estara’s Peer Support in action

Our Peer Support team has had a busy few months. From taking medical students through their paces at The Repat, to launching a new art and wellbeing program for inpatients in partnership with SA Health. Here's the latest from Peer Support Mentor, Molly.

Teaching tomorrow's doctors

In partnership with SA Health and Adelaide University, estara's Peer Support team has been facilitating a wheelchair workshop for third year medical students at the Tim Hughes Basketball Stadium at The Repat.

Over a four-week program, around 180 students have taken part in learning wheelchair skills, navigating an obstacle course in a wheelchair, and ending with a Q&A session with Peer Support Mentors and an Exercise Physiologist from SASCIS (South Australian Spinal Cord Injury Service).

The sessions give students a real insight into the wheelchair skills taught within a rehabilitation setting. They also get the chance to hear directly from people with lived experience and peer support about the ongoing needs of someone with a spinal cord injury.

A new program on the spinal ward

estara's Peer Support team has also recently partnered with SA Health's CALHN Volunteer Service to facilitate a weekly Arts and Wellbeing program for inpatients on the spinal ward at The Repat.

The program is brand new, only up and running for a few weeks, and already offering something meaningful for people during what can be a challenging time. Inpatients have access to added social interaction, connection with peer support, and mental health support, and a way to extend their rehab through the use of adaptive devices where needed.

So far the program has explored painting and colouring in, with future plans to expand into activities like cooking, music, board games and more.

Watch this space for more updates from Peer Support.