Spinal cord injury
support & rehabilitation
The first weeks and months following a spinal cord injury are incredibly challenging, often spent in hospital rehabilitation. Paralysis from a damaged spinal cord can lead to permanent changes affecting mobility, sensation, and bladder, bowel, or sexual function.
Funded by our dedicated members, PBF Australia proudly offers a unique Peer Support Program that supports individuals, workplaces, community groups, and sporting clubs—not only during hospital rehabilitation but throughout the ongoing journey after injury.
Our peer support team, made up of compassionate individuals living with paraplegia or quadriplegia, provides non-clinical advice, information, and emotional support to those injured, as well as their families and support networks.
We’re here to help people living with spinal cord injury move forward with confidence, independence, and hope—no matter where they are in their recovery.
Our Peer Support Team
Jason
PEER SUPPORT OFFICER
Date of injury: April 2002
Age at time of injury: 28 years
Level of injury: C4/C5
Jason sustained a spinal cord injury whilst jumping up for the ball in a game of Aussie Rules Football. Jason had a young family and used that for inspiration to get through the toughest time in his life. Jason found it hard when he first got home but changed his life around when he coached his football team to a premiership and has never looked back since. Jason went on to play wheelchair sports (powerchair football) and was the President for 9 years, as well as obtaining a Diploma in Community Services. Jason has never stopped living his life any different then he used to before his injury, including going camping, fishing, travelling, playing sport, concerts, spending time with family and friends. Jason now works with PBF and shares his experiences with those on the spinal ward to give them hope and let them know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Ebonny
PEER SUPPORT OFFICER
Date of Injury: October 2017
Age at time: 28 years
Level of Injury: T5 Complete
Ebonny sustained a spinal cord injury after losing consciousness while riding her motorbike. She’s lucky to even be alive and views her life now as a second chance to keep experiencing it. Of course it’s been a hard road, initially taking her around 3-4 years to regain her independence.
She’s now living independently in her own home, enjoys live music events, camping and mountain biking and is proud to work with PBF to use her lived experience to give back to the community that supported her. She’s passionate about helping others going through something similar to also find and live their best lives.
Lachlan Cousins
PEER SUPPORT OFFICER
Date of injury: 24/10/2013
Age at time of injury: 17
Level of Injury: C4/5
Lachlan sustained a spinal cord injury on his last of Year 12, the day before he graduated. Whilst celebrating with friends at the beach he dove into the water and hit his head. He then spent the next year in hospital supported by the team at PBF Australia.
With the support of family and friends, he has been able to live a fulfilling life filled with travel, concerts, festivals, learning to drive, employment and completing a diploma of counselling. He is passionate about using his own lived experience to build the capacity of others and encouraging others to continue living.
Our Impact
“For the past nine years, I have worked closely with the PBF peer support team on the Spinal Units at both Shenton Park Campus and Fiona Stanley Hospital. The benefits of having people who are living with a spinal cord injury providing personal knowledge and experience to newly-injured patients and their families cannot be underestimated. I have seen how patients learn and engage more with people who overcome daily challenges themselves; such as the practical skills of how to get in and out of a car, or learning how to put their jeans on in the morning. Even the most experienced spinal clinicians can’t share these little tricks and tips that the peer support team have learnt to make their own lives easier. Perhaps most importantly they provide moral support, inspiration and real life experience to our patients and their families.”
Anne Watts – Nurse Unit Manager, Spinal Rehab, WA State Rehabilitation Service.