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Unlocking the knowledge – Matiu’s story

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At the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust, we don’t just help those with traumatic brain injuries, but a wide range of injuries, from spinal, to acquired brain injuries. Matiu Payne is a client involved in a broad range of services at LFBIT after suffering a stroke in 2021. Here, Matiu shares his story of working to unlock the important knowledge within him, twenty months after his stroke. Matiu’s wife Dione has been his number one support and key advocate and she also contributes to this story.

Prior to his stroke, Matiu found himself incredibly busy. Matiu is of Ngāti Kinohaku and Ngāti Mutunga descent and enjoyed being involved with these iwi wherever possible, including attending wānanga and supporting his children to maintain whakapapa connections to these areas.

Matiu was a chair of one of the eighteen Rūnaka in Kāi Tahu, over in Koukourarata (Port Levy). This meant he oversaw the development of the Rūnaka’s social and commercial development and supported the hapū to develop and implement their aspirations.

He also ran his own company Hākari Rau, which ran several projects within the community. He was also a lecturer at Lincoln University as an expert in all areas of mahika kai. But, outside of work, he looked after the cultural aspects of his hapū. This involved taking care of the marae, all of the karakia, and the passing of Mātauraka Māori. All of these roles sat with Matiu, he was the one person that others would turn to, and the one to support the next generation.

Matiu’s busy life was suddenly put on pause, as a stroke caused a range of challenges for Matiu, including a right hemiplegia (half of his body didn’t work) and aphasia (language difficulties).

Two kaumātua who have provided vital support to Matiu are Matua Ruawhitu Pokaia and his wife Whaea Marisa. They have provided constant support from the time of his stroke by leading and facilitating karakia every night for four months until his discharge from Burwood Hospital, to their current cultural and spiritual support through continued engagement, support with te reo and karakia. Other kaumatua that have been important to him are Matua Henare Te Karu and his wife Whaea Miriama from Te Runaka ki Ōtautahi o Kai Tahu, Whaea Reihana (Doe) Parata, from his hapu at Rapaki, Ngati Wheke and Rik Tainui from Onuku Runaka who provided his whānau accommodation support while he was in Christchurch Hospital fighting to stay alive.

Matua Ruawhitu was also instrumental in paving the way for Matiu to utilise one of the kaumātua flats at Rehua Marae to support his range of rehabilitation support. The support from the Kāhui Kaumātua at Rehua and the Board has meant that Matiu has been able to access support from Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust throughout the week for the past 20 months. Without the support of Rehua Marae, Matiu does not believe his progress would be as far along as it’s been.

Communication was one of the most significant challenges for Matiu following his stroke. Matiu now has aphasia, which affects his ability to express and understand verbal and written language, not only in English, but also Te Reo Māori. This is especially significant, as his role and culture is founded on transmitting through language, more often orally rather than written. Matiu is one of the people given historical and geological information, and he has found himself in a position where it feels stuck in his mind. So, Matiu’s main goal in rehabilitation is to unlock this information.

Beyond the challenges in communication, Matiu is working hard to regain control of his body. Autonomy in things like driving a car was taken away, but through working with his physiotherapist, he has been able to work first on things like getting up off the ground, and now walking. He has even had some recent trips to have a walk on the beach.

“It was fantastic. I got to get up and out there,” says Matiu. “I saw the beach at Waimairi, the whole thing was wonderfully good. I didn’t get to do it for nineteen months. That felt wonderful.”

To aid with his physical rehab, Matiu is also receiving acupuncture twice a week, which Matiu says is having an amazing impact on his body.

Matiu works well with his rehab coach, and occupational therapist (OT), to help with everyday tasks such as opening and closing curtains, dressing, cooking and leisure activities such as carving. He has recently passed a driving assessment with help from his OT and is now well on his way to returning to driving in a modified vehicle. In the meantime, Matiu happily taxis to and from LFBIT, after a long time of having services come to him.

Matiu also meets with a psychologist on a fortnightly basis to help him adjust to life after a stroke and develop strategies to deal with his emotions.

“They were all very good with me, teaching me how to manage that. I love going to see them, they’re really good. When you’re talking to the team, it feels like they are giving everything they’ve got. They come along and they give me a good push.”

