Brain Injury Awareness Week – 15 to 21 August

Tuesday, 17th of May, 2011

In 2011 Brain Injury Awareness Week (BIAW) is scheduled for Monday 15th to Sunday 21st of August. Put it in your diaries now because this year something wicked this way comes…

For the first time Brain Injury Associations across Australia have formed a partnership to support a new, fun, brain injury awareness campaign which is to be rolled-out this year.

The consortium of Brain Injury Associations includes Brain Injury Australia, Synapse (formerly the Brain Injury Association of QLD), HeadWest (WA),  the Brain Injury Association of NSW, BrainLink Services (VIC), the Brain Injury Association of Tasmania, and HeadWay Gold Coast.

For now the consortium of Brain Injury Associations are looking to keep the details of the awareness campaign under wraps so that the campaign can be rolled-out first as a teaser during the month of June.  It will be revealed through July and then celebrated and officially launched around Brain Injury Awareness Week with activities and events happening through August.

“This is a nationally supported campaign that will celebrate Brain Injury Awareness while also raising funds to benefit families affected by Acquired Brain Injury (ABI),” said Jennifer Cullen, CEO of Synapse.   

Over the last few years brain injury associations around Australia have done separate initiatives to mark Brain Injury Awareness Week. By joining forces this year Brain Injury Awareness Week will strive to further increase awareness in a way that brings people together.

“We are all impacted by ABI in some way it’s just that many of us just don’t realize it, this campaign will change that.”

Current figures estimate that over 1.6 million Australians suffer from Acquired Brain Injury.

For those unfamiliar with the term, Acquired Brain Injury - or "ABI" - refers to any damage to the brain that occurs after birth. That damage can be caused by an accident or trauma, by a stroke, a brain infection, by alcohol or other drugs or by diseases of the brain like Parkinson's disease.

The campaign organizers have successfully formed partnerships with a range of corporate partners and a major broadcasting media partner. The final line-up of partners will be announced soon.

The central theme for BIAW is "Acquired Brain Injury and the criminal justice system". A number of events will be highlighting this issue as well as other major ABI topics.

To find out how you or your organization can get involved or benefit contact Glen Farlow, Synapse Marketing & Communications Manager at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it