QBIC and NIISQ Partnership
We are thrilled to announce a partnership between the National Injury Insurance Scheme, Queensland (NIISQ) Agency and QBIC, which will sustain and expand our initiative over the next three years. The support represents a commitment to a unified approach in Queensland to enhance translational brain injury research.
With additional funding from The University of Queensland, we are poised to continue developing our platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and outreach. This includes offering seed grants for collaborative research projects, details of which will be shared soon.
The support of NIISQ recognises the value in a collaborative research-focused network for brain injury in Queensland, and will usher in a governance structure that better serves the needs of a collaborative network. We will have more to share on this in the coming months.
What is NIISQ?
The National Injury Insurance Scheme, Queensland (NIISQ) is a no-fault Scheme which provides eligible people with necessary and reasonable treatment, care and support, in some cases for their lifetime.
Once someone is accepted into NIISQ, they enter as an interim participant and will receive funding for necessary and reasonable treatment, care and support related to their motor vehicle accident injuries for the next two years.
Towards the end of those two years, the interim participant’s recovery is assessed to determine whether they can leave the Scheme as a result of their recovery, or if they are eligible to continue to receive necessary and reasonable treatment, care and support for the rest of their life.
Different eligibility criteria may apply for participants aged under 18 years.
Why is NIISQ interested in brain injury and research?
NIISQ supports people with any of six forms of serious personal injury, including traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common reason for scheme participation, and the lifetime disability that can result renders it costly. Over 75% of NIISQ participants live with a TBI, and the majority of expenditure from the Scheme is allocated to the care, treatment and rehabilitation of this population. A high proportion of participants are young adults and over 30% live outside the Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast regions.
To help improve health and quality of life outcomes for participants, the NIISQ Agency supports research and education initiatives. The Agency aims to build collaborative partnerships and be an active partner in developing solutions that generate real benefits for Scheme participants. Thus, they prioritise innovative, participant-centred, translational research.
What sort of work does NIISQ support?
Research and education priorities of the NIISQ Agency include improving participants’ independence and community participation, including return to work; facilitating access to best practice treatment, care and support; and translating technology into clinical practice that improves participant outcomes.
Examples of NIISQ-supported research include:
• Development and evaluation of a program to build capacity for providers of cognitive rehabilitation, for people with a traumatic brain injury
• A telehealth-delivered social skills program for youth with brain injuries
• A needs analysis focused on assistive technology provision, incorporating perspectives from users, service providers, health professionals, and care and support scheme representatives
Why is NIISQ supporting QBIC?
As a Queensland Government agency, the NIISQ Agency adopts a state-wide lens to its activities. Queensland has multiple universities generating high quality research relevant to brain injury, a world-class hospital and health system, and a range of support services that improve outcomes for people rehabilitating from serious injury. Disparate organisations carry out this work, and maintaining awareness of capabilities, projects and needs is not straightforward. The NIISQ Agency sees value in enhancing awareness of the clinical needs and research capabilities across the state as relates to brain injury, and in promoting opportunities for inter-institutional research projects that capitalise on the breadth of knowledge we have. The NIISQ Agency hopes QBIC can facilitate these efforts.