The most significant rehab Matiu takes part in is speech-language therapy, where he works one or two days a week practicing everyday communication in real life by travelling to cafes, the library, shops and supermarkets. At first, Matiu found this to be a daunting task, but now he says some of the challenges he initially felt, he doesn’t even think about anymore.

“So my words were very small, I could only just share my name, but my speech-language therapist Del just gave me a good nudge and gives me the hope and strength that I need that I didn’t have from within.”

Matiu’s wife, Dione says the impact of his hard work in speech-language therapy has already shown itself in multiple ways.

“The confidence he has gained through speech-language therapy has been huge. There was a major funeral here at the Rehua Marae; there were hundreds of people that came through. Ordinarily, Matiu would stay home. But he walked us over to the marae, sat for two days, and communicated with hundreds of people, all in Te Reo. He would stay for about four or five hours and then come back for a sleep. He kept his door open and people were coming in and out; he got to watch the kapa haka and enjoy the food. If he hadn’t had the previous twelve months of engagement in the community through speech-language therapy, he would never have been able to be a part of it.”

Matiu has also managed to have a few trips overseas, engaging with family in the North Island, and even to Melbourne and Sydney in Australia. Matiu hopes to continue travelling out into the community, which feels even greater now, as he no longer needs a wheelchair to maneuver, giving him further autonomy and freedom.

Looking to the future, Matiu has a large list of goals that he hopes to achieve. So, he is excited to see what the next six months bring, with the increased independence and progress that he may make in that time.

“I think about how hard he’s worked with all of you guys, and I’m like gosh, I am blessed,” says Dionne. “Things can go in different ways if you don’t have the phenomenal spirit that this guy has. The silver lining is that Matiu’s stroke has given us more time to spend together and appreciate each other, away from the busyness of life.”

Matiu knows that he cannot rush back into his mahi, but is excited to begin finding ways back into it, and to open the door to the knowledge he has to share. He is going to begin working with Te Reo tutors to further support his language progress. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story with us Matiu, and we can’t wait to continue supporting you to reach your goals!

Ngāi Tūāhuriri: Tuahiwi and Takiwā

A group from LFBIT were fortunate enough to spend a day at an introductory workshop on the Tuahiwi Marae. We were welcomed onto the marae with a pōwhiri and settled in for an amazing day, where we were offered an introduction to local histories, places, marae etiquette and more.

As a group, we learnt how to write our mihimihi ( introductory speech) and we practised pronunciation within our group. The importance of kawa (protocols) and tikanga (rules) was explained, as well as how these vary between different maraes.

It was a great day where we could ask questions freely, and learn about the takiwā (district) that our new piece of land at North Parade, where we are rebuilding our facilities, falls in.

We hope in the future to attend more workshops and also seek further guidance for our rebuild.

“Ko taku ture i ahu mai i tōku tupuna i a Tūāhuriri!”

“My laws stem from my ancestor, Tūāhuriri!”

Interdisciplinary Team or IDT – what does this mean?

IDT is a term you will hear all the time within the world of rehabilitation and assessment.

We use it frequently and often don’t stop to think that we might be the only people who know what it means!

Interdisciplinary means simply a number of disciplines working closely together, which in our field are:

· Physiotherapists (PT)

· Occupational Therapists (OT)

· Speech Language Therapists (SLT)

· Clinical Psychologists

· Registered Nurses (RN)

· Social Workers

· Dietitians

· Rehab Coaches

Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust has an extensive team of employed SLTs, OTs, PTs, Nurses, Social Workers, Rehabilitation Coaches and Clinical Psychologists. We also contract Dietitians and Rehab Consultants when required for a programme.

We are fortunate enough to all work closely together in one location, which enables great communication and collaboration. We have a number of very experienced long-term team members who have been working in a true Interdisciplinary manner for several years.

A high-functioning interdisciplinary team (IDT) is one that collaborates effectively to achieve common goals and objectives for our clients/kiritaki.

Such a team typically demonstrates the following characteristics:

Clear Goals and Objectives: A high-functioning IDT has a clear understanding of its goals and objectives, and all team members are aligned with these objectives.

