LFBIT Annual Report 2024 : simplebooklet.com

4 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury TrustAs a Board this year our focus has been on the eective governance of the Trust. In response to the evolving demands of IT governance, we commissioned a security audit of our information technology infrastructure and have continued to invest in digital transformation. This ensures we meet our legal and contractual obligations regarding information security and enables greater operational eciencies. Security and privacy risks are now presented in detail to the Board of Trustees on a quarterly basis.It is also essential for governance bodies to have meaningful Māori representation, with these representatives having substantive input into organisational policies. In 2023/24, we made a strategic commitment to appoint a Pou Ārahi role within the organisation, providing leadership and fostering strong relationships with iwi/hapū/ Māori organisations.In 2023/24, we also re-imagined our redevelopment design, considering the requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the increasing building costs of the original plan. Looking ahead to 2024/25, I am condent that the Trust has a clear strategy for redevelopment, ensuring the design meets the needs of our clients now and for the next 40 years.I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Laura Fergusson Foundation for their remarkable fundraising initiative, Elmer’s Ōtautahi Elephant Trail, held in 2023/24. This vibrant event signicantly heightened public awareness of the Trust’s invaluable work.I also wish to thank our Patron, Beveley Murray, for her signicant contribution to the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust. Beveley has been involved in the Trust since the early 1990s when she became a board member before becoming Patron in 2013. Beveley has decided to retire from her position as Patron. I thank her for her dedicated and tireless service over the past 30 plus years. I would like to thank all our hard-working Trustees and acknowledge the diverse skills and experience they bring to the table. It continues to be both a privilege and a pleasure to work with our Trustees and CEO of LFBIT, and I look forward to contributing to the Board as we build on our achievements.ngā mihi, Christine JohnstonA word from our Chairperson

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Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust 5A word from our CEOThe Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust continues in its eorts to create a community in Canterbury (and across the wider South Island) where people with disabilities or injuries receive the appropriate support at the right time. Our commitment to providing ‘Ordinary Life Opportunities’ has endured and once again, our fantastic team of committed sta provide high quality residential care, rehabilitation and support for our clients. This year, the Trust delivered against most of its business plan objectives, with many highlights including the design and implementation a TBI Peer Support service which has been funded via a Lottery Grant and ACC Innovation funding award. Another key highlight was the execution of our Capability Strategy, which included the implementation of a Learning Management System. All our sta now have access to online training and learning materials, designed for their specic needs, and we have developed a core orientation resource kit for all new sta based on their role, housed within the LMS. The Trust is also committed to fostering the development of Māori and Pacic workforce within allied health. As part of this commitment to equity, the Trust has established two scholarships for University of Otago physiotherapy students, known as the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust Mana Tangata Scholarships.“Mana Tangata” translates to “The Prestige of the People,” underscoring the immense value and potential of Māori and Pacic students. These scholarships are specically designed for nal-year (4th Year) Māori and Pacic Physiotherapy students who have a keen interest in neurorehabilitation.Reecting on the past year, we take pride in our achievements and the positive feedback from clients, residents, and families/whānau. Looking ahead to 2024/25, we anticipate signicant progress through our redevelopment project, improved client satisfaction, ongoing disability advocacy, and community education. I’m privileged to lead our competent and passionate team, and I extend sincere thanks to our supporters who make our goals a reality.ngā mihi, Kathryn Jones

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6 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury TrustAt 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 is a client receiving a broad range of services from LFBIT after suering 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 operated his own company, Hākari Rau, which ran several projects within the community. A lecturer at Lincoln University, he was also an expert in all areas of mahika kai. 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 him, including a right hemiplegia (half of his body no longer worked as it should) and aphasia (language diculties).Communication was one of the most signicant challenges for Matiu following his stroke. Matiu now has aphasia, which aects his ability to express and understand verbal and written language, not only in English, but also Te Reo Māori. This is especially signicant, 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 rst on things like getting up o 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.”The most signicant 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 rst, 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 condence 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 Unlocking the knowledge - Matiu’s story

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Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust 7with hundreds of people, all in Te Reo. He would stay for about four or ve 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 hopes to continue travelling out into the community, which feels even greater now, as he no longer needs a wheelchair to manoeuvre, giving him further autonomy and freedom.Looking to the future, Matiu has a large list of goals that he hopes to achieve. 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 dierent 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 nding 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. Matiu would like to thank Matua Ruawhitu Pokaia and his wife Whaea Marisa for their constant support, as well as 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, Matua Ruawhitu. He would also like to thank the Kāhui Kaumātua at Rehua and the Board for their support, which 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.We thank Matiu for taking the time to share his story, and we look forward to supporting him further to reach his goals.

