Austin Street farewell marks a new chapter for Paul

25 March 2025

25 Mar 2025

It’s a bittersweet goodbye to Austin Street for Paul Jamieson.

In summary:

After a wakeboarding accident left Paul Jamieson with a traumatic brain injury, he began his recovery journey at Austin Street.
With care, determination and therapy, Paul regained his ability to live independently.
Paul bids farewell to Austin Street as he starts a new chapter living on his own.
For more on VMCH disability services, click here.

Don’t forget to share this article:

“Having a near death experience has made me appreciate the small things. Just going out for lunch with my family, to me it’s huge and it means the world, because I can do that now.”

Eight years ago, Paul Jamieson suffered a severe traumatic brain injury in a freak wakeboarding accident.

“I fell headfirst into the water.” The 41-year-old recalls. “Because we were going so fast, it was like hitting a slab of concrete. I got back on the boat and was fine to begin with, but then I gradually started slurring my speech and losing consciousness.”

Paul’s friends were quick to call for help, and he was helicoptered to the Alfred Hospital. There, it was discovered he had a brain bleed and Paul was taken straight into surgery.

“Things weren’t looking too promising,” Paul says. He recalls repeatedly contracting infections while in hospital and his doctors eventually recommending palliative care – commonly known as end-of-life care.

But then miraculously – and it was a miracle – I started getting better. I think someone was looking out for me.”

A man and a woman pose side by side and smile at the camera — Paul and Austin Street team member Stephanie

Paul was initially sent to a rehabilitation centre, an experience he considers himself ‘lucky’ to have no memory of. Unfortunately, his family remember the ordeal all too well, leaving Paul’s mum determined to find alternative accommodation.

It was Paul’s Social Worker at the time who recommended Austin Street, VMCH’s permanent residence for young people with a significant acquired brain injury (ABI).

“That’s when my life changed.” Paul says. “When I came to Austin Street, it saved my life.”

Austin Street opened in 2010, developed under the government’s ‘My future my choice’ initiative that represented a new era; a new model of support that blended nursing care with rehabilitation and community inclusion. When it opened, Austin St was the only home of its kind in Victoria and the first of only two such residences in the nation.

While this makes Austin Street all the more amazing, it is also a sobering statistic as it means thousands of young Australians are still living in aged care homes as there are no other options open to them. Paul himself was initially recommended to move into an aged care residence, a decision he feels would have held him back.

I’ve made the progress I’ve made because of the people at Austin Street. The love they gave me was really impressive. There’s no way I would have made this progress in an aged care residence.”

“I’m exactly the same person I was before. I’ve just been through a lot. I feel exactly the same way I did about loving people and loving music and movies, as I did before.”

The front of a residence. The home is brown and grey in colour and there is a white picket fence in the foreground. — Outside Austin Street, located in Alphington, Victoria.

“The team at Austin Street has changed my life for the better. They’ve put so much care, love and respect into the way they treated me. I couldn’t have asked for a more caring or supportive network in my life at a time I needed them most.”

A man and a woman stand in a corridor and give a thumbs up to the camera — Paul is all smiles at Austin Street

When Paul first came to Austin Street, he was unable to walk, talk or eat. Now, Paul loves going out for dinner with friends. He walks to his local café for delicious Melbourne coffee. And self admittedly, you can’t get him to stop talking.

He credits his dedicated therapy team and the staff at Austin Street, that he was able to re-learn these skills. If you were to ask the team however, they would credit Paul’s progress to his sheer determination, stubbornness and positive outlook on life.

It’s weird, but before my accident I used to get a bit down on myself. I would feel those negative vibes setting in. Since my accident they’ve just been brushed aside. It’s like the accident banged them out of my head. Now I can put a positive spin on everything. Nothing is too hard to work out. It’s just amazing that’s happened to me.”

Arguably one of his biggest achievements to date, Paul recently said goodbye to Austin Street to live independently. He is looking forward to having friends over to sit back in the privacy of his own space, where they can listen to some of Paul’s favourite bands including Radiohead, Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins.

“I’ve been feeling ready to move for a long time now. I’m just so positive about living by myself and getting my own space. I will miss the staff though – they’ve become part of my life. They’re like my family.”

While we will all miss Paul’s presence at Austin Street, we are so proud of his achievements and wish him all the best in his next phase of life.

Want to learn more about disability services at VMCH?

More news articles in Disability Services

View all

Austin Street farewell marks a new chapter for Paul

New social enterprise cafe in Nunawading

Social enterprises and businesses step-up for people with disability

Carol celebrates almost a half century of volunteering

Specialist Support Coordinator George helps people navigate NDIS

NDIS Support Coordination helps Theresa pursue her passion

Geoff feels at home at Cre8

Specialist school St Paul’s College the place for Alex

Opening the door to employment for people with disability

A little lost? Start here.

Locating the information you need has become far easier with our useful guide. Answer a few simple questions and you will be on your way.

Not sure where to start?

→

Who needs our services?

I am here for
someone else I am here
for myself I am
looking for a job

Acknowledgement of Country

We here at VMCH respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we gather, and we would like to take a moment to honour the fact that we live on the lands of the oldest civilisation in the world. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.