SCIA attended ANZSCoS 2024 in Fremantle, Western Australia from November 27th to 29th November. The underlying theme of the event was ‘Sustainability, to connect respect and heal‘. This theme was carried throughout the conference, with sessions regarding inclusivity of spinal cord injury (SCI) within the community, sustaining connections and ensuring those with lived experience are included in the development and implementation of research and interventions.
Liala Cadelli, Program Manager Transitional Peer Support and Emergency Preparedness, presented on Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) for people with disability. P-CEP is a comprehensive process that helps people with disabilities to create effective emergency plans tailored to their specific needs.
Peer and Family Support Manager Rob Wynn, and Peer and Family Support Coordinators Anne Currie and Heidz Haydon from our Peer and Family Support Team, discussed peer support fundamentals, facilitating and sharing stories about living with SCI.
Some of the highlights from the conference included a presentation by Anne Watts from Fiona Stanley Hospital in Murdoch, WA which highlighted the improvements with wound management for chronic wounds, with the use of electrical stimulation. Sexual health and intimacy with SCI was also a strong focus throughout the conference, with presentations from Candice Care-Unger from CareRehab and plenary sessions including those with lived experience.
Overall, it was great to re-connect face to face with the community and re-establish networks to ensure sustainability, equity and inclusiveness for people with spinal cord injuries and the wider community.