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8 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury TrustEarlier this year, LFBIT signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding with the Canterbury Rugby League (CRL), providing invaluable support and education to our rugby league community.The MoU – a rst for the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust with a regional sporting body – aims to ensure everyone in the sport has access to the necessary information, support and treatment regarding head injuries and concussion.CRL recognised that head injuries and concussions occur in the game from time to time. In light of this, as the regional body for rugby league, they believe that they have a responsibility to provide expert support and advice to players who sustain these injuries.Via the MoU, the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust is now able to support members of the CRL with monitoring, assessment and recovery plans, through to a return to sport plan. Additionally, the Trust is now providing education workshops to clubs, coaches, parents and CRL as a preventive measure.Māori and Pasika peoples make up a high proportion of Canterbury Rugby League’s demographic but, are underrepresented in terms of making use of the services available to treat injuries, and inherently have very low rates of making claims for injury through ACC. One of the Trust’s goals is to educate these communities so people who need help are more inclined to put in a claim and get the proper support they need after an injury.Raising awarenessRecovery from ConcussionPlease refer to Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust Concussion ServicesERMS or ACC883 Referral Form (on ACC website)www.lfbit.co.nz/services/rehabilitation/concussion-servicesRecovery from Concussion

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Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust 9Hard Yakka, Concusion - The Lived ExperienceIn late 2023 we celebrated the launch of our second book: Hard Yakka, Concussion - The Lived Experience. The book is a compilation of 15 stories from individuals who have experienced a concussion and participated in rehabilitation through Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust’s concussion services. Parent perspectives are also included, from those who have supported a child or teenager who had a concussion. We are thankful to artist Tony Cribb for once again creating the artwork for the cover illustration. Special thanks to speech-language therapist Delwyn Eden for her hard work in compiling these stories and to designer Robyn Frew who not only designed the book, but contributed her story as well.We have incredible respect for our authors for their courage in telling their stories. They are so inspiring to all, and we know that they have helped others who may be going through similar challenges. Hard Yakka is available for purchase at: hello@lfbit.co.nzLaura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust 9

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10 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury TrustAssisting with residential needsUnderstanding the needs of our residents is crucial to meeting them eectively. This nancial year, we’ve launched two key initiatives to achieve this: Streamlining our complaints and concerns process and introducing Diversional Therapy.Simplifying the complaints, concerns and compliments processGathering feedback from our residents and their whānau is essential for recognising our strengths and identifying areas for improvement. We identied that our traditional complaints form was not very user-friendly for our residents, so we developed a simpler version, to encourage and support our residents to feed back when they had concerns. Additionally, we introduced system using “visual discs”. Residents simply need to give the appropriate disc (with either a happy or sad face illustration on it) to a sta member or place it in the box at reception, and a manager will arrange a time to speak with them.

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Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust 11At LFBIT, we aim to be the best for our residents, enable them to participate in the community, feel included, and maximise their independence. An essential aspect to achieving this mission is providing a consistent and new variety of activities to participate in. Kiesha Waller, our Diversional Therapist and Recreation Coordinator certainly achieves that!Kiesha worked in aged care since she was 15 years old, nding an early passion for running activities for and with residents. Eventually she was hired part-time for activities at her aged care facility, and after achieving her Diversional Therapy qualication in 2016, she was hired full time. Kiesha always wanted to work for a charity, and a year ago found her opportunity with LFBIT.Diversional Therapists do what it says on the tin, they divert people! This means creating or nding meaningful activities that a client can divert into, in order to avoid feelings of loneliness or isolation, or certain behaviours. This can be achieved through things like music, heading out for coee, going to see a show, going on holiday, doing crafts, and so much more. Through engaging in activities on a consistent basis, you can divert away from the things that negatively impact life.For Kiesha, work doesn’t simply involve nding a new activity for the day - it involves getting out and about, and nding and meeting people who can help with activities; heading to expos and learning; seeking out discounts for clients and spreading the word. Kiesha is well on her way to making Ilam Road and Te Orewai services bustle with activity. Introducing Diversional Therapy for people with brain injury or disability

