What is a brain injury? A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an acquired brain injury, in other words the person has lived a complete life up until the injury takes place. It can be as a result of a motor vehicle accident, a sporting accident, a fall or an assault for example. Stroke, tumour or other acquired problems can also cause changes in the brain.
Our brain can be injured like any other part of our body even when there is not obvious external damage and it is the part of our body that determines everything about us, who we are, what we think and what we do. An acquired brain injury generates much uncertainty about the future and about coping with life and it is traumatic for all involved. Both the injured and the family need time and knowledge to come to accept the reality of the situation.

HEADWAY Gauteng was started in 1995 and it is a fully registered welfare organisation dedicated to assisting people with an acquired brain injury. Our members have either a daughter, a son, a spouse, a parent or a friend who has sustained a brain injury and we are able to offer information, practical advice and better understanding about what this will mean for the future. The family can make a meaningful contribution to the patient’s future, as the outcome is strongly influenced by family support and encouragement. We know what you are going through – we have been there.

Support, information and an activity/therapy programme: In addition to support and information for the family, Headway runs a daily activity programme for our injured members where a variety of enjoyable, purposeful activities, important social interaction, and a full multidisciplinary therapy programme supervised by professional therapists take place.

Headway’s vision is to provide an environment where brain injured people and their families can feel accepted, comfortable and secure, to become competent and confident to the best of their abilities, and to create challenges to aid them in achieving these goals.

Funding: All our funding initiatives are from private or corporate donations instigated from within our small organisation.

We presently have two branches:
Our main office is in Hyde Park and our first Headway outreach branch called Khomelela is in Alexandra.