In 2014, aged 17, Brendan Swan suffered a significant concussion from his coach (alongside several other concussions in the 18 months beforehand) while training to be a professional Thai boxer. Brendan never fully recovered from those concussions, and a decade on he continues to live with persistent post-concussion symptoms. But now he’s using that experience to help others.
In 2020, Brendan was also diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, which put his law career on hold as he required six major surgeries. Remarkably, it was during this time that Brendan started Concussion Australia.
Concussion Australia brings together first-in-class medical experts, lawyers and people affected by concussion. The grassroots charity provides practical education across the board and help to those who need it, including online support groups, educational seminars and referrals, as well as regular engagements with politicians and the media. Brendan, who is CEO, doesn’t take a salary.