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12 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury TrustNew “Living My Life” groups established We are pleased to highlight the establishment of two new targeted support groups within our Living My Life service, aimed at creating connection and support for specic client populations and interests. The rst is a dedicated women’s group designed to provide a safe and supportive environment for female members to discuss shared experiences, challenges, and achievements. This group fosters opportunities for women with TBI to connect with other women and to have facilitated discussions around issues they are facing, and share strategies in a supportive environment, tailored to the needs of our female clients. The second initiative is our pool group, which focuses on fostering a sense of camaraderie and friendly competition among clients who have an interest in playing pool. The group started as there were two clients who were individually playing pool, so we brought them together to play and the group has grown from there. This group encourages participation in their local workingmen’s club as well as the opportunity to have a game of pool with peers who understand what it is like to live with a TBI. These new groups reect our aim of supporting clients with TBI to have social connection with others, be present in their local communities and have “everyday opportunities”. Service HighlightsIn-reach Service In November 2023, our community team launched an in-reach rehabilitation service at Christchurch Public Hospital for patients awaiting transfer to an ACC-funded traumatic brain injury inpatient rehabilitation service. Working closely with Te Whatu Ora and ACC leadership, we discovered that some patients were facing delays in being transferred to an in-patient rehabilitation facility. This delay, coupled with the busy schedules of allied health sta at Christchurch Public Hospital, was causing a postponement in the start of essential rehabilitation and education for patients and their families. Additionally, the need to travel to Dunedin or the North Island for ACC-funded inpatient rehabilitation led some patients to decline transfer and opt for discharge to home instead. Through collaboration with Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury and ACC, we developed an interim service where the interdisciplinary team from LFBIT begins rehabilitation for eligible patients and oers guidance to their families while they are at Christchurch Public Hospital. This support continues until the patient is transferred to an ACC-funded rehabilitation facility or is discharged with appropriate support. In cases where patients are discharged directly home, the LFBIT team provides a seamless continuation of rehabilitation services, working towards the established rehabilitation goals in the community. Providing rehabilitation12 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust

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Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust 13Respiratory Service Development Throughout 2022-2023, our community physiotherapists identied a need for improved services for spinal cord injury (SCI) clients with high respiratory needs, especially during the winter months. In response, we developed a service model to assist with hospital discharge, prevent re-admission, and address long-term management needs. This model involves collaborating early on with hospital therapists, ACC case owners, and GPs. We have established a client database for respiratory needs and created pathways with GPs and ACC for client referrals. Our team assesses individuals with respiratory needs and provides necessary equipment to support them in the community. We have also developed resources and provided respiratory training for clients, caregivers, and whānau. A client information booklet has been designed to oer personalised education, advice, and contingency information, serving as a “health passport” to promote compliance and awareness among at-risk SCI/respiratory clients, while also facilitating communication with hospitals and GPs. Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust 13

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14 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury TrustEducation and Training Our community teams have been raising TBI awareness by providing education and training opportunities to external organisations since 2017. In many instances this is a free service, with the aim of increasing awareness of TBI.During the past year, our team has presented approx. 30 sessions to a variety of groups, including schools, universities, church groups, council, other rehabilitation providers, Canterbury Rugby League, Canterbury Cricket, Te Whatu Ora, NZ Spinal Trust, NZ Brain Injury Research Institute, rest homes, driving instructors, community groups, probation and corrections, on the following topics: • TBI 101 – Brain injury general • Concussion (including concussion in sport) • Working with people with disability • Information for graduates • LFBIT services/history of the Trust (community referral pathways) • ADHD and brain injury • Helpful Heads peer support service • Pressure injury and management • Skin ulcer management • Wound care • Dysphagia (swallowing) • Medical tness to drive • Motivational interviewing Our training and education service provides a platform for relationship building and networking throughout the community. The feedback we receive is always positive, and the organisations we have visited are always grateful for the expertise and knowledge we share. Fostering education and researchInternational Conference PresentationIn March, Peta Murphy (Senior Speech- Language Therapist) and Katie Hodge (Service Development Manager) presented at “The Hidden Cost of Violence – Unveiling the Silent Epidemic” conference. The aim of the conference was to strive for innovative solutions to enhance prevention strategies, support systems and survivor-centred intervention through knowledge exchange, and collaboration. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a signicant problem that can arise from interpersonal violence including strangulation, suocation, assault, falls and other mechanisms. It only takes a few seconds of not receiving enough oxygen to the brain to cause damage. Increasing numbers of clients are being referred to our LFBIT services as a result of interpersonal violence. However, we are also aware that suocation/strangulation claims are rarely lodged with ACC. Untreated cognitive diculties following strangulation and other mechanisms of brain injury, places the individual at risk of not accessing necessary treatment and potentially being labelled as non-compliant, forgetful, unmotivated, lazy, disorganised and/or a poor parent. In the absence of appropriate support, the individual may be exposed to added risks including another TBI, involvement in anti-social or illegal behaviour, family estrangement/social isolation, further harm (interpersonal violence), job loss and homelessness. LFBIT team members Peta and Katie presented a 1-hour workshop titled: The Impact of Strangulation on the Brain – Practical Solutions and Accessing Timely Support. The aim of the workshop was to increase the audience’s understanding of the symptoms of a brain injury, how this might present in dierent individuals and helpful tools to enable them to provide

