Christina’s story

Christina smiles at the camera with her long straight brown hair down. She is wearing a white long-sleeved top and her purple drift car is parked behind her in a mechanic workshop.

From the vineyards to the drift track

Christina has always been the kind of person who figures things out as she goes.

Growing up in South Australia’s Riverland, her life was active, outdoors and full of movement.

“I’m a country girl by heart,” she says. “I grew up on the vineyard, on the block.”

She never really stopped moving forward. Even when a spinal cord injury meant she had to adapt to life in a wheelchair.

For Christina, the biggest challenge was simply figuring out what came next.

“One of the most important things after being paralysed is having the right resources,” she says.

The Disability Gateway became a place where Christina could turn to for information.

“It was very helpful because it had everything in one place,” she added.

“You can also be certain the information is correct, which is so important with all this misinformation online.”

Before her injury, Christina loved fast, high-energy sports like motocross. She didn’t think she would find that same rush again.

Then, she tried drifting.

“I had absolutely no idea what it was,” she says. “But I knew it had cars, smoke and action,” she says.

“Within the first corner, I instantly fell in love.”

Today, Christina competes in drifting using a fully adapted car.It has hand controls, an automatic gearbox, and safety systems built for her needs.

Every drift day takes planning. But once she’s on the track, everything else disappears.

“You’re just smiling the whole time,” she says.

Christina is third generation Greek on both sides, and says family plays a huge role in her life. “We’re really close,” she adds.

While her partner and family are always happy to help, she says the right services mean everyone can stay more independent.

At home, she has support workers to help with daily tasks and cleaning. Finding these services gave Christina more time to focus on the things she values: things like driving, training and learning new skills on the drift track.

“I'm a big believer of the idea that everything seems impossible until it's done,” she adds.

1:20

Audio

Hi, I'm Christina.

When I was 23 years old, I severed my spinal cord at the T5. I knew that I was going to be spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair. One of the most important things after being paralysed is having the right resources. So having the Disability Gateway, a website that had everything in one place, was very helpful.

I consider myself pretty independent, but I do get support with around-the-house chores. It's nice to have some sort of support just to take the weight off my partner.

I had absolutely no idea what drifting was. Cars, smoke, action. Like, I couldn't see me not having a good time. Within the first corner of us going sideways, I instantly fell in love.

This is my Bluetooth satellite hand control. This operates the throttle.

Sorry, mate. I just couldn't help it.

I've always been really close with my family, a big Greek family. We're very family orientated. Obviously, when you're in hospital and everything is like, your life has been flipped upside down. Mum would be on the internet. My sister would be on the internet searching for things for me. So, like, it was just taking that, like, weight off me.

There is always a way to find accessibility within a sport. I'm a big believer that “everything seems impossible until it's done.”

Call 1800 643 787.

For a free TIS interpreter, call 131 450.

Or visit disabilitygateway.gov.au/greek.