Turning awareness into action: shaping physical activity opportunity for people living with brain injury

This week marks Brain Injury Awareness Week 2025, with the powerful theme: Invisible disabilities deserve visible change. It’s a reminder that while brain injury is often unseen, its impact is very real, affecting thousands of Australians every day.

At the heart of this theme is a call to do more than raise awareness. It’s about taking action that improves the lives, health, and connection for people living with a brain injury.

Australia’s first physical activity guideline for moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI)

Last year, we reached a milestone: the release of Australia’s first physical activity guideline for people living with msTBI.

This evidence-based guideline was developed to help health professionals and carers to support people with msTBI to be more physically active. Physical activity is more than just movement, it improves physical health, mental wellbeing, independence, and social connection.

Read the guideline here.

From guideline to action

Thanks to new funding, we’re now taking the next step: putting these guidelines into practice across Australia. That means building programs and resources that respond to the needs, preferences, and experiences of people living with msTBI.

But to do this well, we need your help.

How you can help

We’re inviting people aged 10 years and over who are living with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury to share their voice.

Please take 15-20 minutes to complete our survey about the types of physical activity you enjoy.
If you know someone affected by msTBI, please share this survey with them.

Take the survey here.

Your feedback will directly shape programs that make it easier for people living with brain injury to be active, healthier, and more connected.

We are also looking to conduct interviews about people’s experiences post-traumatic brain injury in the near future. For more information contact: bridges.study@sydney.edu.au

Together, we can create change

Brain Injury Awareness Week is about more than reflection — it’s about action. By listening, learning, and responding, we can build a future where invisible disabilities receive the visible support and recognition they deserve.

Let’s work together to create opportunities for people with brain injury to live more active, healthy, and connected lives.

This work has been conducted by our BRIDGES team.

Written by Courtney West and Sakina Chagpar.