FUNDING AND SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING WITH ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY
THIS IS OUR STORY
James Macready-Bryan was assaulted in Melbourne in 2006, on his 20th birthday. An act of senseless violence left James totally and permanently disabled, and left his family facing a nightmare as they attempted to find answers to the overwhelming question: “How are we going to look after our son?”
The JMB Foundation was set up in February 2007 and has two main aims: to provide financial support for care and rehabilitation, not only for James, but also for other young sufferers of an acquired brain injury (ABI); and to give a public voice to those young people – who all too often literally cannot speak for themselves – and to their families and carers.
The Foundation aims to improve the shortfalls in the medical, financial, political and social services systems, in which young lives are saved but then not adequately supported.
Our fundraising has allowed us to contribute significantly to the development of new, age-appropriate residential options for young Australians who might otherwise have no choice but to live in an aged care home.
Most importantly, it allows us to provide funding for young people with acquired brain injury. Funding can be accessed for a range of purposes, such as:
– additional services/therapy for individuals residing in acquired brain injury care facilities;
– the provision of better and more appropriate home care;
– participation in community activities that are otherwise out of financial reach for many
– equipment and home modifications that may mean the difference between an ABI sufferer living in a care facility and being able to live at home, and
– advocacy.
Download JMB Foundation brochure
The JMB Foundation is an ACNC registered charity.
WHAT WE DO
The JMB Foundation’s vision is simple: all young people living with acquired brain injury should be fully and appropriately supported in their financial, rehabilitation and accommodation needs.
We work on two fronts: raising money, that we can give to those who need it; and raising public awareness, not just of the need for the assistance we provide, but also of the tragedy of ABI and the life-long damage that can be inflicted by senseless violence.
Our primary goal is to provide financial support for disability care and services for young people living with acquired brain injury in Australia.
This takes many forms, from funding for home modifications, such as the installation of ramps or wheelchair-friendly bathrooms, or equipment that assists with mobility or comfort levels, to contributing towards the cost of one-on-one care, remedial therapy, respite care or participation in community access activities.
This funding is only possible with the generous support of our donors. Donations are the Foundation’s sole source of income and the money we raise is made available to approved applicants through a twice-yearly applications process. In 2017 JMB Foundation funded grants totalling almost $203,000, providing support for 25 young men and women living with ABI. This funding has made a genuine difference to their care, comfort and quality of life.
The JMB Foundation also has a strong focus on raising awareness of the plight of ABI sufferers – in particular those whose injury is the result of a violent assault – with the aim of preventing such injuries from occurring in the first place.
The JMB Foundation has, in the past, been closely involved in the planning and development of a 10-bed purpose-built high care facility for young people in Austin Street, Alphington. Its residents are young men and women with severe brain injuries, who would otherwise have been housed in aged care nursing homes.
The home is a joint project between the Victorian Department of Human Services and care provider Villa Maria, and was the first of its kind in Victoria. In addition to assisting with capital construction funding, the Foundation also provided money for resident therapy resources.
Other young people’s residential projects supported by JMB Foundation include two developed by Yooralla as part of the ‘My Future My Choice’ initiative. These are at Dunblane Road, Noble Park and Railway Street South, Altona. The Foundation’s funding provided state of the art resident-controlled automated doors, and essential ceiling hoists.
The Foundation’s advocacy role helps to raise public awareness of the needs of young people with ABI. Through lobbying state and federal governments, we have helped to make the NDIS a reality. We continue to have input in this area and will work for an outcome that means grieving families do not have to fight for every dollar to provide their children with the care and therapies they so desperately need.
The JMB Foundation provides much-needed funding for young people living with acquired brain injury
With the generous support of our donors, the JMB Foundation can continue to provide the funding that makes such a difference to the lives of the people we help. We aim to build our fundraising to enable us to expand our grants program, so that in the future we can give even more financial assistance to a greater number of young men and women with an ABI, and help to improve life for them, their carers and their families.
HOW WE CAN HELP
When James Macready-Bryan was assaulted in Melbourne in 2006, leaving him totally and permanently disabled, his family were faced with the task of working their way through a nightmare of overlapping services in an attempt to find answers to their one overwhelming question: “How are we going to look after our son?”
The resources and links provided on this page are aimed at helping you find your own answers.
LINKS
A comprehensive and easy to understand summary of:
- The services you may need
- An explanation of how everything fits together
- Strategies to get the most out of what’s available.
Young People in Nursing Homes (YPINH)
The Young People In Nursing Homes National Alliance is Australia’s first peak body for young Australians with disability and high and complex support needs.
BrainLink Services is a Victorian based service that is dedicated to improving the quality of life of people affected by acquired disorders of the brain, by providing support to their families and carers.
