At Happy Lids, advocacy is at the core of what we do.
Our mission is to create a safer, brighter future for athletes, veterans, and anyone affected by concussions and CTE—through awareness, education, and research in partnership with the Concussion Legacy Foundation Australia.
1. Leading With Purpose
Antonio’s mum, Wendy Smith, is a dedicated concussion and well-being advocate. Her work is driven by personal experience and a passion for protecting others. Wendy is committed to raising awareness, promoting proactive measures for brain safety in sport, and empowering individuals to prioritise their mental health and well-being.
Her journey began in 2016, when her eldest son, Jack, suffered a severe concussion that required rehabilitation through the Child and Adolescent Brain Injury Unit at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in South Australia. This life-changing experience ignited Wendy’s advocacy, which has only grown stronger since losing Antonio in 2022.
2. National Brain Health Leadership
Wendy is actively involved in Dementia Australia’s National CTE Brain Health and Awareness Initiative, which has two vital elements:
A national network of support groups for people living with suspected or probable CTE, along with their families and carers.
A public awareness and education campaign, promoting brain health and preventing avoidable brain injuries—particularly in children and young people.
3. Policy & Legislative Advocacy
In 2023, following the Senate Inquiry into Brain Injury and Concussions in Sport, Wendy wrote to the South Australian Health Minister, Chris Picton, urging the government to mandate annual concussion education in community and grassroots sports. This aligned directly with two key recommendations from the Inquiry. Minister Picton confirmed his support for a national approach to concussion education and raised the issue with the Hon. Mark Butler MP, Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, ensuring the conversation continues at the highest levels of government.
4. Events & Community Impact
Happy Lids also drives awareness through events and community engagement. Highlights include the Lowey Junior Golf Day, which raised more than $33,000 for concussion research and education, as well as keynote speaking engagements at corporate conferences and sporting clubs.
Resources
Concussion Legacy Foundation Australia - driving change in Australia and beyond. Accelerating the development of treatments for concussions and CTE through innovative research. They are making sports safer by advocating for education, prevention and protocols. They support patients and families impacted by concussions and CTE and promote positive brain health messaging. The CLF HelpLine CLFhelpline.org supports those across Australia struggling with the outcomes of brain injury by providing personalised help. If you or a loved one are seeking guidance on how to choose the right medical provider, struggling with lingering concussion symptoms, or have any other specific questions, submit your request below and a dedicated member of their team will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
If you are looking for accessibility assistance to complete a CLF HelpLine request, please email help@concussionfoundation.org.
SASMA’s Government funded Sports Safety TICK Sports Safety TICK Program which essentially is a checklist to help clubs, schools, associations, councils with improving medical safety on the ground. Providing strong medical governance at clubs, attracts new members, reduces risk and improves injury management.
Concussion Hotline – Access Australia’s first national concussion hotline, connecting you directly with specialised concussion doctors anywhere in the country.
Australian Sports Brain Bank – Their vision is for Australia to be a nation that recognises and acts on CTE and other brain disorders associated with repetitive head injury. Pledge your brain at the link below
DonateLife – Registering is easy and only takes one minute. All you need is your phone, Medicare card and one minute to register. It doesn’t matter how old you are, your medical history, your lifestyle, what country you’re from or how healthy you are — you can still register as an organ and tissue donor.
If you’re looking for additional support, you may find these resources helpful.
If you feel like you are in crisis and need someone to speak with, please call Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14.
Beyond Blue is here to help – whether you're seeking mental health info or free, qualified support via chat or phone.
The Returned & Services League of Australia - The RSL is Australia's largest ex-service organisation, dedicated to serving those who have served, since 1916.