Open Communication: Effective communication is key to a high-functioning IDT. The team members should communicate openly and transparently with each other, sharing information and feedback to achieve better outcomes. We do this in person and by using technology and up-to-date, safe and secure IT systems.

Mutual Respect: A high-functioning IDT values the contributions of each team member and recognises their unique expertise and perspectives. This mutual respect creates a culture of trust and encourages collaboration.

Flexibility: A high-functioning IDT is adaptable and flexible. The team members are willing to adjust their plans and approaches as needed to address changing circumstances.

Active Participation: All team members actively participate in the IDT’s activities and decision-making processes. This includes attending meetings, contributing to discussions, and taking responsibility for their assigned tasks.

Effective Problem-Solving: A high-functioning IDT is skilled at problem-solving. The team members work collaboratively to identify challenges, brainstorm solutions, and implement effective strategies to achieve their objectives.

Continuous Learning: A high-functioning IDT recognizes the importance of continuous learning and development. The team members seek out opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge, staying up-to-date with best practices and emerging trends.

Overall, a high-functioning IDT is one that works collaboratively to achieve shared goals, communicates openly and respectfully, is adaptable and flexible, actively participates in decision-making, effectively solves problems, and continuously learns and grows.

An insight into our whānau support and education groups

We are excited to give you an insight into our family support group programme run at Laura Fergusson. Clinical psychologists/neuropsychologists Nic Ward, Siobhan Palmer, and Nalita Naidu, as well as clinical researcher Kristin Gozdzikowska, evaluate and reflect on the group sessions in the latest edition of the journal of NZCCP.

Whānau support has proven to have great value in supporting the recovery of someone with a traumatic brain injury. Family group sessions aim to involve relatives in the rehabilitation process by providing them with information, psychological support, and coping skills. These groups also give opportunities to share experiences and offer support and advice to others.

The group sessions at LFBIT were run face-to-face weekly for 90 mins, over 6 weeks. The programme consisted of the following topics, adapted from the BIFI (Brain Injury Family Intervention) programme designed by Jeffrey Kreutzer.

1. Getting to know each other: introduction to the effects of brain injury on the family.

2. Effects of brain injury on the survivor and family: what is normal after brain injury, how does it affect the whole family?

3. Understanding recovery: emotional and physical recovery, mastering the art of patience, coping with loss and change.

4. Managing stress and intense emotions.

5. Strategies for optimal recovery: taking care of yourself, focusing on gains and accomplishments.

6. Recap, additional education topics to be decided by group, completing final questionnaires

Group sessions are very effective in lowering stress, providing strategies to meet the needs of the injured member and the wider family, and decreasing negative coping strategies.

Whānau members gave incredible feedback:

“We realized we are not alone”

“Topics raised and discussed were often things I had never talked about with anyone…breaking it down and sharing ideas was helpful”

“This programme made us aware of his feelings and what it’s been like for him”

To read about their research check out the article in journal of NZCCP by clicking here – Evaluation of a Group Programme for Adult Family Members of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury in Aotearoa New Zealand. Nic Ward, Siobhan Palmer, Nalita Naidu & Kristin Gozdzikowska

A Personal Journey Neuropsychology Within the Youth Justice System

Laura Fergusson’s very own Neuropsychologist, Leanne Mathews, had the privilege of spending 18 months in two youth justice facilities completing neuropsychological assessments. She reflects on time and the lessons learnt in an article published in the latest edition of the Journal of the NZCCP.

The aim of Leanne’s project was to increase the understanding of neuropsychological conditions of young men in the youth justice system. She says the project “was about getting to know cognitive strengths and weaknesses, assisting in accessing services and providing strategies to help; the focus was not on offending.” She also wanted to increase the knowledge of the correctional facilities staff about neuropsychological conditions, to improve day to day interactions, and assist with referral to external services and creation of intervention pathways.

Many of the rangatahi (young people) benefitted greatly from the neuropsychological assessments, understanding themselves in terms of strengths and weaknesses, why they experienced certain difficulties and strategies they could use to help.

