SNN_December 2022 Issue_web low res

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 10
What is it you want? We
just want to have a yarn.
It’s as simple as that.
—Andrew Hall
help. If you're not sure where you can get help in the first
instance, we can help point you in the right direction,
whether it's medical, clinical, whatever other help you need.
But in terms of just having a listening ear, we're there and
we're there for everyone nationwide.
The other thing that I really think people need to be
aware of is their nearest and their whānau and others may
be hurting too. Their needs are just as important as the
spinal injured person's needs, and they deserve support
as well.
And I think not losing sight of the fact that one person
might be in the chair, but there's a whole lot of other
people who are impacted by it. And they want someone to
talk to you. We can also supply that.
Peer and Whānau Support by the numbers
• There are approximately 5,000 New Zealanders living
with spinal cord impairments.
• Around 220 people sustain a permanent spinal cord
impairment in New Zealand every year.
• Approximately two thirds of these are accidents and
one third are health-related.
• ACC has invested $1.3 million into Peer and Whānau
Support for 2022 – 2023
• The Peer and Whānau programme has been extend
across 18 regions from the far north (Kaitaia) to the deep
south (Invercargill), with around 30 community Peer
Support staff.