Layne

In late 2025, Layne graduated high school as school captain, excited to begin the next chapter of her life and pursue a career in agriculture she had always been passionate about. Just weeks later, she was involved in a single-vehicle accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury and other serious injuries.

Although the road to achieving her goals has looked different than she anticipated, the destination remains the same. Today, less than a year after the accident, Layne is still working towards the future she planned after graduation. Layne shared her story with us, describing how support from NIISQ has helped her regain her independence, return to the activities she loves, and continue working towards the future she had envisioned before her accident.

Getting back to what brings her joy

Returning to the things she enjoys most has been an important part of Layne’s recovery, particularly reconnecting with her hobbies and spending time with friends, both human and animal alike.

“Anything to do with dancing or animals in any way brings me so much joy,” Layne said. “I especially love line dancing. I have a group of friends I do it with and they make it so enjoyable. It all makes me realise and remember that life isn’t always so serious.”

Before her accident, Layne spent her weekends competing on horseback across a range of disciplines. Her passion for riding remains as strong as ever, making her recent return to the saddle a particularly meaningful milestone.

“Recently [I’ve] been cleared to get back on a horse which brings me so much joy, knowing that I’m starting to get back on track with everything,” she said.

Reaching important milestones

Alongside reconnecting with the things that bring her joy, Layne has achieved several milestones that once felt out of reach, many of which she credits to the support provided through NIISQ.

“I thought I would still be in a hospital bed, however thanks to NIISQ, I was able to come home much earlier than we all anticipated,” she said.

Reflecting on her progress since returning home, Layne said she has been able to return to dancing and horse riding at a level close to where she was before her accident and was recently cleared to drive again.

“This wouldn’t have been achievable if it wasn’t for the help of NIISQ supporting me to access my amazing physio close to home and doing regular check-ins to see how I was going with things and if I needed any more from them,” she explained. “Everything I have needed help with to move forward, NIISQ has provided everything needed and as quick as possible.”

Returning to work

Looking ahead, Layne is focused on returning to work and continuing to pursue the future she has always envisioned for herself.

“Agriculture has been a big part of my life forever and I’ve always had a passion for it all, especially the cattle side of it,” she said. “While my plans didn’t work out the way I’d hoped this year, the goal is to head out to a station in north-west Queensland in the early months of next year.”

In the meantime, she is preparing for her return to full-time employment while working towards her longer-term ambitions.

“I will soon return to full-time work as a stable hand in a vet practice where I will be handling and taking care of horses daily,” she said. “My biggest goal at the moment is returning back to full time work [and] being fit and ready enough to become a station hand for next year’s season.”

Layne’s advice

As she continues working towards the future she has planned for herself, Layne draws encouragement from how far she has already come and the independence she has regained along the way.

Sharing what keeps her focused on the road ahead, Layne said it was “knowing that everything will all get better and back to normal soon and that the progress I’ve made so far is defying all odds.”

“Constantly getting all these little things cleared and having more and more independence and freedom back is what is pushing and motivating me to keep heading towards my goals,” she explained.

Looking back on her experience, Layne’s advice for other young people recovering from traumatic injury is to keep putting in the effort and trust that things will improve.

“I think the biggest thing is to put in the hard work and lots of effort even when it’s frustrating, because it is going to get better,” she said.

She also credits much of her own progress to the encouragement and positivity of those around her, highlighting the important role family and friends can play in recovery.

“Always show up and be there for them even if there’s no conversation, it is having company that matters most,” she said. “When I was in hospital there was not a single day where I had no one come up to see me. I think all the support and positivity surrounding me is what helped me push through and do all the hard work.”

A big thank you to Layne for sharing her story with us.