Leanne reflects on the importance of the relationships she formed with the rangatahi. She says “To be honest, I was very intimidated by the entire process, I worried that one wrong step would unravel a project I greatly believed in.” Despite her fears, the project was a success, she quickly built rapport and trust with the rangatahi. Leanne was an external person, a novelty, who was genuinely interested in the rangatahi’s lives, meaning rapport was easy to build. Once the weekly assessments started, the rangatahi grew to trust her, she began to hear comments such as “Miss, when is it my turn to come and see you?”

After the assessment, feedback was given in a way that the rangatahi could understand. This was important as often rangatahi do not often receive feedback following their assessments, and when given, they are normally written in technical language not often understood by the rangatahi. Numerous rangatahi sought further clarification once they had processed the initial feedback, and even requested assistance from educators in the unit to identify potential employment that focused on their strengths.

To read more about Leanne’s project check out her article in the latest edition of Journal of the NZCCP. Or click here to read now.

Well and truly needed – Sarah’s story

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Today we would like to share the story of Sarah, one of our incredible clients who has been on an inspiring journey of rehabilitation after nearly losing her life in a car crash over fifteen years ago.

Before her crash, Sarah worked full-time as a bartender and lived with friends and her dog in Ngakawau on the West Coast. She enjoyed her work, had her manager’s licence, and loved spending time with the people in her life.

One night, Sarah was driving home with her flatmates after a night of partying with friends, when they suddenly slid into a deep ditch. The car was flipped upwards, and Sarah was sent through the front windscreen. Fortunately, there were witnesses on their way to work who quickly came to aid, and Sarah was rushed to Buller Hospital.

Her memory of the time is gone, but Sarah was found to have a ruptured spleen, punctured lung, multiple broken bones, including her legs, arms, and collarbone, and a traumatic brain injury. She was quickly flown to Christchurch Hospital, and would not have survived if she had arrived any later.

“I don’t remember anything from the first three weeks in hospital,” says Sarah. “I woke up and thought I was on a boat and we were in the dock. I thought ‘wow this boat is flash we have lifts in here!’ I had no concept of what was going on.”

After limited rehabilitation, Sarah returned to Westport where she received some rehab input. However, Sarah struggled to engage fully as she was trying to accept her new life. It was not until fifteen years later that her rehabilitation journey with the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust began. At the time, Sarah lived in a very small portacom. It was uninsulated, there were no cooking facilities, no shower, with only a toilet, single bed (borrowed from her mother), and Sarah’s own TV inside

“I had to get running water from an outside tap, when it was cold it was so horrible. The power was bad, you could only have one thing plugged in at a time, to boil the jug, you had to unplug the heater. It was horrible.”

At LFBIT, we have a social worker who undertakes assessments for clients in need and works closely with them to establish what services they require from our multidisciplinary team.

“I was initially given a single needs assessment to come and undertake for Sarah, and after meeting her, I thought we really need to put in a lot of support for this young woman,” says Debbie Carter, our social worker who has worked closely with Sarah. “She just needed everything, so we spoke to ACC and put in an interdisciplinary rehabilitation and support package for her: which included Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Psychology.”

One of the most essential elements in beginning Sarah’s rehabilitation was the success in finding a suitable house for her to live in. Once Sarah was in a warm home, with access to all essentials, everything took off.

“There was not a lot you could do in the portacom, Sarah was limited by the amount of space and facilities she had. This made it very hard to do a lot of her rehab. When Sarah moved into her new home, everything changed. Sarah was able to do what she wanted in the way of cooking, looking after her own house, washing, showering whenever she felt like it all of the things we all take for granted” says Debbie.

There are a multitude of areas that Sarah says she has improved in the years since beginning proper rehabilitation. She has developed skills in managing emotions and is better equipped to hold them under control. For years Sarah had a huge amount of fatigue, sleeping up to 23 hours a day at times. While fatigue is something Sarah is still learning to manage, her energy has greatly improved, and she even hopes to return to part-time work someday in the future.

Sarah continues to use strategies to help during parts of life that are still challenging. Using a calendar to keep track of events is key. Everyday activities, like walking each step, take an added level of concentration.

