BAIL's TALES : DECEMBER

As 2013 draws to an end we reflect on some of the highlights. Early in the year, BAIL celebrated the appointment of Julian Verkaaik as the new BAIL Chair and the extended visit of Professor Gerben De Jong the 2013 William Evans Fellow from Washington DC. We held the 4th Alan Clarke Memorial Lecture during Prof DeJong’s visit and this year’s invited keynote speaker Prof Richard Siegert from AUT responded to the question “What would Allan Clarke say about mindful, positive and goal centred rehabilitation.” Other 2013 highlights included the appointment of new research fellows Johnny Bourke and Jason Nicholls.

It is also interesting to note the many places our BAIL team get to and the various groups or forums that we contribute in. Here are some examples of BAIL’s wider involvement.

Disability Advisory Group
Brian Laurie is a member of the Christchurch City Council led Disability Advisory Group. Brian is representing the Physical Disability sector of our community and among other things is consulting around the aquatic play water facility within the proposed Metro Sport Centre.

The International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) Meetings
Jo Nunnerley attended the 2013 meeting of The International Spinal Cord Society at the end of October in Istanbul, Turkey. One of the conference themes was SCI and natural disasters, giving her an opportunity to present work from her PhD, “The return to employment for people injured in the Christchurch February 22nd earthquake”.

American Congress in Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) meeting
Dr Debbie Snell attended the 90th ACRM meeting in Orlando Florida in November. This is one of the world’s premier rehabilitation meetings and was attended by over 800 delegates from around the world. Debbie was hosted by Professor DeJong during the conference who facilitated many networking opportunities for BAIL and NZ research. Key foci of the conference included outcomes measurement in rehabilitation, technology advances in the field and cross-border collaboration opportunities. Debbie spent a few days with Prof DeJong and his wife at their condo on Anna Maria Island on the edge of the Mexican Gulf before returning home.

New Zealand Disability and Rehabilitation Research Alliance (NZDRRA)
BAIL, supported by the NZ Rehabilitation Association has led the development of a national alliance of researchers and other stakeholders working and living with disability in New Zealand. We hope the alliance will provide opportunities for collaboration in research activities around the country and a mechanism for a stronger voice from the disability and rehabilitation sector on issues relevant for stakeholders. The steering committee led by BAIL, involves researchers and end users from various institutions and we look forward to developing our online presence in 2014 so watch this space.

New Zealand Rehabilitation Association (NZRA)
BAIL is also represented by Dr Debbie Snell on the executive committee of the NZRA, an organisation that aims to promote rehabilitation in NZ. This year’s conference in Nelson in March was well attended by researchers, clinicians and end users from around the country and provided an opportunity for networking with colleagues who share the common goal of improving rehabilitation outcomes for all New Zealander’s.

SCI Network Australia & NZ (SCIN)
Anne Sinnott is on the Research Evidence & Translation (RET) committee of SCIN. This committee is chaired by Professor Louise Nicholson from University of Auckland. Additional members include academics from Australian universities & government and an End User representative. Established in 2008, SCIN has identified a number of ways to speed the translation of innovative research discoveries into practical benefits for people with SCI.

International Spinal Cord Society (ISCOS) Data Sets for Hand Function.
The first draft of the basic data set for SCI and Hand Function is currently under peer review. This is the most recent of the data sets projects Anne Sinnott has worked on. The previous two: Quality of Life and Activity & Participation are now published and in use.

International Perspectives on Spinal Cord Impairment (IPSCI)
This WHO report will be released at a special event in Geneva on 3 December. Anne Sinnott's contribution was as co-editor of the Environmental Determinants chapter. Other NZ author contributors include Dr Shaun Xiong and Jo Nunnerley.

WHAT’S COMING UP?
Living with Spinal Cord Injury Mini Symposium March 2014:
BAIL with the support of the Burwood Spinal Unit, is hosting an afternoon symposium on life with spinal cord injury. Keynote speakers will include Dr Martin Sullivan, Associate Professor Sarah Derrett and Professor Charlotte Paul from Massey University who will present findings from their longitudinal SCI Life Histories research, and Richard Smaill who will present from his completed PhD on living and aging with a SCI. We will also have short presentations from local researchers. The afternoon will conclude with drinks and nibbles.
This will be held on Thursday 20 March 2014 at the Alan Bean Centre so please mark this date in your diaries and we look forward to seeing you there.

The BAIL team of Debbie, Brain, Anne and Hans wish you all a very Merry Christmas and peaceful holiday.

Hans Wouters – Project Manager Burwood Academy Of Independent Living.