Brain injury & stroke · Gold Coast Assessment, rehabilitation and support after a brain injury or stroke.
For adults whose memory, thinking, mood or behaviour is different after a brain injury of any cause or severity, including stroke and other acquired brain injury. For the families and teams supporting them. We work out what has changed, and we help with recovery, work, driving and adjustment.
Persisting symptoms after a concussion are on our concussion page. Progressive conditions such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy are on our neurological conditions page.
- Who this is for
- Adults whose thinking, mood or behaviour has changed after a brain injury or stroke, their families, and the rehabilitation, NDIS and insurer teams around them.
- What it can clarify
- What has changed and why, what is likely to improve, and what will help at home, at work and with driving.
- What you receive
- An explanation you can use, a written report for its purpose, and rehabilitation or therapy where it will help.
- Format
- Assessment in Southport, paced around fatigue; rehabilitation, therapy and family sessions in person or by telehealth.
- Next step
- Request an appointment, or ask your doctor, rehabilitation team or support coordinator to refer.
After a brain injury, something is often different: memory, concentration, energy, mood, temper or confidence, or the ability to get through a working day. An assessment explains what has changed and why. Rehabilitation and psychological therapy then build on what is improving, and work around what is not.
We see adults after traumatic brain injury of any severity, stroke, hypoxic injury (for example after cardiac arrest), encephalitis, brain tumour treatment, alcohol-related brain injury and other acquired brain injuries. We see people from hospital discharge to years later. Every referral is reviewed by our team and a psychologist, and we coordinate with the person's doctor, occupational therapist, speech pathologist, physiotherapist, support coordinator or insurer.
How we help
What a neuropsychologist can do after a brain injury
Understand what has changed
A neuropsychological assessment gives a standardised cognitive profile of memory, attention, thinking speed, planning and behaviour, interpreted against the injury and the person's background. It explains what is behind the changes you have noticed, what is likely to improve, and what to do about it. The report is written for its purpose: rehabilitation planning, a return to work, driving, NDIS supports or an insurer's decision.
Cognitive rehabilitation
Strategy training for memory, attention, planning and organisation, following the INCOG 2.0 international guidelines. Practical methods and aids for everyday tasks, with fatigue management and pacing, taught individually and practised at home and at work. The aim is to improve what can be improved, and to use existing strengths to work around what cannot.
Psychological therapy and adjustment
Understanding the injury and coming to terms with its effects is part of recovery, for the person and for their family. Our psychologists provide therapy for low mood, anxiety, irritability, loss of confidence and changes in relationships after brain injury. They work with families on what has changed at home and how to support it. Where behaviour has changed, we contribute assessment and strategies to the team.
Return to work, study and driving
Graded return-to-work plans and workplace adjustments, agreed with the employer, rehabilitation provider or insurer, with a clear statement of capacity for particular duties. For driving, the assessment gives the treating doctor the cognitive evidence for a fitness-to-drive decision, and we advise when an occupational therapy driving assessment is also needed. For living independently, we describe the support that is needed now and how it can be reduced over time.
Referral pathways
Choose your referral pathway
Medical and rehabilitation referrals
From GPs, neurologists, rehabilitation physicians, hospital teams and allied health and vocational rehabilitation providers, for assessment, cognitive rehabilitation or psychological therapy. The assessment describes the person's cognitive strengths and difficulties after injury or stroke, and how thinking or behaviour is affecting rehabilitation. Make a clinical referral · what to send
NDIS referrals
From participants, nominees, support coordinators and support teams. We work with self-managed and plan-managed participants; we are not currently registered to accept agency-managed funding. The assessment describes how cognitive impairment affects everyday functioning, and the type and intensity of support required. NDIS funding supports assessment tied to functional impact and reasonable and necessary supports, not assessment whose sole purpose is diagnosis or access. Rehabilitation and therapy can be funded from a participant's capacity-building supports where the plan provides for them. Submit an NDIS referral · our NDIS pathway
WorkCover, motor accident (CTP) and insurer referrals
From claims managers, rehabilitation advisers, treating teams and approved vocational providers, with the claim details, referral question and written funding approval before work begins. We provide treatment-focused assessment, cognitive rehabilitation and psychological therapy for an accepted injury under an approved plan. Reports address the cognitive effects of the injury, barriers to rehabilitation or a sustainable return to work, capacity for particular duties, and the need for further treatment or review. Where an independent expert opinion is required rather than a clinical assessment, use our medico-legal pathway. Request a scope and estimate · WorkCover & insurers
When to refer
When to refer, or to get in touch
- Memory, attention, thinking speed, planning or behaviour has changed after a brain injury or stroke and is affecting rehabilitation, safety, work, study or independence
- The person or their family is struggling to adjust, or low mood, anxiety or irritability is getting in the way of recovery
- A return to work, study or driving needs cognitive evidence, a graded plan or a clear statement of capacity
- NDIS supports need to be linked more clearly to cognitive and everyday functional impact, or a funder requires a defined cognitive assessment
- Previous assessment exists and measuring change against a post-injury benchmark would influence a current decision
Where mobility, personal care or the home environment is the main question, an occupational therapy functional capacity assessment may also be needed.
What is involved
What happens, step by step
- Referral review and agreed scope. A clinical neuropsychologist reviews the referral question, existing records and funding pathway. Before booking, we confirm what the assessment needs to answer, who will receive the report, the likely scope and cost, and any funder requirements.
