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"Wearing the National Assistance Card helps me remember that I have limits that sometimes are hard to communicate, and that’s ok. The original purpose of the Card was to support safety on my trek, but it has given me so much more than that. It helped me acknowledge my disability. Living with an invisible brain injury can be isolating. The National Assistance Card validated my experience and made my disability feel legitimate, not so invisible anymore. I'm optimistic, capable, and passionate and sometimes people forget I'm brain injured. The Card allowed me to reintroduce this reality to friends and family, helping them understand that sometimes life is challenging simply because I have a brain injury. What makes the National Assistance Card truly special is its community focus. Most support programs are about self-help. This Card is about how the community can help me when I'm in trouble, without me needing the confidence to explain my situation when I'm having a problem. That's really important. With the right support, including the National Assistance Card, I’ve proven that doctors' prognoses don't define us. Even a middle-aged mum with a disability can trek 6,000 km across Australia and inspire hope along the way."
Lizz Hills is the 2023 Citizen of the Year, author, business owner of Trek2Reconnect counselling practice, and National Assistance Card holder.
Twenty years ago, a devastating train accident in Thailand left Lizz with a fractured skull, brain injury, and 30 broken bones. Doctors told her she'd never return to university, work, or have children. Defying those predictions, Lizz has gone on to pursue her Master's degree, become a mother, and establish Trek2Reconnect, her private counselling practice.
As a National Assistance Card holder, Lizz credits the Card as a vital tool in her support system, helping her navigate challenges and giving her daily confidence to achieve both ordinary and extraordinary goals. Through her work and her story, Lizz demonstrates that with the right support structures, people with brain injuries can accomplish amazing things. She continues to inspire others by proving that disability doesn't define limits, our determination and support systems do.