Rural and Remote

We recognise living in rural and remote locations can impact on the services available to people impacted by brain injury and disability.

For people who sustain a brain injury this might mean difficulty getting access to assessment or diagnostic services and may also impact the services available for people to purchase in their community. Trauma care and inpatient rehabilitation typically take place in large metropolitan or regional hospitals, meaning people can be away from family and support systems for extended periods. Challenges following a brain injury for rural and remote residents include travel and financial hardship; emotional issues; social isolation; difficulties with service coordination; lack of rehabilitation options and reduced access to specialist services (Murphy, 2004). While living in rural and remote locations can impact service availability often the connections to community, and unpaid and family supports are much stronger.

Synapse is committed to strengthening access to specialist services irrespective of age, gender, culture and remoteness.