My name is Fran. My interests are horses, music, art, photography, and I really love summer. I love walking up the beach, especially at sunset.

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I’m involved with Voices for Change. This group was set up for people who have an ABI (Acquired Brain Injury) or TPI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and have been in prison or in trouble with the law. Anyone is welcome to join our group who has these circumstances. We do self-advocacy. We have spoken to a lot of people, and I have seen a bit of change.

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ABIs can be caused by many different things. It can be a car accident, a fall, can be from violence – the list goes on and on. ABIs can also occur due to stroke, brain tumour, drug or alcohol use and the lack of oxygen to the brain.

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ABIs have a wide range of symptoms that are sometimes invisible. An ABI can affect your memory and attention and can have an impact on things like your strength and balance. ABIs can affect your senses, including vision, touch and smell, and can lead to speech and language difficulties. These behaviours are often criminalised.

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There are so many things that people should be aware of about people who have an ABI that have been in the justice system. It’s so easy to judge and to say, “This person did this,” and really put people down. But people don’t understand.

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With my ABI, I knew I was different, but I didn’t understand. I wasn’t able to keep my job, a lot of things fell apart around me. It was very hopeless and scary. I just thought it was me, of course. So, after my first ABI, I carried on with life.

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And then I had a second ABI , which was really horrible. I was in hospital for more than six months. My mind was the same, but my body and my brain were different. I didn’t know who I was. I was ashamed. It felt really scary not being able to walk. I had to go home with a frame. I was absolutely gutted. From there, my goal was to walk to the letter box outside, and it felt impossible. It was really hard, but I had a great physiotherapist, and I made it.

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I honestly thought my life was over. That was until a support worker took me to an event in the city where I saw a famous advocate, Peta Ferguson. She was speaking bravely and passionately about her life, and I connected straight away – a similar voice, a similar story. I was frightened to meet her, but my support worker took me under his wing, and he introduced us. He got me involved in her organisation called Brain Injury Matters.

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I started off quiet as a mouse and not saying anything at all. We had a fantastic coordinator with our group, and she helped get me out of my shell. From there, I became president of the organisation! I spoke at events, which are very important for people. I noticed change, and that is something that makes me want to keep on advocating. Now I advocate with Voices for Change.

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At Voices for Change, we have met life-changing and powerful people and organisations that can make a difference. I’m really nervous about doing this podcast, but I knew I had to do it because I wanted to send a message of hope to those who feel all alone, their brain is changed, and life feels so scary. Everything is so difficult. Everything is different – dynamics, friendships, everything.

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It’s so easy to stay at home or just shut the door and not face things. But I think that, when we have each other, we can start advocating and trying to change the system. I have travelled all over Australia, I’ve spoken at Parliament and I have changed laws. We have done things that are amazing. It’s a place where you can be honest and open and be able to share and not be judged.

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I want to see people with ABIs who have been through stigma and are criminalised to be able to come together, shake things up and make everything better. We’ve lived through awful things, and hopefully no one else has to.