Injury Matters eNews September 2019
This year has flown by, especially now we are well and truly into planning for the coming calendar year. With our latest falls prevention campaign, community engagement for road trauma support, planning underway for our new MaPS program and many insightful trainings planned for the coming months, I have no doubt it will be 2020 before we know it. We have had continued positive contract news this year, with new funding granted by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), alongside extended contracts for our existing programs - you can read about these more below. These longer-term agreements will enable us to further solidify ourselves as an
asset to the WA community, while our new program funding will allow us to reach even more of the community to create safer people and places. Sandy Lukjanowski
Chief Executive
In July, we received news of extended contracts for our existing programs, alongside new funding granted by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. These longer-term agreements will enable us to further solidify ourselves as an asset to the WA community, while our new program funding will allow us to reach even more of the community over the next 5 years. Injuries remain a major public health issue, and we are encouraged by the commitment the Western
Australian government has shown in backing initiatives like our Know Injury and Stay On Your Feet® programs, as well as the vital work being undertaken by Kidsafe and Royal Life Saving Society WA, in injury prevention. Health Minister, Roger Cook said, “The McGowan Government is committed to the ongoing support of initiatives and NGOs who help reduce preventable health problems for Western Australians and relieve the pressure on our public health system.” “These are important contracts with expert organisations who help promote
healthy lifestyles, prevent injury and reduce the need for hospital admissions,” Mr Cook said. Our Road Trauma Support WA program has also received longer-term funding administered through the Road Safety Commission WA. As well as our new MaPS program, funded by the NHVR, which you can read about below.
MaPS on Our Roads
Mentally and Physically Safe on our Roads (MaPS) project
Within the first few days of the new financial year, we were excited to be awarded $436,000 of heavy vehicle safety funding to support the Mentally and Physically Safe on our Roads (MaPS) project, through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) 2019 Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative, supported by the Federal Government.
The MaPS project is the first of its kind in Australia, and proposing to deliver an innovative mental and physical safety program specifically working alongside the heavy vehicle workforce, following consultation Injury Matters will provide information and education campaigns over the next 2 years. With WA’s vast and remote road network, the heavy vehicle workforce
are often the first to come across the scene of a road crash. Being first on scene, providing assistance, witnessing, being involved in or causing a crash, can have a traumatic and long lasting impact. MaPS will focus on improving awareness and knowledge amongst the heavy vehicle workforce of the importance of maintaining good health, physically and mentally, as a means of staying safe on our roads. If you are interested to know more about this project or would like to become involved in coming months please contact info@injurymatters.org.au
Our Partnership with Edith Cowan University
Injury Matters is proud to announce our new research and evaluation partnership with Edith Cowan University (ECU). Injury Matters will be working in collaboration with injury prevention researchers Dr Lauren Fortington, Professor Caroline Finch AO and Professor Beverley O’Connell.
ECU has a strong presence in injury prevention through the Exercise Medicine Research Institute and recently established Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and its Prevention (ACRISP) in WA. Injury Matters is looking forward to developing our university relationships to reduce prevent injuries and reduce the impact of injuries in WA.
Move Your Body Campaign Launch
Last week, we launched the newest Stay On Your Feet® Move Your Body campaign at Melville LeisureFit on the 4th of September at 2pm.
Community members enjoyed a Tai Chi and Active Light exercise class before a light afternoon tea, while learning the importance of staying active at every stage of life, especially as we age. It was a great day connecting with the community and providing all in attendance the opportunity to find or reconnect with a passion for moving their bodies. See some images from the day below! It’s never too late to start moving your body, to find out more about the campaign, visit
the Stay On Your Feet® website.
Quad Bike ToolkitQuad bikes are commonly used by farmers, local governments, search and rescue teams, recreation clubs and tourism companies to assist with a variety of activities. Download the toolkit today and learn how you can prevent quad bike injuries.
Homelessness and InjuryJoin us for the “Homelessness and Injury” webinar as John Berger, CEO St Bartholomew’s House and committee member of the WA Alliance to End Homelessness and Lisa Wood, Associate Professor, School of Population and Global Health UWA discuss the WA Strategy to End Homelessness. The webinar will provide an overview of homelessness in Perth, and information on: - How prevention and early intervention of homelessness links to injury prevention.
- Data, research and targets of homelessness which link to injury prevention and safe communities.
- Strategies which will reduce homelessness in the community.
23 September 2019 @10am - 11am
Online Webinar
Champions of Change ManagementJoin us for the “Champions of Change Management” workshop facilitated by Joel Levin as we learn about the value and benefits derived from design services and programs with engagement as a foundational principle. Change Management recognises that there are both structural and psychological barriers to effective change which are important to consider when planning and implementing strategies to improve community health and well-being. The workshop will be a practical focus on change management including strategies, methods and tools. 8 October 2019 @ 9am - 12pm
Bendat Community Centre Wembley
Violence PreventionJoin us for the “Violence Prevention” webinar as we learn about preventing violence against women. Presentations will be provided by Daphne White and Monica Puccetti from Desert Blue Connect who will discuss their Community Respect and Equality Project, and also from Our Watch who will discuss the Changing the Picture: preventing violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women National Framework. The webinar aims to: - Increase understanding of family violence in Australia
- Increase knowledge of the gendered drivers and reinforcing factors of violence against women
- Increase in awareness of community focused family violence prevention strategies
- Increase capacity to plan and implement strategies which prevent family violence
- Increased knowledge to identify the key actions we can
take, and role we can all play in a coordinated national approach to prevent violence against women and children
29 October 2019 @ 10am to 11am
Online Webinar
Promoting Safety and Injury Prevention with Multi-Cultural CommunitiesJoin us for the “Promoting Safety and Injury Prevention with Multi-Cultural Communities” workshop as we learn about working with culturally diverse communities to prevent injuries. The workshop will be a practical focus on working with multi-cultural (CaLD) communities to promote safety and injury prevention. The workshop aims to: - Provide an
overview of the Perth refugee population, including people seeking asylum.
- Increase understanding of appropriate ways to work with culturally diverse communities.
- Increase knowledge of the impact of culture in planning and implementing programs/services which target injury prevention/safety promotion.
- Improve skills in developing programs/services in consultation with CaLD communities.
- Increase understanding of multicultural tools and resources are available.
6 November 2019 @ 9am to 1pm
Bendat Community Centre, WembleyEmail Glenda Spain-Dixon to book your place today:
gspain-dixon@injurymatters.org.au
Over the last two months, our Recovery Support team have presented at the Practice Nurses Association Forum, as well as travelled to Narembeen, Bunbury and Albany. In these regions we worked to spread awareness of Injury Matters and the work we undertake, such as the Road Trauma Support service, also taking the opportunity to support RAC WA's bStreetsmart event in Albany. If your community or workplace would benefit from a presentation about the impact of Road Trauma, please contact us.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY Injury Matters acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Western Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respect to them and to their cultures and to Elders past, present and future in the spirit of reconciliation.
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