Research has shown that people living in rural areas are at an increased risk of injury, sustaining more severe injuries, and injuries that result in morbidity compared to metropolitan areas.
Various factors can contribute to the impact of the injury on individuals living in regional areas of Western Australia compared to those living in metropolitan areas. For example, the composition of regional areas can influence the risk of injury, such as an older population, access to healthcare, lower socio-economic status, and increased risky alcohol consumption. After adjusting for age, the burden of injury increases with remoteness in WA. In 2019, the Kimberley (11,026 per 100,000 population), Midwest (5,993) and Goldfields (5,391) regions of WA experienced the highest rates of injury-related hospitalisations.
Falls
When analysing the age-standardised rate of falls within regional areas of WA, the South West recorded the highest rate of falls-related fatalities in 2020. For the fifth consecutive year, the Kimberley region had the highest rate of fall-related hospitalisations in 2021.
Transport
The latest statistics from the Australian Road Safety Foundation found that in 2023, 2 in 3 deaths occurred in rural or remote areas of Australia. Throughout regional WA, in 2022, 112 people lost their lives on regional roads, with speed remaining one of the prevailing factors of fatal crashes in regional WA.
Violence
In WA between 2015 and 2019, the regions with the largest difference to the WA State hospitalisation rate for assault were the Kimberley (1,282% higher), Pilbara (225% higher) and Midwest (122% higher).
Climate change
Remoteness and socioeconomic status can impact weather-related injury and hospitalisations. Individuals residing in regional WA are reliant on the land and climate, therefore they are potentially at heightened risk of climate-related consequences. For example, experiencing poor mental health due to the impact of drought on individuals living in rural and remote areas.
For more information, resources and fact sheets on the impact of injury across WA’s ten health regions, visit the Know Injury Regional Western Australians webpage. Our eDirectory can help you find organisations that deliver initiatives that aim to prevent injury throughout regional WA