ABI Rehabilitation

06/10/2025

It's Mental Health Awareness with the theme to reconnect – with the people and places that lift you up.

For our ABI kiritaki, mental health challenges often accompany the physical and emotional impact of brain injury or stroke. This year’s theme of reconnection holds deep significance in the rehabilitation journey.

Whether it's feeling the ocean breeze at the beach, cheering at a rugby game, or swaying to music that stirs old memories — reconnecting with the things that once brought joy can be a powerful part of healing.

At ABI, we work closely with our kiritaki and their whānau to explore these meaningful reconnections. It's not just about revisiting the past — it’s about rediscovering confidence, hope, and the sense that life can be full again.

Our team of psychologists are here to support every step of that journey, and it's a privilege for our kaimahi to witness the joy and strength that comes from these moments.

💚 Let’s keep the kōrero going — and continue to uplift each other in our communities.

Learn more about the amazing mahi the Mental Health Foundation is doing to support mental wellbeing across Aotearoa: https://loom.ly/d2PrdlQ

23/09/2025

This month we celebrate World Clinical Exercise Physiology Day. Clinical Exercise Physiologists play a vital role in promoting health, preventing disease, disability and enhancing quality of life. Gareth one of our incredible Clinical Exercise Physiologists works with kiritaki with brain injury, stroke and Long COVID. He says

“I am able to integrate behavioural strategies and evidenced-based individualised exercise prescription to help people live healthier and active lifestyles. Generally, most kiritaki I get to work with don’t just have one diagnosis, it’s almost like working out a puzzle with how exercise or movement can be utilized to positively influence mood and function. There is never a one size fits all approach and every day is always different for me as a CEP. I love human movement and exercise science, it’s wonderful to be able to apply my skillset as a CEP to achieve greater health outcomes and longevity.”

We value our CEP’s the work you do and contributions you bring to our clinical team. Happy World CEP day!

19/09/2025

Ngā Wāhanga o te Tinana | Parts of the Body

This Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, let's celebrate our language and culture by learning the Māori names for parts of the body. At ABI we believe in the power of language to connect us and support our wellbeing. Whether you're learning te reo Māori or brushing up on your skills, embracing our language is a step towards healing and unity.

Discover the Māori names for body parts and join us in celebrating 50 years of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. Kia kaha te reo Māori!

18/09/2025

🌿 At ABI, our kaimahi are committed to strengthening their Te Reo Māori skills and deepening their understanding of health through a Te Ao Māori lens.

Māori are overrepresented in brain injury and stroke statistics. That’s why at ABI, we’re dedicated to working closely with our kiritaki and whānau to honor their cultural needs and weave Te Ao Māori into every step of our rehabilitation journey.

A big mihi to our friends at AotearoaBrainProject - Kaupapa Roro o Aotearoa for creating this incredible poster, labelling different parts of the brain in Te Reo Māori.

This week’s wero (challenge) to our kaimahi is to learn these kupu (words) and bring that knowledge into their mahi.

Together, we can build stronger, culturally responsive care.

16/09/2025

🌟 ABI Residential Milestone | Haere rā, Pavel 🌟

Our residential kiritaki often stay with us longer than our intensive and community clients, which makes it all the more bittersweet when it’s time to say goodbye.

Pavel's journey with ABI began after serious car accident resulting in a severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Aug 2023.

He was admitted to ABI Intensive Inpatient Service in Auckland, following his hospitalisation two months after his injury. He stayed there for almost 6 months and because of the severity of injury, he transferred to one of our Residential Rehabilitation Service in Auckland.

When Pavel first arrived, he was fully reliant on a wheelchair. In July 2025, he walked out the doors of ABI Residential to continue his rehabilitation at his home - an incredible milestone almost 2 years after the accident.

An emotional day for our kaimahi, Pavel, and his whānau - and a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and determination that lives within our kiritaki.

Kia kaha, Pavel. We’re so proud of you.

15/09/2025

15 – 21 September is Speech‑language Therapy Awareness Week: Let’s embrace Wairuatanga together!

At ABI, our Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) work across our services - with adults and tamariki - supporting communication, swallowing, connection, and identity. These are all vital elements of holistic hauora.

This week, we celebrate the essential role communication plays in the wellbeing of individuals, whānau, and communities.

At the same time, this campaign invites us to turn the mirror inward - encouraging SLTs to reflect on their own wellbeing, and how we can continue to support each other as a professional community. By taking care of ourselves, we ensure we can keep providing the best care and support for our kiritaki and their whānau.