Brain Injury Australia (BIA) represents all Australians with acquired brain injury (ABI) whatever the cause.
The key aim of the Summer Foundation is to change human service policy and practice related to young people in nursing homes (YPINH).
How You Can Help
1
Volunteer
Volunteer for JMB Foundation at the Melbourne Marathon. We really need your help! If you’d like to be involved, drop us a line here
2
Donate
Donate to the JMB Foundation by clicking on the button below and following the prompts.
3
Fundraise
Organise a fundraising activity to support JMB Foundation. Anything from a morning tea to a cocktail party, or a sports activity. It’s easy to start an online fundraising campaign. Find out more.
Who We Are
Elizabeth Rule - Chair
Elizabeth our Chair is a Senior Communications and Stakeholder Relations Advisor at Level Crossing Removal Authority. She brings her communications expertise to the JMB Foundation, along with a fresh, younger viewpoint. Elizabeth is a long time is a friend of James and the Macready-Bryan family.
Richard Harris
Richard is a friend and neighbour to James’ father Andrew. As a practising barrister, he brings legal expertise to the Foundation. Richard is also involved with a number of other boards and community organisations.
Michelle French
Michelle was appointed as a director in December 2015 and brings to the team her extensive experience and high-level professional skills in the occupational therapy field. Michelle has a deep understanding of the care needs of individuals with an acquired brain injury, and her input as a member of the JMB Applications for Funding Subcommittee is invaluable to the Foundation.
Peter Woodbridge
Peter was appointed as a director in February 2018 and brings his extensive experience in management from the last 37 years of his working life in aviation as a Load Controller for TAA/Australian Airlines and Qantas. He is a life member and premiership player with VAFA club Old Melbournians and is currently a club umpire representing Old Camberwell Grammarians. Peter has known the Macready-Bryan family for 25 years through his two sons, Christopher and Matthew.
Titlilayo Adetunji
Titilayo Adetunji is an experienced Financial Planner who has a heart for people and community. She is involved with a number of groups within the Carey Grammar school community where James Macready-Bryan was a student.
John Rule
John is a litigation lawyer at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and has been friends with James since they started year 7 together at Carey Grammar in 1999.
John is a former director and treasurer of Step Back Think, an organisation closely aligned with the JMB Foundation, and brings to the Foundation his experience in institutional and insurance law as well as his passion for helping James and other young people with acquired brain injuries.
Anna Robinson
Anna is Operations Manager at Robinson Gill Lawyers, a plaintiff firm offering injury law advocacy. She attended Carey and was in the same house as James, and was lucky to have been taught by James Mum, Robyn and stepmother, Annette. Anna brings events and sponsorship experience to the Foundation, the 10th-anniversary event for the Foundation being a highlight to date.
Phil De Young
Phil spent over 30 years in education holding many senior positions, including Head of Campus at Caulfield Grammar, Principal at Carey Grammar and Headmaster at Trinity Grammar. He also had three stints in the corporate world. He has been Chairman of Claims Funding Australia, President of the Monash Football Club, Chairman of the Cathy Freeman Foundation and Vice-President of the Victorian Amateur Football Association. Phil has a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Education from Monash and a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning from the Securities Institute of Australia. Married to Rosemary for 54 years, he has three sons and seven grandchildren.
Andrew Minter
Don Bruce
Don was appointed a director in November 2023 and as a former banker brings 40 + years experience and expertise in finance, risk and compliance to the Foundation. He is an AICD graduate which enhances his governance credentials. Don is friend and former neighbour of James’ father Andrew.
David Windlow – Finance Manager and Company Secretary
David is a consulting accountant with a background in retail and not for profit organisations. His son is a long-standing friend of James from primary school days, and David has been involved with the Foundation from its inception.
Professor Andrew Kaye - Patron
Professor Andrew Kaye
The Foundation is fortunate to have as its patron Professor Andrew Kaye, James Stewart Professor of Surgery at the University of Melbourne and Head of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Susan Doyle - Communications Manager
Susan is a communications professional with a background spanning advertising, marketing and publishing. She joined us in April 2022, bringing her organisational skills and media/communications experience to the team.
Members
Ms Robyn Brewin
Ms Diana Brown-Greaves
Mr Mike Fitzpatrick
Ms Sharon Kent
Mr Andrew Macready-Bryan
Mr Tim McDonald
Ms Jenny Nairn
Mr John Nairn
Ms Meagan Norbury
Mr Andrew Rule
Ms Dianne Rule
Ms Helen Sykes
Ms Heather Thorne OAM
Mr Mark Wagner
Dr Paula M Mahoney
The JMB Foundation is an ACNC registered charity.