David Ball
Specialist Peer Training and Education
David is a Specialist Peer Trainer, engineer and Volkswagen restoration enthusiast with more than 30 years' lived experience of spinal cord injury. He brings extensive expertise in the Active Rehabilitation approach, wheelchair skills, peer education and facilitator development.
After sustaining a spinal cord injury in 1994, David progressed from course participant to wheelchair skills trainer, course leader and facilitator trainer with the Back Up Trust in the UK. Over 21 years as a volunteer, he also co-authored the Back Up Trust's Wheelchair Skills Manual and helped build the next generation of peer trainers.
Since moving to Australia in 2016, David has delivered peer-led programs across residential, community and workshop settings. He also mentors peer trainers and works alongside families, carers and professionals to strengthen their confidence in supporting people with spinal cord injury, and similar disabilities, to live well.
David is known for his calm, practical and thoughtful approach, helping people build confidence, develop everyday skills and achieve goals that matter to them. At Skills for Independence, he leads peer training, wheelchair skills education and facilitator development, ensuring programs remain grounded in lived experience and focused on strengthening independence, participation and quality of life.
Tim Rushby-Smith
Specialist Peer Training and Peer Education
Tim Rushby-Smith is a Specialist Peer Trainer, journalist and author with more than 20 years' lived experience of spinal cord injury. He brings extensive expertise in the Active Rehabilitation approach, wheelchair skills, peer education, facilitation and communication.
After sustaining a spinal cord injury in 2005, Tim completed his first course with the Back Up Trust in the UK before becoming a wheelchair skills trainer, course leader, facilitator trainer and co-author of the Back Up Trust's Wheelchair Skills Manual. Since moving to Australia in 2013, he has delivered peer-led programs, wheelchair skills training and Active Rehabilitation courses in Australia and internationally.
Tim is known for creating supportive, participant-centred learning environments where people build confidence, develop practical skills and learn from shared experience. At Skills for Independence, he leads peer trainer development, facilitates programs and contributes to the design of evidence-informed learning resources, including online education. He also works with families, carers and professionals to strengthen their confidence in supporting people with spinal cord injury to live well.
Tim is the author of Looking Up, a memoir about rebuilding life after spinal cord injury.
Larnie Ball
Programs, Partnerships and Strategy
Larnie Ball brings more than 30 years of experience in disability and not-for-profit leadership. She has extensive expertise in program development and management, with a strong focus on improving outcomes for people with spinal cord injury and other similar disabilities.
Throughout her career, Larnie has designed and led national and international initiatives that strengthen independence, confidence and community participation. She has extensive experience leading Active Rehabilitation programs in Australia and internationally, developing peer workforces and translating research into practical, community-based programs.
Alongside her role at Skills for Independence, Larnie is the International Research Collaborations Manager at the Spinal Research Institute, where she leads initiatives that connect researchers, clinicians and people with lived experience across the international spinal cord injury community.
At Skills for Independence, Larnie leads program strategy, partnerships and organisational development. She is committed to building a sustainable, evidence-informed organisation and expanding access to high-quality, peer-led programs that strengthen practical skills, independence, self-advocacy and meaningful participation in community life.
Dr Gillean Hilton
Research, Evaluation and Clinical Leadership
Dr Gillean Hilton is an occupational therapist, clinical researcher and health-service leader with more than 25 years' experience across rehabilitation, disability, research and service development. She also holds a Master of Public Health and a PhD, with extensive expertise in spinal cord injury, inclusive healthcare and community participation.
Since 2001, Gill has worked with the Victorian Spinal Cord Service and Austin Health across clinical practice, research, education, project management and service development. Her work has focused on improving rehabilitation, community participation and vocational outcomes for people with spinal cord injury through evidence-informed practice and service innovation.
Gill has partnered extensively with people with lived experience, clinicians, researchers and community organisations to strengthen rehabilitation, service design and community participation. She also serves as a Director of Alpine Health, bringing governance experience in organisational accountability, service improvement and health-system leadership.
At Skills for Independence, Gill leads research, evaluation and clinical leadership, ensuring programs are evidence-informed, measurable and centred on participants' goals and experiences. She supports organisational learning, continuous improvement and the translation of research into practical, person-centred programs that strengthen independence, participation and quality of life.