Elizabeth Carter (elizabethc) was our very first StrokeConnect member when the site began in 2009.

She has contributed daily ever since as she strongly believes that sharing her story and life as a stroke survivor is so important for her own and other’s recovery! She resides in Newcastle, NSW with her partner and has seven grandchildren. Prior to her stroke she lived in New Guinea for many years and travelled to some really remote locations - often being the first white woman to do so.

She’s currently reading ‘the girl who played with fire’ and listens to ‘radio national’ and would be lost without her computer and contact with the online world. She celebrates, that, “I am alive and continuing to recover with great support” and says that “recovery is possible your brain can retrain itself”. Loving lobsters and hating bananas in any form, elizabethc continues to be an active member on this site and we are excited to welcome her as our new Moderator☺

We have no doubt that elizabethc’s your strong commitment & experience as a stroke survivor will hugely help this site grow:)

Warwick Little (Wazza49) was our 100th member, joining the forum on the 5/2/2010.

He survived stroke at 48 years of age and despite recovering amazingly, he says that his stroke effected his ability to provide for his family and feels that having patience is essential in one’s stroke recovery. A husband and father of two sons, wazza49 says he would take these three people if he was ever stuck on a desert island.

Like elizabethc, wazza49 couldn’t do without his computer and at the moment is reading, ‘ Lost Symbol Dan Browne’. He aspires to being ‘a happy Grandfather one day”, hates offal, loves seafood and celebrates when he meets the targets he sets for himself since stroking. When asked why he’s a member of StrokeConnect he states, “I believe strongly that sharing my story and life as a stroke survivor is so important for mine and others’ recovery! yes!-”. He also said, “ other stories that have been shared with me have inspired me to look forward and not backward”

Welcome wazza49, I’m sure he’ll be a hugely valued Moderator and his determined personality will trigger action in all other members lives!

The National Stroke Foundation is delighted to announce its 2010 Stroke Care Champion Awards.

Congratulations to our winners,  Anita Rosenberg has won the ‘Improving Life after Stroke Award’ for her work in Stroke Support in Sydney.

Anita has been involved in stroke rehabilitation since being discharged from hospital after her own stroke in 1977.  She encountered many speech difficulties of her own and as a result has worked on behalf of other stroke survivors to improve quality of life and support communication.  For many years she gave lectures to neurological physiotherapy students, allowing a first-hand glimpse of the challenges facing survivors of stroke.  She even hand-wrote a newsletter to provide information to those affected by stroke before technology made the process easier.  She has shown an extraordinary commitment to improving the quality of life of all stroke survivors and their families.

Her nominator wrote:
“Anita is known as the founder of stroke clubs and is recognised by many for her continuing leadership in their development and the development of the present-day Stroke Recovery Association”.

Jacqueline Ancliffe has won the “Stroke Care Champion Award” for her work with stroke survivors over more than 30 years.  Jacqui has worked in acute stroke care and provided rehabilitation.  Jacqui has played an invaluable role in the professional development of other stroke health workers, an area identified by the National Stroke Foundation as integral to improved outcomes for stroke survivors and their families.  Jacqui has also helped raise a substantial amount of money for the Royal Perth Hospital stroke unit, is a member of the Australian Stroke Coalition and is a reviewer for the scientific journal Stroke.

Her nominator wrote:
“Jacqui has been involved with many committees aimed at improving stroke services. She is chair of the Royal Perth Hospital Stroke Unit committee, has been on committees of the Stroke Society of Australasia since 1992 and is heavily involved with the WA Stroke Unit network.”

This award is conferred jointly with the Stroke Society of Australasia.  The Stroke Care Awards are the National Stroke Foundation’s annual awards program to acknowledge and recognise individuals working in the field of stroke.  These are people who do not otherwise get formal recognition for their commitment to either improving stroke care or improving the quality of life for stroke patients, survivors and their carers.

There are two categories:
1) Stroke Care Champion Award (in conjunction with the Stroke Society of Australasia)

Open to health professionals, social care professionals and general professionals who have demonstrated a long term commitment (five or more
years) in the field of stroke.  This award celebrates those who have gone above and beyond their professional duties to improve stroke care and outcomes for stroke patients.

2) Improving Life after Stroke Award

Open to stroke survivors, carers, members of the general public and people who work in a voluntary capacity.  This award celebrate those who have shown a long term (five or more years) commitment to supporting stroke survivors or improving care for stroke survivors and raising awareness of stroke survivors’ needs.

Australia has a chronic shortage of specialised stroke rehabilitation services despite the fact that it is the second biggest cause of death and a leading cause of disability, a new report from the National Stroke Foundation has revealed.

Too many stroke survivors are being denied access to the specialised care essential to their recovery and ability to live independently - despite the fact that there are 60,000 strokes occurring in Australia every year, National Stroke Foundation CEO Dr Erin Lalor said.

Launching the National Stroke Audit of Rehabilitation Services in Melbourne on October 29, World Stroke Day, Dr Lalor said the report had shown there had been very little improvement in stroke rehabilitation in the last two years.
“Of the 60,000 strokes that occur in Australia every year, one-third of people affected will be left with a disability,” she said.

“Of those people who suffer a disability, 36 per cent will require inpatient rehabilitation – rehabilitation outside their home. This review of rehabilitation services clearly shows demand is dramatically outstripping supply.” On World Stroke Day, the National Stroke Foundation is spreading the message that one in six people will suffer a stroke in their lifetime – a stroke occurs every six seconds. Of those who survive their stroke, many will be left with a wide range of disabilities.

“The quality of their recovery depends on a variety of rehabilitation programs and treatments including speech and occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology services,” Dr Lalor said.

“Australia has very few specialised stroke rehabilitation units despite the fact that these units are proven to improve the chances of a good recovery.” The National Stroke Audit of Rehabilitation Services is the only program of its kind in Australia. It is designed to provide an overview of rehabilitation services for stroke and makes several important recommendations on stroke care based
on feedback from hospitals that reported almost 7,000 stroke admissions in 2009.

Among some of the difficulties the audit uncovered is the lack of ongoing training for health professionals; a lack of discharge and care plans for patients going home after stroke; and poor access to psychology services. ”Only 10 per cent of stroke patients surveyed in this audit were offered access to a psychologist for counselling,” Dr Lalor said. “Of those, 90 per cent accepted: a clear sign that stroke survivors need this service.”