A big ngā mihi to all our SLTs - thank you for the incredible mahi you do with kiritaki, within the IDT, supporting students, and in leadership across our services. Your work makes a real difference every day.

Interested in joining our team? Work with us: abi-rehab.co.nz/careers

15/09/2025

This year marks 50 years of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – a powerful celebration of our language, culture, and identity. 🖤🤍❤️

For five decades, this week has brought people together to honour te reo Māori, reminding us that every word spoken keeps this taonga alive for future generations.

Join us in celebrating 50 years of connection, whanaungatanga, and pride in Te Reo.

Kia kaha te reo Māori! 🌟

08/09/2025

🌟 Happy World Physiotherapy Day! 🌟

Today we celebrate the incredible impact of physiotherapy in transforming lives every single day! 💪

From the gym to the bedside, from parks to workplaces, our amazing physiotherapists are there - helping kiritaki regain their mobility, strength, and balance. Whether it's navigating uneven terrain, supporting the journey back to work, or helping children reach developmental milestones and return to school activities, they make the impossible possible!

👶 Working with children to achieve mobility milestones
🏢 Partnering with employers for workplace returns
🏠 Supporting independence in everyday activities
🌳 Building confidence in indoors and outdoor environments
🎯 Restoring strength and balance after injury

A massive shoutout to our incredible physiotherapy team across Intensive, Residential, and Community services at ABI! You're not just expert clinicians - you're educators, advocates, and true partners in every healing journey. Your kindness, expertise, and dedication change lives every day.

Thank you for being the champions of movement, recovery, and hope! 💙

28/08/2025

We’re proud to support Daffodil Day 2025 – helping the Cancer Society provide care and hope to New Zealanders facing cancer.

You can help by fundraising, donating, or simply wearing a daffodil on Friday 29 August.

Let’s turn tiny acts into massive momentum 💛 https://loom.ly/o85hlGQ

19/08/2025

🧠 ABI was proud to partner with the incredible team at Attitude earlier this year

My Fragile Brain, a three-part series, explores what brain injury truly looks like through the experiences of patients at ABI - not just of personal recovery journeys, but of the complexity of brain injury rehabilitation.

It highlights the profound impact on whānau, and the skill, compassion, and dedication of our kaimahi who walk alongside each person every step of the way.

We’re honoured to be part of this important kōrero.

We thank Hayden, Nikita, Jared and their whānau, who generously shared their journeys of recovery from brain injury.

A big thank you to our kaimahi and teams for their incredible mahi supporting kiritaki and whānau everyday but also welcoming the Attitude team onsite and agreeing to be on camera. We are super proud of thier professionalism, expertise and skill and showcasing brain injury rehab.

📺 Watch the full series on YouTube or TVNZ+. Link to Part 3 of 3 :
https://loom.ly/55cAaO0

14/08/2025

🧠 ABI was proud to partner with the incredible team at Attitude earlier this year

My Fragile Brain, a three-part series, explores what brain injury truly looks like through the experiences of patients at ABI - not just of personal recovery journeys, but of the complexity of brain injury rehabilitation.

It highlights the profound impact on whānau, and the skill, compassion, and dedication of our kaimahi who walk alongside each person every step of the way.

We’re honoured to be part of this important kōrero.

We thank Hayden, Nikita, Jared and their whānau, who generously shared their journeys of recovery from brain injury.

📺 Watch the full series on YouTube or TVNZ+. Link to Part 2 of 3 :
https://loom.ly/gRZmdSQ

11/08/2025

🧠 ABI was proud to partner with the incredible team at Attitude earlier this year

My Fragile Brain, a three-part series, explores what brain injury truly looks like through the experiences of patients at ABI - not just of personal recovery journeys, but of the complexity of brain injury rehabilitation.

It highlights the profound impact on whānau, and the skill, compassion, and dedication of our kaimahi who walk alongside each person every step of the way.

We’re honoured to be part of this important kōrero.

We thank Hayden, Nikita, and their whānau, who generously shared their journeys of recovery from brain injury.

📺 Watch the full series on YouTube or TVNZ+. Link to Part 1 of 3 :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6hpV5MxI18

Over 14,000 Kiwis are affected yearly by an acquired brain injury, the impacts are largely unseen. Over three parts, My Fragile Brain explores what brain injury looks like through patients.