Acquired Brain Injury, TBI and Stroke: Life After a Brain Injury
A brain injury can change life in an instant. One day everything is familiar, and the next you or someone you love is working out how to think, move, remember or feel differently. Long after hospital and rehab finish, many of the biggest challenges are the ones other people can't see.
This guide explains acquired brain injury (ABI), including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke, in plain language. It covers the common effects, what helps day to day, how the NDIS and Queensland's injury scheme fit in, and how we support people with a brain injury on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
What is an acquired brain injury?
An acquired brain injury is any damage to the brain that happens after birth. It's an umbrella term that covers many causes:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), caused by a blow or impact to the head, such as a car or bike accident, a fall, a sporting injury or an assault
Stroke, when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts
Lack of oxygen (hypoxia), such as after a near drowning or cardiac arrest
Brain tumours and infections, such as meningitis or encephalitis
Alcohol and other drugs, through long-term use
Brain injury is more common than many people realise. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has estimated that around 1 in 45 Australians live with a brain injury that limits their activities or participation, and most of them are under 65.
Common effects of a brain injury
ABI is often called an invisible disability. Someone can look completely fine but find everyday life much harder than before. Every brain injury is different, but common effects include:
Fatigue. Tiredness after a brain injury is very common and can be overwhelming. Thinking, concentrating and being around people all use energy, so even a short outing can wipe someone out.
Memory and thinking. Memory problems are very common, as are trouble concentrating, planning, getting started on tasks and finishing them. These can be mistaken for a lack of interest or motivation, when they're actually part of the injury.
Emotions and behaviour. People may be more irritable, impulsive or quick to anger, or find their emotions harder to manage. Depression and anxiety are common, especially in the first year.
Communication. After a stroke or brain injury, some people have aphasia, which makes it hard to find the right words or understand what others are saying. Others find it hard to keep up with fast conversations.
Physical effects. These can include weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, balance problems, changes to vision, touch or smell, and seizures.
Relationships and identity. A brain injury can change roles in a family, friendships and how a person sees themselves. Social isolation is a real risk, especially once the early support falls away.
What helps day to day
Brain injury organisations like Synapse recommend practical strategies that make a real difference:
Pacing: planning activities for the best time of day, keeping them shorter, and resting at the first sign of tiredness
A regular daily and weekly routine, which takes pressure off memory
Memory aids such as diaries, checklists, whiteboards and phone reminders
Breaking tasks into simple steps
Quiet, uncluttered spaces with fewer distractions
Calm, consistent responses from everyone in the person's life
From our experience, a consistent worker helps a lot too. It means the person doesn't have to explain themselves again and again, and their worker can spot early signs of fatigue or frustration. Our post on the spoon theory is a useful way to explain fatigue to family and friends.
Brain injury and the NDIS
The NDIS can fund supports for people under 65 whose brain injury causes a permanent impairment that substantially affects their daily life. Most brain injuries and strokes aren't on the NDIS lists of conditions that automatically point to eligibility, so evidence from treating professionals about how the injury affects everyday life is important. You need to apply before you turn 65.
The NDIS doesn't fund hospital care or time-limited therapy aimed at recovery, which comes from the health system. NDIS supports focus on the longer term: daily living, community participation, building skills and independence.
Depending on your plan and goals, NDIS funding may include:
Core supports for daily living and community access
Capacity building for independence, routines and confidence
Therapy such as occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy and psychology
Support to return to work or study
Motor vehicle injuries in Queensland: NIISQ
If a serious brain injury came from a motor vehicle accident in Queensland on or after 1 July 2016, the National Injury Insurance Scheme Queensland (NIISQ) may cover your support instead of the NDIS. NIISQ is a no-fault scheme with no age limit, but it only accepts the most serious brain injuries, using strict medical criteria such as how long someone had post-traumatic amnesia or was in a coma. Many people with a brain injury from a car accident don't meet those criteria and access the NDIS instead. Stroke and brain injuries from falls or assaults aren't covered by NIISQ.
How we support people with a brain injury
At Loving Life, we support teens and adults living with a brain injury or the effects of a stroke on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. We work at the person's pace, plan around fatigue, and focus on getting back to the things that matter to them.
1:1 support. Our 1:1 NDIS support gives you a consistent worker who gets to know how your injury affects you. That might be getting to appointments, shopping, setting up routines and memory aids at home, or slowly rebuilding confidence out in the community.
Community access. After a brain injury, it's easy for the world to get smaller. Our community access support helps people reconnect with hobbies, friends and places they enjoy, with plenty of breaks built in.
Skill building. Through capacity building and daily living support, we help people relearn and practise everyday skills like cooking, budgeting and using public transport. If returning to work is a goal, our Employment Assistance program can help.
Groups. Small groups can be a great way to rebuild social connection without the pressure of large crowds. We keep sessions predictable and build in rest.
Gold Coast (from The Hub in Nerang and out in the community): Skill Space, our weekday day program for life skills; Social & Skills for boys and young men; Girl Squad for girls and young women aged 17 to 25; and Cook. Learn. Thrive., our cooking program in the Hub kitchen.
Sunshine Coast (from The Studio, Moffat Beach and out in the community): ThunderBolts for young adults, Fun Friday, the Craft Group, Ladies Lunch and our Men's Group.
Our groups are small and well supported, and food on group days is on us, so no one misses out. You can see what each group does on our Gold Coast groups and Sunshine Coast groups pages.
Where to find more information
Synapse is Queensland's brain injury organisation, with information, peer support and advocacy (1800 673 074). Brain Injury Australia is the national peak body. For stroke, the Stroke Foundation runs StrokeLine on 1800 787 653, and has resources for younger people after stroke.
📍 Based on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast
Information current as at 8 November 2026. This post is general information, not medical advice. NDIS access rules are changing from 2028, so check with the NDIS before acting.
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