Fishing was something Luke wanted back in his life. After an acquired brain injury, getting out on the water had become harder, and he was spending less time doing the things he enjoyed.
When Luke’s story was first shared in October 2024, he had returned to fishing and was skippering his own boat. He had also lost 30 kilograms through regular exercise. Those are Luke’s achievements. The support around him helped him keep working towards them.
Starting with something Luke cared about
Luke’s support included regular exercise, planning and encouragement. His workers took time to understand his interests and helped him break larger goals into manageable steps.
A familiar person turning up for an agreed outing can make it easier to keep a routine. For Luke, community access support was a way to spend more time doing things he wanted to do, including fishing.
Progress took time. It involved finding activities that suited him and continuing with them, rather than expecting one session to change everything.
Back on the water
By the time of the original story, Luke had rebuilt his fitness and confidence enough to enjoy fishing from his own boat.
Jason, Vana Care’s co-founder, said, “We’re extremely proud of what Luke has achieved, and his story is an inspiration to us all.”
Luke’s experience belongs to him. Another person with a brain injury may have different goals, support needs or recovery. Weight loss, boating and exercise aren’t measures everyone needs to work towards.
What would you like to do more of?
You might want help returning to an old interest, trying something new or getting to an activity regularly. It helps to tell a provider what you enjoy, what currently gets in the way and what would make an outing comfortable.
If exercise is part of the plan, any health or rehabilitation advice should come from the appropriate health professional. A support worker’s role needs to be agreed around that advice and their training.
You can read about community access in Adelaide, or talk to our team about an activity you’d like support with. We’ll check the practical arrangements, funding and workers available before agreeing on a start.
