A committed equestrian, 24 year old Leanne was riding her horse with a friend when she fell and suffered an Aquired Brain Injury (ABI). 

Leanne had been riding since she was 7 years old and was a skilled rider. 

On the day of her accident, Leanne and a friend were riding on a quiet trail when the friend she was with fell from her horse.  Leanne went to catch her friend's horse.

No one knows eactly what happened, but the two horses returned home alone.

Leanne was found unconscious by the side of a bitumen road by a friend who had gone looking for her.

She was taken immediately by ambulance to Wollongong Hospital and remained there for a short time before being transferred to the Liverpool Brain Injury Unit (LBIU) where she was diagnosed with a severe Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). 

Leanne remained in a coma at Liverpool for several months.

When she started slowing emerging from the coma, it was clear the ABI she had sustained in her fall had left her with severe acquired disabilities.

Leanne remained at Liverpool Brain Injury Unit for several months while her family searched for suitable accommodation for her to move to and continue her rehabilitation. 

But there was nowhere for Leanne to go and she remained at the Unit.

During this time, Leanne continued to slowly improve and, though her mother wanted to take Leanne home and care for her there, this was not possible because of the high level care and support Leanne needed.

Eventually, and with no other alternative available, a place was found for Leanne in an aged care facility.

Leanne has lived there ever since and she and her family are grateful for the care and support she receives.

But Leanne wants to live in the community with other young people her age and get on with her life. 

To do that, she needs the rehabilitative and other supports the nursing home cannot provide.  

Leanne wants to return to her beloved horses and teach other people to ride and enjoy this sport as she once did.  But this can't happen in the nursing home.

Leanne and her family hope that the COAG YPINH Program will deliver the community based accommodation and supports Leanne needs to recover further and get her life back on track.