Scott's journey
Scott’s journey
When Scott Painter was just 17-year’s-old, life as he knew it was turned upside down. Diagnosed with a brain tumour wrapped around his cerebellum and brainstem, he underwent a craniotomy that led to three cerebellar haemorrhagic strokes. Scott shares “I had to relearn how to walk, talk, and eat, how to live again. From being on life support, peg fed, muscle spasticity, etc. Recovery wasn’t easy.”
Rehabilitation
That wasn’t the end of Scott’s story. It was the beginning of a long and deeply personal journey of rehabilitation, one that tested not just his physical endurance, but his emotional resilience. Scott spent months in intensive rehab, relearning how to live. It was physically tough, but for Scott, the biggest challenge wasn’t just training his body. It was navigating the emotional weight of trauma, loss, and identity.
“All brain injury survivors engage in some form of physical rehabilitation… But there’s one critical piece that often gets left behind: our emotional state. Emotions like grief, frustration, anxiety, fear, and even guilt are a natural part of recovery… Addressing them can unlock deeper healing and better outcomes.”
Moving forward
Scott went on to complete a Master’s degree and become a Clinical Exercise Physiologist. Now based on the Gold Coast, he works with Headway ABI Australia, where he specialises in neurological rehabilitation, helping other survivors rebuild their lives. What makes Scott’s approach unique is his lived experience. He’s not only a practitioner; he’s been a patient.
“What sets me apart is my rare dual perspective: I not only treat brain injury survivors, I am one. This lived experience gives me a deeper level of empathy, understanding, and insight that cannot be taught in a textbook. Clients don’t just feel heard by me, they feel truly understood.”
Scott believes recovery doesn’t stop at regaining function, it’s about restoring identity, purpose, and self-belief. That’s why he wrote Tragedy to Triumph, a powerful and personal memoir that explores both the physical and emotional sides of his recovery.
“Last year was a big one: I got married, bought our second home, and after eight years of working on it, I published my first book. It tells the full story of my recovery, not just the physical side, but the emotional journey too, which I believe is often overlooked in rehabilitation.”
Scott’s mission is simple: to help people living with brain injury rebuild not just strength and movement, but confidence and hope.
Scott’s message for others
“Take it one day at a time. Give it everything you’ve got. Never stop believing you can improve. Even the simplest things may feel impossible at times but with consistent effort and the right support, things can get better.”
Scott reminds us all to keep a hopeful mindset, your brain and body have an incredible capacity to heal and adapt. Use your experience to find new purpose and strength.
Scott has written a book about his journey with brain injury. It’s real, honest, and full of hope. “I wrote this to give hope to other brain injury survivors. There’s been a lot of negativity lately, and I wanted to share something positive.”
If you’d like to hear more about what he’s been through and how he’s moving forward, the book is available now.
Get your copy today!