In early 2008 SCA provided a vital $75,000 grant to Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCI Australia) to support the launch of its Walk On SCI Recovery Project in Brisbane.

Walk On is an intensive exercise program, offering a path to maximising functional recovery through a structured methodology and based upon the ground breaking and highly successful Project Walk Dardzinski method, which has been offered in the United States since 1999.

Recent research findings support the direction of programs like Walk On that seek to maintain and stimulate the nervous system as a means improve recovery.

It is a field of SCI research that is gaining increasing attention. Neuroscientist and Physiotherapist Dr Mary Galea, at the University of Melbourne, is a leading Australian advocate for “activity based” recovery research. Her recent Churchill Fellowship paper recommended “…ongoing comprehensive exercise programs ... to optimize level of neural recovery”.

Since commencing in March 2008, Walk On has reached capacity, working with more than 20 clients from a number of cities across Australia. To meet ongoing demand, two additional Recovery Specialists were recently sent to commence their Project Walk certification in California.

Walk On is not a cure for SCI, but it is likely that structured exercise programs will be an essential component of cure therapies in the future, enhancing any function restored by cellular and pharmacological approaches.

Current Walk On clients experience incremental functional gains that restore independence, health and quality of life.

In 2009, SCI Australia, with the support of other SCI charities, hopes to expand Walk On to meet demand by opening additional facilities in other Australian cities.