Mission and history
Since 1981, we’ve been supporting people and whānau across Tāmaki Makaurau through connection, education, and advocacy. Today, we’re a trusted voice for change – breaking down barriers, elevating lived experience, and sharing knowledge that helps communities respond well, improve outcomes, and ensure no one faces brain injury alone.
On this page
Making Headway for 45 years
Headway exists to make life better after concussion and brain injury. Here are the moments that shaped who we are today.
Born from collaboration. Recognising that there wasn’t the proper support, Neuropsychologists Dr Dorothy Gronwall and Dr Phillip Wrightson joined with whānau impacted by brain injury to share knowledge, strength, and support. From this partnership of experts and families, the Head Injury Society of Auckland was created.
Dr Dorothy Gronwall
Dr Phillip Wrightson
We became the Brain Injury Association (Auckland) Inc, focusing on day-stay services for people with severe brain injury.
We restructured into two entities: Stewart Northern Centre for rehabilitation, and Brain Injury Association Auckland for advocacy and information.
We created a permanent home in Epsom, Headway House, which was a hub for connection and community.
We became Headway – Brain Injury Auckland. We provided support, advice and a space where the brain injury community felt welcomed.
A new Board vision centred on education and peer-led support. Time was spent understanding community needs and gaps in service to guide the future strategy.
A major shift: a new CEO joined Headway and, with board support, initiated a new aspirational strategy. Our focus turned to collaboration, breaking down barriers to support, elevating lived experience, and becoming a trusted voice in concussion and brain injury. We supported more people more effectively across Auckland. We launched the Making Headway programme and Peer-Led Connect Groups at multiple locations across Tāmaki Makaurau.
We joined the LiFT Hub and expanded our education mission into schools, workplaces, and community training. Our partnerships with leading researchers and the lived experience community positioned us a trusted voice for concussion and brain injury in New Zealand. We used our position to lead change and raise awareness.
Headway expands to meet the needs of the Northland community in response to the closure of Brain Injury Northland. Our Advisory board is established. Consisting of the leading experts and voices in brain injury in Aotearoa, they guide and advise the Headway team and board.
Headway Strategy
2025–2028 at a Glance
Our mission
Reducing the impact and incidence of concussion and brain injury through education, information, and connections.
Our impact
- Fewer injuries – through prevention-focused education and behaviour change.
- Better outcomes – through improved knowledge, attitudes, and support systems.
- Stronger communities – where people with concussion and brain injury are supported, understood, and valued.
- Reduced societal burden – easing pressure on health, mental health, and welfare systems.
What grounds us
Everything we do is grounded in the following values and commitments:
- Trusted research and personal lived experience
- Collaboration
- Courage
- Inclusion
Strategic pillars
1. Voice for change
We drive behaviour change, increase public awareness, and influence policies so that concussion and brain injury are understood widely and well-managed.
2. Fit for purpose services
We drive behaviour change, increase public awareness, and influence policies so that concussion and brain injury are understood widely and well-managed.
2. Collaborative system
We develop meaningful partnerships to lead change for a stronger, more equitable system of concussion and brain injury prevention, support and recovery.
