Recovery Support in the Community
Recent Events
Road Trauma Support WA has had another busy quarter out in the community.
Early August, the team partnered with Holyoake Wheatbelt and Roadwise to deliver a Road Trauma Support information session via webinar to the Wheatbelt community. If you missed the webinar, it can be found online here. The team also presented via webinar to the 27th Road Transport Safety Forum in Bunbury on Thursday, the 18th of August.
In September, the team had the pleasure of working with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) to deliver a range of activities to their staff from across the state. The team delivered a Road Trauma Support Information Session at the Super Intendants Team Meeting as well as an After a Crash: Supporting Yourself and Others Workshop to the Peer Support Officers. Both sessions were well received, and we look forward to working with DFES in the future.
The Road Trauma Support WA team attended the RAC Bstreetsmart at Perth Arena. The event, attended by year 10-12 students, demonstrates the consequences of distracted driving, speeding, and drink and drug driving and informs students on how to reduce risk-taking behaviours. The event was attended by over 8000 students and teachers, the team provided mental health first aid and Road Trauma Support resources and information.
Upcoming Injury Matters Travel
Injury Matters will be heading to the Wheatbelt on the 13th of October and Narembeen on the 24th of November, to deliver a range of activities and meet with local government and services.
The team is also planning a visit to Kalgoorlie, with dates not yet confirmed. If you would like our team to meet with your organisation or workplace and hear how we can support people impacted by a road incident, please contact us at [email protected] or 6166 7688, to discuss opportunities.
Conference Presentations
The recovery support team attended the 2022 Trauma Conference in August and the 2022 Australasian Road Safety Conference in September. Our participation in the conferences provided an opportunity to raise awareness of the impact of road trauma and post-crash care as well as share knowledge, experiences and network with other professionals working in the field.
Congratulations to Christine Smith, General Manager-Recovery Support, who presented at both conferences. Presentations included ‘The role of advocacy in creating change and reducing the impact of road trauma in Australia’, ‘Unique aspects of dealing with road trauma in regional communities’ and the ‘Development of Media Guidelines for Reporting Road Incidents.’
The team will also be heading to the 2022 World Safety Conference in November.
Media Guidelines for Reporting Road Traffic Incidents
Launching Wednesday 16th November 2022
Injury Matters has developed Media Guidelines for Reporting Road traffic Incidents to support those working in the media to report road traffic incidents in a manner that is respectful to those impacted by road trauma and has a positive effect on road safety.
Journalists, reporters, editors, other media personnel and road safety professionals have a powerful role in educating and driving societal change. Injury Matters encourages everyone reporting on road traffic incidents in WA to consider their influence on their audiences and join us in reducing the impact of road trauma on the WA community.
The Guidelines will be launching on Wednesday 16th November 2022. More information on the Media Guidelines and launch will be available soon.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
Sunday 20th November 2022
The Injury Matters Team will again participate in the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in 2022.
The World Day of Remembrance is globally commemorated on the third Sunday of November each year, to remember those killed and injured on roads worldwide, together with their families, friends and others impacted. It is also a day when we pause to thank the emergency service personnel, police and medical professionals who attend and treat those killed and injured and reflect on the economic and social impact this issue has on the community.
Injury Matters will release a Digital Resources toolkit to support organisations and individuals’ participation in the global event. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to participate in the World Day of Remembrance. @RoadTraumaSupportWA
WA State Trauma Conference 2022
Prevent – Provide – Progress
Royal Perth Hospital Trauma Service in partnership with St John Ambulance (WA) will present our WA State Trauma Conference 26-27 November 2022.
In addition to hearing from some of Australia’s leading experts representing the fields of Injury Prevention, Prehospital, Acute and Rehabilitation Care, the delegates will have the opportunity to attend optional education workshops and various social events. This will be the premier West Australian trauma education event of 2022.
Rural Road Safety Month
Did you know that rural road crashes account for more than 65% of the Australian road toll and the rate of serious road-related injury in rural areas in nearly twice that of those in major cities.
September is Rural Road Safety Month, a national community-based road safety awareness campaign that aims to highlight the additional risks when driving on rural and remote roads across Australia.
All road users are encouraged to get involved in Rural Road Safety Month to help make a significant reduction in road trauma. Find out how you can get involved in the campaign.