Young Australian of the year speaks at brain injury forum
17 August 2011
Young Australian of the year speaks at brain injury forum Victoria’s Young Australian of the Year will be a guest speaker at this year’s Brain Injury Awareness Week Community Forum on August 16.
Presented by Karingal branch ARCsupport, in conjunction with Bellarine Community Health, Anj Barker will talk about her journey with acquired brain injury.
At 16, Anj’s her life changed forever when she was brutally bashed to near death by her ex-boyfriend.
She suffered a severe brain injury and spent three gruelling years in hospital, rehab and a nursing home before being able to return home, still needing full-time care.
Anj was named this year’s Young Australian of the year for her working campaigning and educating the public on anti-violence.
She empowers others to say ‘no’ to violence, and she advocates strongly to help stop young people ending up in nursing homes and toward the introduction of a national, no fault insurance scheme in Australia.
ARCSupport Co-ordinator Jacqui Pearce said Anj is an exceptional young woman who has displayed immense strength and courage in the face of horrific injuries.
“She now shares her story with the aim of opening the hearts and minds of others to see the person and not the disability. We look forward to hearing more of her story during the forum.”
The Brain Injury Awareness Week Community Forum with be held at the Potato Shed – 41 Peninsula Drive, Drysdale on August 16 from 2pm – 3.30pm.
To RSVP or for further information, please call 5258 0814 or email sarah.wynn@bch.org.au
For more events, see page 6 of this newsletter for further information.