“Everything is a mission, I need to think about things a lot harder.”

One of Sarah’s most significant achievements is her progression in speech. After the accident, Sarah went through a period of three months without speaking, resulting in a near-complete loss of speech. Today, Sarah has made incredible progress working with her speech and language therapist, and you would never know it was once almost gone.

“I just needed everything, and it was well and truly helpful. “It was really hard, and it still is, but it is getting easier. I’m doing way better than I was for years.”

“It has been so great to see how she has progressed,” says Debbie. “Her speech, her posture, walking, eating. She has put on weight and done really well. It goes to show having the right environment and the right team helps so much.”

Sarah has taken her progression beyond rehabilitation at LFBIT. She is currently doing a course in horticulture and hopes to continue advancing in that area. She loves spending time with her nephews, who come to live with her three nights a week, and certainly keep her busy! If they weren’t enough, she also takes care of her two beautiful cats, Steve (pictured above), and Puss.

It has not always been an easy road for Sarah, and she would like to send a message to any young people who think they are safe enough to drive: you’re not invincible.

“I never in a million years did I expect to go through what I went through. I used to think I was invincible, that something like this will never happen to me. You hear about it happening to people but it will never happen to me.”

We would like to thank Sarah for being an inspiration to the team. After so long without rehabilitation, the progress you have made, and the progress you continue to make is wonderful. And we can’t wait to see where the future takes you!

Staff Appreciation Post: Christina Chisnall

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We would love to shine a light on the work of Christina Chisnall, one of our outstanding residential support workers. Christina is a key member of the fantastic team based at Te Orewai!

Christina started with us at the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust in January 2021 and says she has loved it ever since. Her passion for support work began growing up looking to her mother, who works in healthcare. Seeing the truly rewarding work of caring for people, and helping others meet their needs, sparked Christina on her journey of caring for others.

Christina’s work as a residential support worker varies greatly from day to day. Tasks can involve physical support, including helping residents with household tasks, medication administration, driving to appointments and activities, and communicating with the residents’ families, doctors and other healthcare professionals. A regular day starts by getting the clients up and ready and helping them to look their best, assisting them with preparing breakfast and medication, cleaning their units and planning their day.

“I have to be an all-rounder kind of person here, it’s not a set thing,” says Christina. “It is about making sure their needs are met and content. I love working with the residents, they are an awesome group of people and I enjoy helping each one to live their best life.”

“Christina is an outstanding example of a support worker, she is not only reliable, kind, honest, transparent and hardworking, but Christina also gets holistic care and practices holistic care,” says Melissa Trafford, Services Manager Community Living. “Christina is an absolute asset to the Te Orewai team, always going above and beyond.”

Reflecting on her favourite memories, Christina says one of the best days that sticks out was the day she took her key resident Wendy, and had a shopping spree to kit out her unit! They spent the day together, picking out a new bed, wardrobe, and furniture.

“She’s never had that ever in her life, it was special to see her have that, she was over the moon”. Says Christina. “Being able to see that impact and be a part of that was amazing.”

Along with the opportunity for one-on-one care for clients, Christina also says the best part of her work is the opportunity to work with the Te Orewai team.

“I love my Te Orewai work family, there are days that are great, and also days where it is challenging.” Says Christina. “The team is what makes those good and bad days flow. We all support each other.”

It is very special to have Christina as a part of our team. She does amazing work for the residents and cares deeply about helping them meet their needs. We are so grateful to have a person with such great character in our team. He whetū koe!

Khadag’s story featured in TVNZ documentary

Exciting news! One of the key team members at Can Do Catering, Khadag Bista, will be featured in a documentary-series Bulletproof, by Attitude. Bulletproof is a series showcasing possibilities for people living with disabilities and chronic health.

In 2018, Khadag went through a life-changing car crash, doctors feared he had no chance of recovery. After weeks in a coma, he had to learn to eat, speak and walk again. But Khadag is a stubborn and determined character who walks up to 10 kilometers every day as part of his rehab. Incredibly, this Nepalese chef has recovered enough to get back in the kitchen, thanks Can Do catering, our social enterprise catering business.

