Health Services > Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service (ABIOS)

Community Integration - Direct Service Delivery

ABIOS uses a number of strategies to maximise community integration for people with acquired brain injuries, including:

Assessment of a persons needs in these areas
Cognitive
Social
Physical
Activities of daily living
Behaviour
Emotional
Client directed goal development
Integrated service planning
Referral to appropriate generic and community service providers
Co-ordination of available services
Advocacy for the development of new services
Education
Family Support

In the ABIOS model, a diverse range of generic and disability services are engaged to assist clients. The wide range of services is in response to client and family goals, which are specific to individuals and their unique set of circumstances.

In order to maximise community integration and build sustainable supports around people with acquired brain injuries, the ABIOS model is characterised by the provision of intensive services that taper off over time as natural and community supports and services are enlisted. Each client is assisted to create a support "team" around them, consisting of formal and informal services (often including family, friends and advocates as well as professional disability and generic services).

ABIOS avoids duplication of services by acting in a co-ordination role rather that attempting to be all things to all people. In this way, ABIOS increases the access of clients with ABI to generic and disability services, ensures efficient and appropriate use of community resources while also collecting data about service delivery gaps. ABIOS aims for better and more durable long-term outcomes through a focus on comprehensive planning and the establishment of community support systems.

ABIOS primarily provides direct assistance to clients within a 150 km radius of Brisbane and training and consultation to the wider state. Providing face-to-face services to clients outside the S.E. Qld. area while imperative is currently highly resource intensive. Increased travel requirements, and co-ordination difficulties and the generally accepted limitations of traditional rural outreach models militate against successful outcomes. ABIOS however, continues to seek creative ways of responding to the unique difficulties experienced by people with ABI in the rural and remote areas of Queensland. ABIOS is currently involved in special projects to better reach out to rural and regional Queensland.

Contact ABIOS
abios@health.qld.gov.au

Last Updated: 10 July 2007
Last Reviewed: 10 July 2007