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Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust 15appropriate support for those accessing services (including barriers and facilitators). The workshop also covered navigating the referral pathway to access more specialised input. It highlighted the ACC process for referral and the rehabilitation that should be available in all regions. VR Tools for Brain Injury RehabilitationLFBIT team members are currently involved in an exciting trial of a new Virtual Reality (VR) Brain Injury Rehabilitation Tool. Peta Murphy, Speech-Language Therapist and Assistant Research Fellow of Otago University, discusses the project below. What is VR?Virtual Reality (VR) is a computer-generated environment with scenes, ‘people’ and objects that appear to be real, making the person feel that they are immersed in their surroundings. This environment is viewed through a device known as a Virtual Reality headset (like a pair of large ski goggles).The Project – VR ToolThe Virtual Reality (VR) Brain Injury Rehabilitation Tool is an exciting project that is being trialled with people recently referred to LFBIT for a rehabilitation programme following a concussion, moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of the study is to obtain clinicians’ and clients’ perception of the VR Tool, its integration into their rehabilitation programme and whether it’s engaging, relatable and eective.The project is a collaboration between LFBIT clinicians and clients, their whānau, researchers (Otago University, Christchurch), He Waka Tapu kaimahi and VR technical specialists (Auckland University - Empathic Computing Lab, Cerebral Fix and Callaghan Innovation). The Tool aims to increase a client’s awareness of changes following their TBI, and working with their clinician, identify and safely practice strategies to manage interactions and tasks in a noisy, busy community setting (café). The treatment is occurring in the client’s home or LFBIT clinic. We also have a client trialling the Tool with her therapists in a correctional facility.The Tool oers clinicians the opportunity to provide clients with a safe, immersive experience that can be graded with increasing complex conversations, distractions and tasks. These experiences can be repeated as often as is needed, which is benecial for practicing skills and strategies as the client increases their competence and condence. The therapist accesses a summary score sheet from the VR system to support feedback and measure their client’s progress across sessions. Preliminary ndings have overall been positive from both clients and clinicians using the Tool.How will this be applied in the future?Clients and clinicians involved in the trial of the VR Tool will help inform how VR can be integrated into rehabilitation programmes. We also see its potential to benet people living with other health conditions that impacts cognition, cognitive fatigue, communication and community integration.

