Endorsements | Programme information | Referrals | Evaluation

Endorsements

The three LifeMoves instigators at Royal Melbourne Hospital -Yvette Denning,
Jane Hepenstall (Founder)and Julia Louie with Nina Smith (Peers Inspiring Peers)
and Barbara Haynes (Benefactor)

Dr Louisa Ng, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Park campus

Jane Hepenstall
Speech Pathologist
The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Park Campus until 2009, (now in private practice)

As I reflect on where LifeMoves stands today I am filled with satisfaction and pride that it is now wholly developed and facilitated by peers for peers.

LifeMoves' role over the last seven years has been to equip people with the ability to regain control over their lives and participate in life at an optimal level, based on their own values and expectations. It targets people who are struggling to deal with change and loss in their life following neurological damage and offers an opportunity to meet with others in a similar situation in order to receive and provide support, encouragement and information.

I heartily endorse Nina Smith's role as the LifeMoves Executive Director. Nina is a past participant of LifeMoves and an advanced facilitator. Since 2007, under Nina's leadership the programme has continued to develop and strengthen.

Finally and most importantly, I honour the strength, courage and unity of all LifeMoves participants past and present, many of whom continue to use their personal experience of neurological impairment and understanding of the recovery process to offer support to others.

Professor Fary Khan & Dr Louisa Ng
Director of Rehabilitation Medicine & Rehabilitation Consultant
The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Park Campus

LifeMoves is a prime example of patient-centred care for people with neurological disorders. Its value lies within the opportunity to share experiences with others in a similar situation without the guidance or presence of a health professional, hence enabling participants to provide and receive psychosocial support and experiential knowledge that the medical model of care is unable to provide. The feedback from patients has been fantastic and LifeMoves is a crucial aspect in the comprehensive care that we aim to provide.

Dale Killen
Senior Social Worker and Team Leader of the Neurological Stream
Community Therapy Services
The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Park Campus

LifeMoves is a wonderful programme that enables participants to discuss, design and facilitate their own program tailored to their needs. This makes LifeMoves very empowering for its members. In the hospital setting there is often an absence of a programme that allows its participants an avenue for discussing their shared experiences in a safe and confidential environment. LifeMoves is conducted in the language of the participants, not in the language of therapists or the orthodoxy of the medical model. LifeMoves is a very good example of patient centred care as they are in control of all aspects of the programme. Finally, I feel very grateful for being able to participate in many of the LifeMoves sessions. I personally learnt a lot from the experience. Best of luck for the future to all involved particularly Nina Smith who has been a great driver of LifeMoves.

Dr Sheryl Monteath
Clinical Neuropsychologist
The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Park Campus

Neurological injury or illness can strike any one of us. The effects can be sudden, unexpected, catastrophic and more often than not life changing. While support systems are well structured to deal with the physical consequences of such conditions, we have been less adept at supporting people through the often long and painful emotional journey that can follow. The LifeMoves programme has made huge moves toward bridging this gap, by combining the much required input of trained professionals, with the utterly matchless support that can be offered by peers. It has been a privilege to be a part of the development of the programme, to see it grow and to observe the obviously powerful journey of so many of its participants. I am utterly thrilled to hear that LifeMoves is now extending out and broadening its reach. I am sure that with the passion and commitment of its facilitators, it will continue to grow from strength to strength. Congratulations and good luck!!!

Julie Louie
Senior Clinician Physiotherapist
The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Park Campus

It is no surprise that as a physiotherapist I focus on the physical aspects of rehabilitation. However, with years of experience the importance of a person's psychosocial wellbeing in achieving positive outcomes is vital. Many a time, a person's physical recovery has been stalled by unaddressed psychosocial issues. I feel blessed to work in an organisation that has supported the development and ongoing continuation of LifeMoves. Not only does LifeMoves address psychosocial issues but does so with a peer based model. The empowerment that I see participants gain through such a model is so rewarding. At a time where rehabilitation worldwide is focusing on the patient, LifeMoves is a shining example of this in action.

Programme information

Click here to download a client brochure (PDF format)

Click here to download 'A Guide for Professionals' (PDF format).

Referrals

Please click to download a referral form in MSWord or PDF formats.

Evaluation

Peers Inspiring Peers is committed to the ongoing evaluation and optimisation of the LifeMoves programme to ensure that it meets the needs of participants and we are able to demonstrate this effectiveness to prospective participants and referrers.

A formal qualitative evaluation of the LifeMoves programme completed in 2006 found that participants experienced an increased sense of support; reduced feelings of isolation; and increased confidence and sense of autonomy and control after participating in LifeMoves. The LifeMoves programme fulfils many of the standards and criteria under the 'Clinical' function within EQuIP framework - demonstrating high quality patient care and consumer participation.

A further evaluation project is currently underway:

Results from this project will be reported as it becomes available.