A message from our CEO
As the year gains momentum, I’d like to share a few updates on what’s been happening across estara.
I am pleased to confirm that, as part of our Strategic Review, the Board has taken the time to reflect deeply on estara’s mission and purpose based on your feedback from our surveys and discussions late in 2025. Importantly, the Board has reaffirmed that we remain true to estara’s PQSA roots - our longstanding and specialist focus on spinal cord injury - while also recognising the natural extension of our expertise in supporting people with neurological conditions and other physical disabilities where these needs overlap. This clarity is central to who we are, and it will continue to guide the work we do every day.
With this in mind, we continue to progress the strategic plan for estara, we have now commenced the final two follow up strategic sessions. Our recent session with the Board was a valuable opportunity to test our thinking, challenge assumptions, and ensure we are aligned on the priorities that will shape estara’s future. These conversations matter. They ensure our strategy reflects lived experience, responds to the needs of our community, and remains focused on sustainable, long-term impact. I look forward to sharing more as this work continues.
Last week we also also celebrated our team, clients, volunteers and members in the South East who gathered in Mt Gambier to reflect on their year in 2025. I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone involved. Your dedication, care and commitment make a profound difference in the lives of people living with spinal cord injury, and your contribution does not go unnoticed. You are the heart of estara.
Looking ahead, we will soon be launching our new Easter donation campaign. As a registered charity, every donation directly supports our community programs, and over the years we have seen just how transformative this support can be. Easter is a time of giving, and this year we’ll be inviting our community to “swap choccie for change”, helping us strengthen the services and programs that people with spinal cord injury rely on. This campaign is also the beginning of a broader focus on donations and peer to peer fundraising, creating even more opportunities for our community to get involved.
Finally, we would love to hear from you. If you have a story about accessibility in the community for people living with spinal cord injury, please consider sharing it with us. Your experiences help us advocate more effectively and continue to push for positive change.
Nicole