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16 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury TrustLFBIT Launches Helpful Heads – A TBI Peer and Whnau Support ServiceIn July 2023 LFBIT secured Lottery Grant funding to set up a traumatic brain injury (TBI) peer & whnau support service. Based in the Canterbury region, to date we have 24 trained volunteers who are all willing to give their time and experience to support others who are in the earlier stages of their journey. The invisible nature of TBI means that people often feel misunderstood and isolated. Peer support can be simply a phone call, a walk or a catch up for coee. It is about sharing experiences and oering emotional support to mitigate feelings of isolation.The service is being promoted to our clients as well as clients of other TBI services. It is open to anyone who feels they may need it. Volunteers are matched with people by the Volunteer Coordinator with those wanting support. Feedback from this service has been overwhelmingly positive.LFBIT was also been awarded the ACC Innovation Fund for Employer to Employer Peer Support ServiceFollowing the successful establishment of a peer support service for individuals, LFBIT was awarded funding from the ACC Innovation Fund to extend the reach of the service to employers. The funding focused on projects that support recovery at work after an injury, so that injured clients can stay connected and engaged in their workplace while they’re recovering.helpfulheads.co.nz of Helpful Heads Peer Support(Canterbury Region)www.helpfulheads.nzwww.helpfulheads.nzVolunteer Coordinator 029 2007 593 peersupport@helpfulheads.co.nzEmployer Peer Support ServiceIf you would like to talk to another employer, receive further information or learn more about traumatic brain injury and return to work:Contact Volunteer Coordinator 029 2007 593 peersupport@helpfulheads.co.nzEmployer Peer Support ServiceHelpful Heads Peer Support(Canterbury Region)www.helpfulheads.nzwww.helpfulheads.nzVolunteer Coordinator 029 2007 593Email peersupport@helpfulheads.co.nzHow do I become a Peer Support Volunteer?If you think you would like to be a volunteer, please get in touch by emailing:peersupport@helpfulheads.co.nzor calling the Volunteer Coordinator 029 2007 593Become a VolunteerHelpful Heads Peer Support(Canterbury Region)www.helpfulheads.nzwww.helpfulheads.nzVolunteer Coordinator 029 2007 593Email peersupport@helpfulheads.co.nzHow do I access Peer Support? Volunteer Coordinator 029 2007 593Email peersupport@helpfulheads.co.nzWhat is Peer Support?Peer support is when people use their own experiences to help each other, sharing knowledge or providing emotional support, social interaction or practical help.Helpful Heads traumatic brain injury peer support service provides informal support to those who have had a brain injury or to those supporting the person with the brain injury. The service matches people with trained volunteers who have “been there, done that”, and can relate to others in a similar situation to themselves.Peer support has been proven to be an important service in helping people cope with a life-changing injury and their ongoing rehabilitation.Advocating for the rights and interest of people with a disability

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18 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust 18 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury TrustAfter Doug’s life was temporarily put on hold following the discovery of a rare genetic disorder, he is now thriving, living independently and is enjoying life more than ever in our Te Orewai community. Doug grew up around New Zealand, spending most of his life in Christchurch, where he went on to gain a degree in Mathematics. With this, Doug entered teaching and did so for ten years, before his health suddenly began to deteriorate. Doug was living in South Africa at the time and returned home to New Zealand to gure out what was going on with his health. Here, he discovered that he had wolfram syndrome – an extremely rare genetic disorder that only eight people have in the entire country. Wolfram syndrome can have a number of eects on the body. For Doug, this involved deteriorating eyesight, complete colorblindness, balance issues, depression, bladder and kidney issues, and other issues that made work impossible to maintain. It has been fteen years since Doug’s diagnosis, and for the majority of this time, he lived with his parents. Deciding it was time to nd more independence, Doug found a home in Te Orewai, where he has lived for the past two years. “It’s like a new life,” says Doug. “It was so quiet, my life, when I was living with my parents. Now I’m just here and I’m a completely new person. It’s been absolutely fantastic.” While his condition began to restrict parts of life for Doug, he found living at Te Orewai opens up many new opportunities. He spends time out and about, down at Richmond Club playing Euchre, at Step Ahead events, and out for walks, which he tries to do every day. “I’ve really appreciated the fact that they try to encourage us to communicate and get on with each other, and I’m loving that. I’ve built so many great relationships with people here.” Doug enjoys cooking and cooks his meals twice a week. Outside of this, there is a Sunday party meal each week, which many of the Te Orewai residents attend. Doug enjoys spending time with the group, playing Monopoly, and engaging with the sta. “Doug is proactive, he thinks ‘outside the box’ and can improvise when the need arises,” say sta at Te Orewai. “He has a very good sense of humour and a very youthful spirit.” Perhaps Doug’s greatest life passion is art. Since his diagnosis, he has invested much time into his paintings. He loves drawing people, pop culture like Star Wars, and especially loves painting cats. One cat that gets a lot of portraits is Gary, who lives at Te Orewai. With the loss of his colour vision, Doug enjoys painting in grayscale. Although, that doesn’t mean he can no longer work with colour. “It’s very interesting because I started o life and I could see colours. It wasn’t until my 30s that I lost all my colour vision. Now I’m basically living in a grey blurry world, but I can remember what colour things were. If somebody can tell me, hey, look that’s red paint, then I know to put it in the top strand of the rainbow.” Recently, Doug has loved painting stones, and has enjoyed placing them around the gardens at Te Orewai for those with a keen eye! “I also enjoy painting portraits of those with wolfram syndrome from around the world. I get in contact with them, ask for their permission. Then once I nish the painting, I send it to them.” You may have seen some of Doug’s artwork at LFBIT, including our most recent Christmas Fete. A new life - Doug’s story