- Interview and collateral information. The injury, treatment, current functioning, previous abilities and rehabilitation goals, and with consent a family member, support person or treating professional.
- Cognitive assessment. Testing selected for the referral question and paced around fatigue, communication needs and physical accessibility, divided across appointments where needed.
- Feedback and plan. The findings explained in plain language to the person and their family, and a report to the agreed recipients. Where rehabilitation or therapy would help, we agree a plan with goals, session numbers and review points, and coordinate it with the treating team.
- Rehabilitation, therapy and review. Individual sessions, family sessions where useful, and liaison with the workplace, rehabilitation provider or support coordinator, with progress reviewed against the goals. Anything needing prompt attention is phoned through.
Assessment and cognitive rehabilitation are provided by our clinical neuropsychologists, and psychological therapy by our clinical psychologists and neuropsychologists; qualifications and registration are on the team page.
Referral checklist
What to include with a referral
Send what is available rather than delaying the referral to assemble every document.
- The referral question, and current cognitive and functional concerns
- Injury date, diagnosis, discharge summaries, imaging reports and specialist correspondence
- Previous neuropsychological, occupational therapy or rehabilitation reports
- Medication, and relevant psychological or developmental history
- Communication, mobility, fatigue or accessibility requirements, and contact details for the team
For NDIS matters, add the plan-management type, the relevant goals and the purpose of the report, available assessment funding and plan-manager details. For insurer-funded matters, add the claim number and insurer, case-manager contact details, the written approval or letter of instruction, the approved scope and any required reporting format.
Cost & funding
Cost and funding, by pathway
Private assessment
A focused private assessment includes the clinical interview, targeted cognitive testing, scoring and interpretation, a feedback discussion and a written report. Broader testing, extensive record review, multiple informants or detailed functional reporting take more time. We confirm the scope and provide a written estimate before booking, and a booking fee is credited to the total. Neuropsychological assessment does not attract a Medicare Better Access rebate.
Rehabilitation and therapy
Cognitive rehabilitation and psychological therapy are charged per session, with the plan agreed at the start. Psychological therapy may attract a Medicare rebate under Better Access with a mental health treatment plan from your GP or psychiatrist. This applies where a condition such as depression or anxiety has been diagnosed. Sessions can also be funded through the NDIS, WorkCover, CTP insurers or DVA where approved.
NDIS
For eligible self-managed or plan-managed participants, we agree the scope and a service agreement before commencing, billed in line with the NDIS pricing arrangements. See our NDIS page.
WorkCover, CTP and other insurers
We confirm written approval, scope, fees and invoicing with the funder before booking; where approved, the funder is invoiced directly. See WorkCover & insurers.
DVA
For veterans with DVA coverage, assessment and treatment are provided under the DVA arrangements with an appropriate referral; we confirm approval before booking. See our DVA page.
Full policies, including deposits and cancellations, are on our fees and policies page.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can memory and concentration improve after a brain injury?
Often, yes. Recovery continues over months and sometimes years, and where a difficulty remains, strategies change what it costs you day to day. Cognitive rehabilitation teaches methods and aids for memory, attention and planning that carry over into everyday tasks; international guidelines recommend this strategy-based approach over drill-based computer training.
How long after the injury should I be assessed?
At any stage. Early on, an assessment guides rehabilitation and the return to work or study. Later, it answers a specific question about work, driving, supports or change since an earlier assessment. Very soon after a severe injury we may advise waiting until the acute period has settled.
Is this the same as an occupational therapy functional capacity assessment?
Not usually. Neuropsychology assesses cognition, behaviour and psychological adjustment and interprets their functional effects. Occupational therapy more directly assesses everyday activities, equipment, personal care and environmental needs. The two complement each other.
Can the report support an NDIS application or plan review?
It provides cognitive and functional evidence, but it does not guarantee NDIS access or funding. Evidence of permanent impairment will commonly also be required from a treating doctor or specialist.
Can you determine whether someone can drive or return to work?
The assessment identifies cognitive strengths and risks relevant to driving and to work demands, and recommends adjustments, pacing or further rehabilitation. The medical decision about driving rests with the treating doctor and may require an occupational therapy driving assessment. Work capacity decisions remain part of the medical, vocational and insurer process.
Can assessment be completed by telehealth?
Interviews, collateral discussions, feedback and most therapy sessions can occur by telehealth. Standardised cognitive testing is generally conducted in person in Southport.
Start with what has changed
Tell us what is different since the injury and what you are hoping for: an explanation, rehabilitation, help getting back to work or driving, or support for you and your family. Our team and a psychologist review every enquiry, and we reply within two working days to confirm whether we are the right service and explain the next step. Families are welcome to contact us directly.
Referrals by secure form, fax 07 5594 0995 or enquiry at brainandmind.com.au · Phone enquiries are welcome during business hours on 0452 452 262; if we are with a client, please leave a message and we will call you back.
Request an appointment Submit a referralSources: INCOG 2.0, Guidelines for Cognitive Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury, 2023; Cicerone KD, et al., Evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation: systematic review of the literature from 2009 through 2014, 2019; Stroke Foundation, Living Clinical Guidelines for Stroke Management; National Disability Insurance Agency, functional capacity assessment guidance; WorkCover Queensland, allied health provider requirements; Motor Accident Insurance Commission, treatment plan guidance.