For the 6th Consecutive Year…
That’s right, for the 6th consecutive year, at the invitation of leading Australian and internationality renowned Stoke Clinician Dr. Simone Dorsch, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney Campus I have the privilege of addressing Final Year Physiotherapy Students on my Stroke Story and rehab journey.
I also took the opportunity to provide them with my insights and learnings on the treatment that I received during my 4 months stay in the Bankstown Stroke Unit in 2016.
These insights were based on my extensive corporate background in change management, process, and service delivery.
I was also joined today and for the same number of ‘past appearances’ by Stephanie Ho, a fellow Stroke Survivor whose Stroke story and subsequent rehab journey has and continues to be a source of inspiration to me.
We are both recipiences of the Stroke Foundation of Australia “Improving Life After Stroke Award \{Stephanie in 2019, I in 2021\}.
The audience were certainly attentive [ both in the room and on ZOOM\} and asked many searching questions. As I have said each time, I have spent time with physio students at the ACU the future of stroke rehab is safe.
Topics I covered in my talk included my stroke event, my before Stroke risky lifestyle and post stroke behavioural modifications, my experience in hospital, the longevity of my stroke rehab and some statistics on my exercises. I also spoke about relationship building with Stroke Survivors, the role of key stakeholders and other factors in service delivery.
The amazing thing was that even though our stroke stories \{no 2 strokes are ever the same\} are quite different\} we [Stephanie and I\} both arrived at similar insights and learnings!
This activity is one of the “perks “of being a stroke survivor- to be able to GIVE BACK to those amazing clinicians who helped to put me back together again after my significant stroke. I never refuse their requests to share my Lived Experience with clinicians and other relevant stakeholders.
A great day- my thanks to Simone for this priveledge and opportunity!
Brian A Beh, Stroke Survivor
Lifelong Member of the Hopalong Cassidy Fan Club
Poet, Philosopher and Child of the Cosmos
Winner "Improving Life After Stroke" Category
Stroke Foundation of Australia 2021 National Awards