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20 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury TrustWorking with other organisationsRelationship Building ActivitiesThe Trust is dedicated to collaborating with various organisations to address the needs of the people we support and the broader disabled community. In 2022/23, we engaged with numerous partners to advance this mission. Here are some highlights:We Are RichmondFormed in 2018 to give locals a greater voice in the Richmond suburb, “We Are Richmond” aligns closely with our plans to relocate to the area. We have been nurturing our relationship with this community group, sharing their goal to enhance the quality of life for residents and businesses in Richmond.Canterbury Rugby League PartnershipIn May 2024, we signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Canterbury Rugby League. This partnership, a rst for LFBIT with a regional sporting body, aims to provide essential support and education on head injuries and concussion to the rugby league community.Ōtkaro Avon River NetworkAs a member of the Ōtākaro Avon River Network, we advocate for the future use of the Ōtākaro/Avon River and the surrounding Red Zone lands as an ecological and recreational reserve. Our new site will be part of this vibrant community initiative.Canterbury Cricket CollaborationOur ongoing partnership with Canterbury Cricket as a charity partner has been fruitful. We have supplied the Canterbury Cricket pavilion with concussion awareness and education posters. Additionally, Canterbury Cricket has oered numerous fundraising opportunities for LFBIT throughout the year.Te Oraka Community Pool Reactivation GroupTo champion the needs of disabled individuals, LFBIT has joined the Te Oraka Community Pool Reactivation Group. Our focus is on ensuring the pool is accessible for children and adults with disabilities. We are thrilled to be part of this ongoing eort with the Shirley community.Te Oraka Community Pool

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Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust 21 Can Do Catering is our social enterprise, employing people who would normally nd gaining purposeful employment very challenging due to their physical impairments and care needs. Wendy has been a part of the Can Do Catering team for the past eight years. Currently, she works four to six hours, two to three days a week, although this varies from week to week.“I love my work, everything about it,” says Wendy. “Meeting people, they want to know everything about it!”A regular day at work starts with setting up her workstation ready to commence preparing vegetables, savoury pastries and sausage rolls for customers’ orders.One thing Wendy loves is making bliss balls and is nicknamed the “bliss ball queen” by her co-workers.Assisting with large-scale event setup, including conferences and weddings is something Wendy is passionate about.Wendy loves her work with Can Do Catering and is incredibly hopeful that it will continue well well into the future.“The food is unbelievable, it is presented amazingly.”We thank Wendy for all of her hard work. It is fantastic to have had her on the team for so long!Can Do Catering Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust 21Wendy - Can Do Catering employee

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22 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury TrustAccountabilityClient Satisfaction Survey Initiative - Community RehabilitationIn March, our community services commenced outsourcing the surveying of client satisfaction to a local organisation, which specialises in customer support. This decision was driven by the recognition of our internal limitations in conducting eective surveys. Collating feedback demands a unique set of skills distinct from those we had internally. Moreover, it necessitates proper infrastructure, such as embedded scripting to prompt additional questions, automated callbacks scheduled for client availability, and a data system capable of comprehensive analysis across various service types.To ensure a successful transition, the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust provided training to the orgaisation’s front-line sta on working with clients who have experienced traumatic brain injuries. While their sta were already adept at managing challenging conversations, we oered specic strategies for handling cognitive communication diculties. Together, we co-developed call scripts to ensure the responses were meaningful and provided quality feedback to enhance client experience and outcomes.Since commencement of this partnership, we have seen several positive outcomes:• Increased sample size: A larger number of clients have been surveyed• Enhanced data quality: The data collected is richer and more detailed, and is able to be compared across services areas• Optimised sta focus: Our clinical administrators are now able to concentrate on tasks that align with their expertise. Key quotes:• “The team have been absolutely amazing. For the last 5-6 weeks he has been taken care of, guided and really supported by the team. Reception is always warm and welcoming.”• “Everybody has been really helpful, even down to me struggling with motion sickness, the team did home visits instead. All the sta go beyond the traditional care and are incredibly helpful.”This initiative has not only improved our understanding of client satisfaction but also allowed us to make informed decisions to enhance our services further. We are committed to continuing this partnership and leveraging the insights gained to provide the best possible care and support to our clients.

