Alcohol is the highest risk factor for injury. It increases the risk of violence, intentional self-harm, road crashes, falls, and drownings. Six ambulances are called to treat intoxicated West Australians aged 18 and younger every week, with 12% of 12–17-year-olds being victims of an alcohol-related incident in 2019, including verbal abuse, physical abuse, or being put in fear by someone under the influence of alcohol. The need to raise awareness of alcohol-related injury in WA has never been more important, and communities want to understand how they can help prevent the early uptake of alcohol in young people.

Injury Matters are holding a Youth Alcohol and Injury Prevention forum with a number of leading experts in the field to learn more about an effective community approach to modifying risk and protective factors for alcohol use within young people. We will hear from Professor John Toumbourou from Communities that Care, Robert White from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, and the Safer Mandurah team talk about preventing harm from alcohol in the community.

This event aims to:

• Increase knowledge of alcohol’s impact on injury in young people in WA
• Increase awareness of risk and protective factors for alcohol use in young people
• Increase awareness of evidence-based strategies and initiatives to prevent and reduce harm from alcohol to young people.
• Increase knowledge and skills in implementing practical prevention-based strategies in the community

Who should attend?

This forum is suitable for local government bodies, stakeholders in the alcohol prevention space, crime safety, community development, sports associations, local sports clubs, public health advocates, policy and program coordinators/officers, LDATs, LDAGs, metro and country health services, and youth organisations/programs.

This forum can be attended online or in-person. Morning tea will be provided if attended in-person. This event is free but registration is compulsory.

Register here