Brain Injury Awareness Week (BIAW) is held annually to raise awareness of brain injury and its impact on everyday Australian’s. This is a time to reflect on how each of us can support and advocate for people living with a brain injury and continue to grow awareness and understanding throughout Australia.
Events
Events for BIAW 2025- Submit your own public BIAW event so supporters can find it and attend.
Light Ups
Find our full list of over 70 light ups Australia wide for BIAW and read more about our Photography competition.
About the theme
The theme of Brain Injury Awareness Week 2025 is ‘Invisible disabilities deserve visible change.’ Aiming to raise awareness of how the ‘invisible disability’ of brain injury intersects with issues of domestic and family violence, justice, homelessness, and beyond – while providing a roadmap to meaningful change for those living with a brain injury.
An injury to the brain isn’t seen. The scar, bruising, or head wound may heal – but the devastating impacts of a brain injury will remain. Invisible symptoms like memory loss, irritability, pain, and impulsiveness start to bleed into everyday life. Leaving the person with a life-long, invisible disability.
As symptoms of a brain injury increase, people can become vulnerable to hardship. They can face discrimination and fall through the cracks, as they may struggle to hold a job or maintain housing.
Many people might not know their brain is injured. They may be victims of an assault, car accident, drug overdose, domestic and family violence, or been exposed to alcohol or drugs during pregnancy. A concussion, blow to the head, or period of unconsciousness is now impacting the way they think, feel, and act.
Misunderstood by those around them, people with a brain injury can find themselves homeless or incarcerated. Where they suffer at the hands of service systems that don’t screen for or recognise their disability and are ill-equipped to meet their needs. Without appropriate rehabilitation, people may feel isolated, misunderstood, and struggle with decision-making. This can contribute to repeated interactions with the justice system.
They deserve better. Their invisible disability deserves visible change!
This is the theme of Brain Injury Awareness Week 2025. The week aims to raise awareness of how the ‘invisible disability’ of brain injury intersects with issues of domestic and family violence, justice, homelessness, and beyond. By raising awareness of these issues, we can break down the current barriers in our systems to create meaningful change for those with a brain injury.
This Brain Injury Awareness Week, Synapse is calling for visible change.
Personal stories
Explore moving advocacy case studies and personal stories from people living with brain injury.
Webinars
Register for our live webinars exploring the intersection of brain injury with domestic and family violence, corrections, youth justice, and more!
Ambassadors
Meet our new ambassadors and discover their powerful stories of living with brain injury.
Roadmap: Steps towards visible change
- Implement systematic screening for brain injury in correctional facilities, domestic violence services, and homelessness support.
- Fund specialist support services for individuals with brain injuries, particularly those in vulnerable populations.
- Develop tailored intervention strategies to prevent individuals from cycling through the justice system, homelessness, or unemployment.
- Specialist training – It is essential that police, lawyers, health professionals, and domestic and family violence service professionals are engaged, trained, and upskilled to ensure brain injury is understood and can be screened for in metro, regional, and rural areas.
Contact us today to get involved.
To host an event, share stories, fundraise, or partner with us to raise awareness and drive change, please contact our marketing team.