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24 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury TrustOver the past ve years the Trust’s stang numbers have remained in the region of 200 employees. The focus over this period has been on embedding a culture of learning across the Trust. The Trust has invested in a learning management system and sta have access to a growing number of educational opportunities. At the end of June 2019, 15% of our sta held bachelor’s degrees. This gure now sits at 35%. Sta with NZQA level 2 increased from 1% to 7%, level 3 from 5% to 9% and level 4 from 16% to 17% compared to June 2019.We also have 11 Sta enrolled in a broad range of study, from NZQA level 2 right up to masters level study. A sta survey conducted in the latter half of 2023 showed that the Trust has a strong and positive culture. All key areas, from culture and values through to work life balance were overwhelmingly positive. In general, the Trust is seen by its employees as a great place to work.Sta and volunteersAcknowledging our Volunteers The Trust has a number of incredible volunteers who each contribute in meaningful ways to support our work. In the past year, 87 people have volunteered their time and skills to the Trust. From assisting us with week to week activities, to helping at events, we are consistently overwhelmed with the time and eort our volunteers put in, and we thank them for their incredible generosity.

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Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust 25Nineteen years ago, Simon fell o his mountain bike and suered a severe TBI.“The things one does for a ride in a helicopter!” says Simon. “I have no real memory of my accident and the next four weeks in hospital. All I know is I broke my helmet, jaw and ‘jumbled up the marbles’ in my head. I was lucky, it could easily have been a lot worse.”Recovery took time, to this day Simon has reminders of his TBI in his speech, and tiredness if he overworks. These days, he works three days a week, and has found himself with a little extra free time. Because of this, Simon decided it was time to help those who were in need and got in contact with us at LFBIT. Looking to help in any way he could, a role was found to support our social enterprise Can Do Catering with maintaining its vegetable garden.Since 2021, Simon has helped out in the vegetable garden, planting, weeding and nurturing the vegetables that Can Do Catering use for their work. There is plenty to grow, with broccoli, spring onions, carrots, courgettes, edible owers, and even some self-seeded cherry tomatoes that have sprung up thanks to some soil that Simon has brought.“I generally visit once a week and spend 30 - 60 minutes in the garden depending on what needs to be done. I nd it therapeutic and really enjoy it.”Simon says that since his TBI, he has discovered changes in his personality, for the better. He has found he has a higher sense of empathy and understanding, and is more willing to share emotions than he once was. Because of this, he wanted to volunteer for any work available at LFBIT, and we are so grateful for everything he has done!Volunteer Gardener – Simon

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26 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust Each year September 5th marks International Spinal Cord Injury Day, providing an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges that those with a spinal cord injury face, as well as celebrate those who aspire to pave a way forward after injury.Three years ago, a spinal injury from a mountain bike incident left Craig paralysed from the chest down. Today, Craig, along with his wife Debra, strive to get out and about as much as they can.After an initial stay in hospital for nine months, the ability to return home and continue to live autonomously was Craig’s biggest challenge, and that was where our Community Rehab and Assessment Services teams stepped in. Twice a week, team members visit Craig for an hour to help with day-to-day life. Craig also has carers from Access Community Health, who come each day, Monday to Friday.Initially, Craig required LFBIT community rehabilitation and assessment services to support his transition into his local community. Craig worked with our interdisciplinary team including physiotherapists and occupational therapists to increase his independence. He states the main help has come in the form of equipment – a companion bed to allow Craig to sleep in the same room as Debra; and a cough machine that he uses twice a day to aid his breathing and respiratory management. Craig’s wheelchair and seating needs were assessed and supported, including a chair to allow him to play lawn bowls. It is not just large pieces of equipment, small things that play a large part in autonomy, such as ramps to get in and outside, and automatic doors, were all brought in through the LFBIT team to support Craig.“The Laura Fergusson team has been exceptionally good with everything,” says Craig. “The equipment that they have provided...we are very lucky. You don’t realise how much equipment is out there until you need it.”Craig has been highly determined in his rehab, taking an attitude of challenging and pushing himself where he can.“I’ve only really got two choices, I can either get on with life, or I can sit in the corner and just fade away, and I don’t want to do that. It’s up to the individual; nobody can make you do things. As they say, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”So, Craig gets out and about. Every morning, he heads out in his manual wheelchair to push himself around the road, usually for a good one to two hours. He loves his lawn bowls, going out to play every week and looking forward to the upcoming national bowls competition, which this year is being held in Christchurch. Most of all, Craig enjoys going out with his wife Debra. They like to get out of the house three to four days a week and continue to nd new accessible places to visit.“We intend to travel and go out a lot. There’s a lot of accessible units out there, but you have to do your homework.”In the new year, they plan on driving up to Auckland for a fteen-day cruise around the east coast of New Zealand, and then across to Sydney. The cruise has a good accessible unit, and Craig is looking forward to having an extended time away, to enjoy life together with Debra.“I’ll keep going as much as I can. Our plan is to just really enjoy life as much as we possibly can.”“I’d just like to thank Laura Fergusson, they are a splendid organisation, with very good occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists who have assisted me in getting to where I am now. I could not thank LFBIT enough, I truly appreciate it.”Keep going - Craig’s story26 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust

