Beyond the Incident: The Power of Peer Support

30 July 2026

Every connection we create, every partnership we strengthen and every conversation we start helps build a community that better supports people living with spinal cord injury.

At PBF Australia, we know that recovery extends far beyond the hospital. The transition home, returning to work and reconnecting with community can be some of the most challenging stages of a person’s journey. By bringing together healthcare professionals, employers, peer support specialists and community leaders, we can strengthen the pathways that help people rebuild confidence, independence and purpose after injury.

To support this shared vision, PBF Australia (WA) proudly hosted our inaugural breakfast panel event, Beyond the Incident: The Power of Peer Support in Recovery, Return to Work and Inclusion, on 11 June at The Raffles Hotel.

The discussion explored the journey from hospital to home and into meaningful employment, highlighting how peer support, lived experience and collaboration can improve outcomes for people living with spinal cord injury. It also reinforced the importance of organisations working together to create more inclusive workplaces and communities while raising awareness of the life-changing impact of spinal cord injury.

We were honoured to hear from Jacquie Thomson, CEO of Ability WA, Anne Watts, Nurse Unit Manager at the WA Spinal Rehabilitation Unit, Jane Hutch, PBF Australia’s Peer Support Coordinator, with the discussion expertly facilitated by MC Louise Gibson from With Verve. Together, they shared valuable professional expertise and personal insights into the role peer support plays throughout recovery.

A powerful message emerged throughout the morning through the Three Cs:

• Connection – building meaningful relationships that reduce isolation and foster hope.
• Courage – supporting individuals to embrace new possibilities and navigate life after injury.
• Collaboration – bringing healthcare, employers and community organisations together to achieve better outcomes.

Louise concluded the event by asking the audience:

“How might your organisation ensure that what you do enables greater inclusion and creates a positive, sustainable impact?”

It is a question that aligns closely with PBF Australia’s purpose.

Through lived experience, peer support and meaningful partnerships, we are working to raise awareness of spinal cord injury, strengthen support for people impacted by injury, and build safer, more inclusive communities. Events like this not only encourage important conversations but also create opportunities to expand our reach, foster new collaborations and improve the support available to people as they rebuild their lives after injury.

Together, we can ensure that recovery is supported not just by healthcare, but by connected communities that empower people to live full, meaningful lives.