Newcastle Monday Aphasia Groups

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Newcastle Monday Aphasia Groups
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• Roy Quinn
• Bessie Beath
• Lyn Maddison
• Allyn Morris
• Shirley Lobley
• Diane Steele
• Dulcie Gray
• Sue Sherratt
• Megan Alston

• Jim Folwell
• Carol Hill
• Joan Fitzgerald
• Ken Baker
• Diane Walpole
• Lesley McCorquodale
• Barbara Corrigan
• Judy Mullins
• Deb Kidd

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• In memory of friends who are no longer with us
• Cecil Burke
• Glenn Hamilton
• Dick James

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Background

• Inspired by Connect, Talk Back and UQ
• Aphasia groups
• Running since 2003
• Open to anyone with aphasia who has finished
  other speech therapy

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Who are we?

• People who have had a stroke, with aphasia
• 6 months to 14 years since the stroke
• Aged 30s to 90s
• From all walks of life
• 3 groups
• 28 members currently

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Where do we meet?

• Newcastle Community Health
• Centre in Hunter St. Newcastle.

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When do we meet?

• 4 blocks of 10 weeks per year.
• Meet on Mondays
• 1 ½ hours per group

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Why do we meet?

• To practice communication
• To learn from others
• To get information
• To be with other people
• To support each other

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What do we do?

• General conversation
• Themed conversation
• Discussion about living with stroke and aphasia
• Special projects brochure and video
• Go out for a meal 4 times per year

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Why do we get out of it?Why do we keep coming?

• Companionship
• Friendship
• Sense of connection
• Understanding
• Acceptance
• Have a good time enjoy

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• Laughter
• Information
• Sharing experiences and life
• Helps people talk
• Learn how to express ourselves in different ways

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Are the Health Managers happy?

• Yes!!
• Group members show significant improvements in
• Communicative effectiveness
• Self esteem

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The future?

• More outings
• More education of the general community
• A purpose built aphasia centre
• Our own bus and driver
• A holiday retreat for people with aphasia and
  their families

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Things that I have learned

• Inspired by the members courage and resilience.
• Recovery keeps on happening beyond what the text
  books say.
• Reminds me about what really matters.
• Taught me not to judge how others may be feeling.

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• You never stop learning
• Important to give people the opportunity to give
  back.
• There is always a way forward.

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• A friend is someone who helps you up when youre
  down, and if they cant, they lay down beside you
  and listen.
• Anonymous