Recovery Support in the Community
The start of the year has been productive for the Recovery Support Team with two new team members onboarded, scheduled professional development training and engagement with community through events and training. The entire team took part in a one day ‘After A Crash’ Facilitator training to refresh and upskill for future workshops. This workshop is designed to increase knowledge and understanding of the impact of road trauma, grief and loss as well as how to support yourself and others who may be affected. In addition to this training, two members of the team completed a two-day Mental Health First Aid accreditation course.
RAC Project Road Smart invited the team to assist with support at their Bunbury session in February, which saw around 1500 teenagers across a range of schools in the South West attend this important road safety event. The annual event features a crash re-enactment and guest speakers with the aim of increasing understanding in the consequences of risk-taking behaviours while driving.
After a number of serious motor vehicle incidents in the Wheatbelt, Ihe team worked with St John WA to deliver three ‘After A Crash’ workshops for local community first responders, Police and hospital staff. Our team travelled to Narembeen, Corrigin and Hyden during March to deliver the workshops designed to raise awareness on the impact of road trauma, grief and loss, and how to support themselves and others who’ve been impacted by road trauma.
Injury Matters recently attended the WA Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector Conference (AHCWA) which provided an opportunity to engage with delegates and peers to learn about programs and services delivered in metropolitan, regional and remote Aboriginal Communities.
With school holidays and the Easter long weekend coming up, our team would like to remind everyone to be mindful and present in the car so you can drive safe on our WA roads. We hope this period of time is enjoyable for you all, and if you or loved ones require support from our service please get in touch with us.
Upcoming Travel
Our team is currently planning regional training activities with RAC Project Road Smart events in Kalgoorlie, 25th May, Broome, 2nd August, Geraldton, 13th September and Albany, 17th October. We are also working with the Lake Grace Community Resource Centre to organise a community workshop to be delivered in the month of June.
If you would like our team to meet with your organisation or workplace while we are in your area please contact us at [email protected] or 6166 7688.
We can talk about how we can support people impacted by a road incident, deliver a presentation or workshop for your organisation/community and/or attend a community event.
National Road Safety Week 2023
National Road Safety Week is May 14th to 21st, with WA hosting this year. Our team will be participating in the Road Safety Commission’s National Road Safety Week Launch event on Sunday 14th of May as well as the Youth Summit on Tuesday 16th of May.
National Road Safety Week is an annual initiative from the Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) Group, partnering road safety organisations and Government. The week highlights the impact of road trauma and ways to reduce it, including a pledge to drive so others survive! The week has daily themes with an important message behind each of them.
New Team Members
Introducing Andrea
Andrea joined Injury Matters as a recover support Counsellor in October 2022. Andrea is a qualified trauma counsellor specialist with a career spanning 20 years, working both in Australia and the U.K. Andrea is passionate about mental health and recovery, utilising a person-centred, trauma informed approach to her work. Andrea incorporates a diverse range of therapeutic modalities including CBT, creative therapies and mindfulness. Andrea is excited to be a part of a caring, innovative team who are passionate about their work.
Introducing Ash
Ash has commenced in the Recovery Support Coordinator – Community Engagement role. She joins Injury Matters after spending 7 years in the Emergency Services Sector with a background in psychology and counselling. Ash has experience in developing wellbeing and support initiatives from an early intervention and prevention perspective and is passionate about access to education and support for all individuals and communities impacted by trauma. She is excited to be part of Injury Matters working alongside such a diverse, experienced and enthusiastic team.
Introducing Sally
Sally recently joined Injury Matters in the Practice Lead Role. Sally is a qualified and experienced counsellor, trainer and clinical supervisor with a therapeutic career spanning three decades inclusive of roles clinical and managerial across the mental health and social advocacy sectors.
A passionate advocate for wellbeing enhancement and life skills integration, Sally draws from a range of relevant therapeutic orientations including Trauma recovery and Grief & Loss support whilst maintaining a counselling approach in support of dignity, diversity, resilience and empowerment.
Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Awards
Applications now closed
Thank you to all those who took the time to nominate, we have been impressed with all the submissions received. Injury Matters are looking forward to sharing with you the winners from all award categories, particularly the award for Outstanding Achievement in Practice that Supports Recovery for those Impacted by Road Trauma.
The Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Awards recognise individuals and organisations who positively impacted the community by conducting activities that aim to prevent and reduce the burden of injury within Western Australia. The Awards will be held on 11th May 2023.
Injury Prevention Summit
Registrations now open, program available
The Injury Prevention Summit is a one-day event held biennially by Injury Matters, via the Know Injury program, with funding from the Western Australian Department of Health. The Summit will be held on 11th May 2023 and will bring together injury prevention and safety promotion practitioners, policymakers, and Local Governments from across Western Australia to share knowledge and build capacity to integrate injury prevention and safety promotion practices into their work.
The Summit will showcase speakers who will explore key emerging issues in the injury prevention space, ranging from alcohol-related injury to safer built environment. The Injury Prevention Summit aims to facilitate collaboration within the sector by exploring the cross-cutting factors contributing to injury, while providing the space to exchange knowledge, ideas, and information across WA.
Expect Keynote presentations from experts Denise Sullivan, Director of Chronic Disease Prevention at the Department of Health, Lucy Saunders, Director and Founder of Healthy Streets, and Professor Tanya Chikritzhs, lead of the Alcohol Policy Research team at the National Drug Research Institute. The Summit is a great networking as well as a professional development opportunity for public health students and professionals, with the event being a hybrid (online and in-person) event so you can dial in from home/your workplace or attend the full-day event in person!
Road Trauma Research
Be a Study Participant
The Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety–Queensland (CARRS-Q) at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), currently have two research studies which are seeking participants with lived experience of road trauma.
Participants interested or engaging in these studies who are residing in WA are welcome to access our services should they require additional support. Please visit our website for more information.