May 2025 - Rehabilitation Specialists

At TRS, we’re committed to improving accessibility and support for clients with vision loss. On Tuesday, May 20, our Sydney and Canberra teams participated in a valuable training session with Vision Australia, Australia’s leading provider of blind and low vision services. The training focused on understanding the impacts of vision impairment, eye health, and how to use assistive technology to empower individuals with low vision or blindness.

️ Understanding Vision Loss and Its Impact

During the training, we explored:

The day-to-day challenges faced by individuals with vision loss
Common eye conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts
The difference between low vision and complete blindness
Practical strategies to support clients who are blind or visually impaired

We also learned about assistive technologies — tools that can help individuals navigate their environments, communicate, and maintain independence.

About Vision Australia

Vision Australia is a national, for-purpose organisation that supports Australians of all ages who are blind or have low vision. Their services are designed to promote:

Independence
Employment
Education
Social inclusion

With over 150 years of experience, Vision Australia is the most trusted name in vision support services.

Did You Know?

There are an estimated 453,000 people in Australia living with blindness or low vision.
90% of them have low vision; only 10% are completely blind.
Vision Australia serves clients of all ages — from children to seniors.
Only 24% of Australians with vision impairment are in full-time work, underscoring the need for inclusive workplace practices.

‍ Why This Training Matters to TRS

At TRS (The Right Support), we pride ourselves on ongoing staff training. Sessions like this ensure that we stay up to date with the best practices for supporting clients with disabilities, particularly those with low vision or blindness.

Our teams walked away feeling more confident in how to:

Recommend technology solutions
Offer practical day-to-day support
Understand and empathise with the lived experience of vision impairment

We’re grateful to Vision Australia for this opportunity and look forward to implementing what we’ve learned across all our services.

On Friday, May 2nd, some of our amazing TRS team members had the pleasure of attending the 2025 Insurance Ball—an annual highlight for professionals in the rehabilitation and insurance industries. Dressed in their finest, our staff enjoyed a well-deserved evening of celebration, connection, and giving back.

This much-anticipated event is more than just a night of glamour. Each year, the Insurance Ball raises funds for a local charity doing meaningful work in the community. In 2025, the chosen beneficiary was Toora Women’s Inc., a Canberra-based organisation dedicated to supporting women affected by trauma.

Who Does Toora Women’s Inc. Support?

Toora Women’s Inc. provides critical support services for women, non-binary, and feminine-identifying individuals over 18 who are navigating challenges such as:

Domestic, family, and sexual violence
Alcohol and drug dependency
Homelessness or risk of homelessness
Mental health conditions
Reintegration following time in correctional institutions

Toora’s trauma-informed approach recognises the complex needs of its clients, providing tailored, evidence-based therapeutic support to foster long-term healing and empowerment.

Toora’s Services: Building Strength and Healing

Toora offers a wide range of counselling services and group programs, facilitated by qualified, registered professionals. Their services include:

One-on-One Counselling

Using therapeutic models such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapy, Toora helps individuals build emotional resilience and reclaim control over their lives.

‍ Circles of Security Parenting Program (COS-P)

This eight-week course strengthens the parent-child bond and helps caregivers understand and meet their children’s emotional needs.

Healing Trauma Group

A six-week program empowering women with practical tools to manage trauma, develop healthy relationships, and practice self-love and care.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

An eight-week evidence-based program for women affected by trauma, substance misuse, and domestic violence, focused on emotional regulation and personal empowerment.

Leading the Way in Women’s Homelessness Support

Toora also operates the largest specialist homelessness support service in the ACT for women and children. Their holistic services address a wide range of contributing factors—such as trauma, financial stress, mental health issues, substance abuse, and domestic violence—ensuring clients receive comprehensive and compassionate care.

A Night to Remember for a Cause That Matters

The team at TRS is proud to have been part of this meaningful night. The 2025 Insurance Ball is a cherished tradition we look forward to each year—not just for the celebration, but for the opportunity to contribute to causes that truly change lives.

We are honoured to support Toora Women’s Inc. and the incredible work they do in our community. Here’s to a night of elegance, impact, and hope!

At The Rehabilitation Specialists, one of our favourite things is welcoming university students for their placements — and this time, we’ve hit the jackpot with two incredible Occupational Therapy (OT) students joining us!

For eight weeks, starting from March 24th, we’ve been lucky to have Victor and Liz on board, working alongside our NDIS OTs and gaining valuable hands-on experience.

Meet Victor!

Victor is passionate about learning and always brings a calm, friendly energy to the team. Outside of OT, he’s a huge basketball fan — and a big admirer of King LeBron James.

One of his favourite things to do? Walking his dog! In fact, if you ever want to see Victor light up or have a great conversation, just ask him about his dog — it’s guaranteed to make him smile.

Another fun fact: Victor is multilingual, speaking both Cantonese and Mandarin fluently!

Say Hello to Liz!

Liz is a creative soul with a love for dogs, reading, and all things arts and crafts. She doesn’t just stick to one type of craft either — Liz enjoys exploring it all, with a particular passion for crochet and using her spinning wheel.

Just like Victor, Liz is also a dog lover. Her wonderful service dog, Pixel, even joins her at the TRS office and comes along to OT appointments! Pixel has quickly become part of the TRS family too.

Making an Impact at TRS

Victor and Liz have shared that they’ve felt incredibly welcomed by the TRS team and have already learned so much from their placement so far. From seeing a wide range of clients to gaining new insights and experiences, their journey has been full of growth.

We’re so grateful to have Victor, Liz, and Pixel with us for these two months. Their enthusiasm, kindness, and fresh perspectives have made a real difference — and we can’t wait to see what the rest of their placement brings.

Welcome again to the TRS family — we’re so lucky to have you!

News

Vision Australia Training: Supporting Clients with Vision Loss at TRS