You can watch Khadag share his journey with the world at https://attitudelive.com/watch/bulletproof-khadag-bista/

New programme assessing brain injuries and cognitive issues at Christchurch Women’s Prison

The Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust has now been involved with providing services in Corrections since 2017 via grant funding as well as via ACC referrals. We are pleased to be able to highlight the incidence of TBI and other cognitive issues within the Justice System, to help find more tailored approaches for rehab and training.

With our experienced team of Allied Health Therapists and Clinical Psychologists/Neuropsychologists, we can hopefully help with upskilling the Corrections teams and network with community agencies on how best to work with those with cognitive issues in and outside the wire.

A new programme, funded by a National Lotteries Community Grant, is underway at Christchurch Women’s Prison (CWP), in partnership with Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust (LFBIT). The programme aims to identify and provide summaries of cognitive abilities, diagnoses, history, and recommendations for intervention and rehabilitation for people with brain injuries and other cognitive difficulties.

The Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust has previously received Lotteries grant funding to work with Christchurch Men’s Prison, assessing rangatahi in the youth unit (aged 25 and under) for Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and other cognitive issues. Research has identified that over 60% of New Zealand men in prison have suffered a TBI during their lifetime, causing a range of cognitive and emotional difficulties that often appear as behavioural or management issues within prison. Now, LFBIT are looking to assess and support women in the Aotearoa Corrections system.

“It’s really important for us to be able to identify women with TBI or other cognitive issues,” says CWP Health Centre Manager, Yuxi Ward. “These types of injuries or issues often cause confusion, poor memory and other cognitive problems – symptoms that are really good for our teams to be aware of, in order to best manage people’s health and rehabilitation in prison.”

The new assessment and education programme will see LFBIT Neuropsychologist Leanne Mathews visiting the site weekly to undertake neuropsychological assessments. This includes providing detailed reports around each person’s strengths, weakness and recommendations for education and care. Leanne also meets with each participant following her assessment, to discuss their diagnosis, why they have trouble with certain processes, and what they excel at.

“It’s amazing to see people realising, ‘wow, I’m not stupid, I just struggled because of this disability’,” Leanne says. “It normalises people’s differences and resolves so much shame and pain, empowering people with the knowledge of what they are good at.”

The CWP Health Team are currently referring women they believe would benefit from an assessment, but are also encouraging wāhine to self-refer, and for other custodial staff to suggest women they suspect may have TBI or a cognitive issue.

“It’s hard to know what programmes will work best for someone, until you know what they’re capable of,” say LFBIT General Manager for Rehabilitation, Katie Hodge. “For instance, if we diagnose someone with foetal alcohol syndrome or ADHD, there are certain programmes that won’t be suitable for the way they learn and think. With this knowledge, the team at CWP can put women on a path for rehabilitation that works with their cognitive needs, not against them.”

“Having the recommendations from these assessments will be massively beneficial for the way we manage and provide support for specific women in prison,” says Yuxi. “For example, if our Corrections Officers or Programme Facilitators know that someone has difficulty recalling information, they can provide written guidance alongside their conversations.”

The entire team at CWP are thrilled to be welcoming the LFBIT on-site, with Principal Case Manager, Jason Carlyle remembering one woman who was unable to be released into the community, until funding for neuropsychological assessment was arranged with LFBIT.

“What they found means she has been able to be supported and managed in a way that gives her the accommodation and wrap-around support needed for her to be safe in the community,” says Jason. “If this hadn’t had happened, I really do believe she would still be in prison.”

The assessment and education programme has been funded for 12 months, with LFBIT also looking into further support services, including rehabilitation programmes for women on-site, and the potential for long-term funding when individuals leave prison.

“This programme is such an important step for the health and rehabilitation of the women in our prison,” says Yuxi. “We’re really grateful to be partnering with the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust team delivering this programme for the next year.”

PHOTO (L-R): LFBIT Neuropsychologist, Leanne Mathews; LFBIT Physiotherapist, Jo Fox; Principal Case Manager, Jason Carlyle; LFBIT General Manager Rehabilitation, Katie Hodge; CWP Nurse, Andrea Bujokova; CWP Health Centre Manager, Yuxi Ward; CWP Nurse, Porcelina Spring; and CWP Residential Manager, Richard Shuker

Staff Appreciation Post: Michelle Ingham

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Today we would love to highlight the work of Michelle Ingham, one of our outstanding community occupational therapists who is championing cultural development here at the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust.

