CareMatch attends Steven Bartlett event in Brisbane

On 14th April, Tori and the CareMatch leadership team attended Steven Bartlett’s lecture event in Brisbane. If you haven’t heard of Steven yet, he’s a world-renowned entrepreneur, investor,and, No.1 Best Selling Author and host of Europe’s biggest podcast – ‘The Diary Of A CEO”. His talks are tailor-made for aspiring entrepreneurs, seasoned business owners, and anyone that dreams of taking their venture, project or life to the next level.

From the event, Tori and the leadership team gained invaluable insights into building and scaling business, and the importance of balancing business success with personal wellbeing – which are key elements being applied across CareMatch.

BioSpine thought-controlled virtual reality technology is on the rise

If you haven’t already heard about the incredible prospect of BioSpine, it’s thought-controlled virtual reality technology that lets paralysed individuals experience walking again.

Leveraging the fact that ~90% of people have anatomically incomplete spinal cord injuries, BioSpine combines:

• Duke University’s work on thought-controlled rehabilitation,
• Courtine and Edgerton’s work with electrical stimulation and drug therapy,
• with BioSpine’s own ingredients (a digital twin for safe movement, MRI for measurements, 3D printing for thought-controlled headsets)…

weaving some of the most promising progress in spinal cord injury therapy into one paradigm.

Dr Dinesh Palipana, who many of you will know, is Griffith University’s lead researcher on the project, and was the first person to enter the BioSpine virtual reality. The aim of the project is to combine virtual reality with electrical muscle stimulation and drug therapy to give people motor function back. Currently, a study has been completed on five people, with results imminent – we will share these with you next month.

Now, the project is set for commercialisation, having been selected for LuminaX – a company that helps validate and commercialise early-stage, high-growth activities applying tech or AI solutions to healthcare, medtech and wellness. Over the next two years, another 20-40 people will have the chance to participate in future studies. Recruitment has started now.

Get to know more about this incredible project, below.

Anapaula finishes her Bachelor of Psychological Science

We are thrilled to congratulate Anapaula on her achievement of graduating from her Bachelor of Psychological Science at Southern Cross University. Delving into the intricacies of human behaviour and cognition, this three-year degree is a testament to Anapaula’s dedication and hard work, and we are incredibly proud to shout-out this milestone of hers. Join us in congratulating Anapaula.

April was World Autism Month

April marks World Autism Month, kicking off with World Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd. The day is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness about autism spectrum disorders and promoting acceptance and inclusion. It’s a great reminder of the unique challenges and strengths of individuals on the spectrum.

As support workers, we have the opportunity to provide personalised and empathetic care to those with autism, fostering environments that prioritise individual needs. From

• maintaining a predictable routine,

• using concise communication,

• embracing patience, and,

• providing opportunities for expression

… there’s a lot a support worker can do to support their client. If you’re interested to learn more, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has a great online course to increase skills for support workers. You can see this below.

New Dignity Project publication is out

A review on the definition of dignity, in relation to disability, has been released. Exploring 5 key aspects of lived experience of disability, the review highlights the importance of adapting healthcare services, including support work, to uphold dignity.

You can discover more about dignity for those living with a disability – enabled by recognising:

• decision-making rights,

• ensuring access to information,

• preserving privacy, and,

• maximising both accessibility and inclusion.

Read more by clicking below.

Around the CareMatch grounds

Congratulations to Fred Dorrough and Billie Carroll on 6 months at CareMatch, with Racheal Picone reaching her 1 year milestone!

And, a big round of applause for Fiona Schenk, our carer of the month for April. Fiona always goes that extra mile for the clients she looks after, and helps us to no end. Your work is always appreciated, Fiona.