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28 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury TrustFinancials2024 2023RevenueRevenue from exchange transactions 16,385,461 14,665,631Revenue from non-exchange transactions – Grants, Bequests & Donations303,041 274,961Total Revenue 16,688,502 14,940,592Other income 33,067 18,132Total Income 16,721,569 14,958,724ExpensesEmployee benet expenses 11,061,923 10,170,965Contract labour and bureau costs 1,882,650 1,750,336ACC levies 163,104 131,188Client rehabilitation and medical costs 143,605 130,523Depreciation 268,873 244,827Ground maintenance & waste disposal 130,040 97,534IT & telecommunication costs 344,010 295,933Insurance 126,698 109,639Power 123,351 118,460Rent 403,071 445,592Repairs and maintenance 167,954 122,116Sta training 149,669 81,402Client groceries and food 275,396 287,795Vehicle & transport 149,978 149,159Other expenses 480,600 527,529Total Expenses 15,870,922 14,662,998Surplus / (Decit) Before Financing Revenue & Costs 850,647 295,726FinanceFinance income 74,654 18,846Finance expenses (42) (1)Total Comprehensive Revenue & Expenses for the Year 925,259 314,571Statement of Comprehensive Revenue & Expenses Laura Fergussion Brain Injury Trust for the year ended 30 June 2024

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Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust 29Statement of Financial Position Laura Fergussion Brain Injury Trust for the year ended 30 June 2024The above are abridged Financial Statements. The full Annual Report can be downloaded from the Charities Service.Trust EquityAccumulated revenue and expenses 7,876,701 6,951,442Total Trust Equity 7,876,701 6,951,4422024 2023AssetsCurrent AssetsCash & cash equivalents 1,372,521 855,782Receivables (from exchange transactions) 1,184,533 1,184,757Prepayments & other assets 119,755 89,862Laura Fergusson Foundation loan 101,227 188,758ASB Short Term Investments 875,749 454,814Total Current Assets 3,653,785 2,773,973Non-Current AssetsCapital work in progress 300,674 295,468Property, plant and equipment 4,705,866 4,834,255Intangibles & goodwill 700,000 700,000Total Non-Current Assets 5,706,540 5,829,723Total Assets 9,360,325 8,603,696LiabilitiesCurrent LiabilitiesPayables (from exchange transactions) 406,467 500,446Credit cards 11,456 10,247Employee benet liability 870,150 766,879Unexpired grant funding 61,116 244,040Deferred revenue 0 1,217Goods and services tax 134,435 129,425Total Current Liabilities 1,483,624 1,652,254Total Liabilities 1,483,624 1,652,254Total Assets less Total Liabilities (Net Assets) 7,876,701 6,951,442

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30 Laura Fergusson Brain Injury TrustFundraising and supportersElmer’s Ōtautahi Elephant TrailIn partnership with Wild in Art and Andersen Press, the Trust undertook an art and sculpture trail over the 2023-2024 summer in Christchurch and surrounding areas. The goals of the project were to raise awareness of TBI and the Trust’s services, build partnerships with local organisations, and to raise funds.Consisting of 30 large elephants crafted by talented artists, and 30 smaller elephants decorated by local schools, Elmer’s Ōtautahi Elephant Trail was highly visible and hugely popular throughout the streets of Ōtautahi and beyond.In March 2024, the sculptures were auctioned at the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna O Waiwhetū, raising over $320,000 for Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust. The Trust would like to acknowledge and thank all Elmer sponsors and supporters who gifted time, goods and funds to help make this project possible. Special thanks to lead sponsor Zero Heigh Safety and community partners NZME, Fulton Hogan for their immense support.

LFBIT Annual Report 2024

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