived experience is an invaluable way to learn to accept your injury and plan your goals and look to the future ahead.”

For years, Jodi ran informal peer support group for Western Australians living with the rare condition Transverse Myelitis but jumped at the opportunity to work with Spinal Life to provide peer support to a wider network of people with spinal cord damage.

Jodi is Perth born and raised and loves living just a few minutes away from the beach, which she describes as the perfect place to enjoy the salty air, sunshine and plenty of dog spotting!

In Jodi’s own words:

I didn’t have access to peer support when I was in hospital at the age of 13 – now that I’m older, I realise how important it is to have someone to talk to who understands what I’m going through.

Each day living with spinal cord damage is different, so you should not be afraid to ask questions, take control of your health and wellbeing and, of course, always be prepared for the unexpected!

Jane says the best things in life are usually found outside of your comfort zone, something she discovered for herself when she first tried wheelchair ballroom dancing.

Despite some early nerves, Jane found it was love at first dance and in just a few months, she went on to compete in the national championships in Melbourne!

In Jane’s own words:

“Something important I’ve learnt about living with spinal cord injury, and something that I struggled with myself, is that it’s always okay to ask for help sometimes, no matter how independent you are.

“It’s also important to be patient– what seems impossible today may be possible tomorrow!”

Karen knows sustaining a spinal cord injury can leave you feeling down and lost initially but, with purpose and goals, you can still live an enjoyable and fulfilling life.

She keeps herself active by going to the beach or going for a ride on her handcycle, but also enjoys a bit of quiet time on the couch at home watching Netflix.

In Karen’s own words:

“There are times when only someone with the lived experience of having a spinal cord injury themselves can understand what you’re going through and offer advice and solutions to get you back on your way.

“I want to help lift others when they’re down and help them find solutions to become the best person they can be.”

Chelsey is used to difficult conversations, having talked with people about anything from sustaining a spinal cord injury to end-of-life treatment discussions from her work in aged care homes.

Through it all, Chelsey stays positive and believes that strong relationships and communication can help encourage good will and good attitude through some of the more challenging moments in life.

In Chelsey’s own words:

“Being able to learn from others who have experienced similar struggles is endearing and empowering and I love building strong relationships through understanding, trust, humour and compassion.

“At the end of the day, we all have something to bring to the table!”

As a life-long Western Australian, Douglas loves where he lives and says he’s never running out of new things to discover in his state.

When he’s not exploring what WA has to offer, you can find Douglas in his garage at home working at restoring his beloved 1968 GTO Pontiac o down at the local Men’s Shed watching the AFL with friends.

In Douglas’ own words:

“As a Peer Support Officer, I want to help others with spinal cord damage to realise their potential and live a full life.

“I’m a handy person with a wealth of knowledge which I hope can make a difference in helping others achieve their goals.”

Find a Community Peer Support group near you