It has been a whirlwind of a year since Michelle made the move to our team, and it is a move she does not regret. After working in national senior management roles for a Health & Rehab organization where she travelled regularly, Michelle began to miss the client connection. So, she decided to take a step back, and enter a more client-facing role.

“I was missing seeing the outcomes for the client, I was doing this vicariously through my team,” says Michelle. “I wanted to be client-facing again working on complex and serious injury cases, and feel like I was doing something that was making a difference in my client’s life.”

No one day is the same as a community occupational therapist. Her role involves travelling to clients around Canterbury, meeting with clients, their families and support networks, often directly after discharge from Burwood Hospital.

A huge part of Michelle’s work involves working with our multidisciplinary team to create the most ideal outcomes for the client.

“I’ve got to say this is probably the best team that I’ve worked with. The tight-knit team is something that I really, really love. Right from the day I started, I felt like I was accepted and part of the LFBIT family.”

One area that Michelle shines in is whakawhanaungatanga, the building of relationships with clients. Through whakawhanaungatanga, Michelle becomes less of a worker in a client’s home and more of a family member. She forms relationships not only with the client but also with their whānau and friends.

“I love getting to know my clients and their whānau. Connecting at a deeper level, allowing the time to focus on immediate needs initially, and then future aspirations, is paramount. It is very easy as clinicians to make assumptions about what an individual and their whānau may want to achieve in rehab, or what this looks like and means for them.”

Figuring out how to implement whakawhanaungatanga, on a wide scale is a challenge Michelle is active in solving. She is a member of the team working on the operationalisation of intentional cultural approaches at a clinical level within LFBIT.

Approaching Māori culture can be daunting for some, whether it be not wanting to offend, feeling like you’re pronouncing words incorrectly, or just not knowing where to start. Michelle says the best place to start is by bringing something to the table.

“There’s nothing worse than turning up ‘empty-handed’ in terms of what the meeting is for and what you can offer. Often a client and/or their whānau have had negative health experiences. Being upfront, and explicit with the intentions of the meeting, offering to meet in a neutral space of your client’s choice, acknowledging any hurt or harm, and offering kai (refreshments), creates a ‘safe place’ for connections to begin.

“The foundation of my kaupapa (approach) is to weave tika (doing things right), pono (honesty and truth), and aroha (compassion, empathy, generosity) in everyday practice; that is doing the right thing with integrity and compassion.”

Most of our clients are required to deal with multiple systems and agencies post-injury or trauma, therefore helping clients navigate their recovery through human connection and empathy is so important in Michelle’s work.

“I have clients where I am kind of a part of the family now. I’m often on speed dial, but that is okay, it is a two-minute conversation. Being available, and authentic is significant in fostering continued trust and effective communication and smoother wellness journey for our clients.”

Another element essential to Michelle’s approach is mana-enhancing practice (practising whakamana). Practising whakamana provides a space to validate, empower and enable our clients, in partnership and in effect protect the client and their whānau. This is especially important to implement with Māori tāne (men), for whom there is an overrepresentation of traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.

“For men, having their physicality drastically altered and how others perceive this altered state, profoundly affects their identity and their wairua (attitude, feeling, and spirit). This can be incredibly damaging for our tāne and a huge barrier to engagement with health providers.

Michelle also wanted to take a moment to honour Kathryn Jones, CEO of Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust, for her willingness to engage in cultural conversation.

“Kathryn’s relatability to us is so important. She takes time to sit down at the table and have lunch with us, she genuinely cares about what we have to share, and she shows vulnerability and connects to us. You can’t be a leader unless you’re prepared to do that, and I feel like Kathryn will lead this cultural development well.”

There are incredible leaders throughout LFBIT, and we are incredibly fortunate and grateful to have Michelle as a part of our team. You are a wonderful personality to be around and an essential leader for us all in our cultural development. Kātahi rā koe!

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