Welcome to our Birak (Summer) eNews.
This quarter has been productive with the Road Trauma Support team travelling to multiple regions, delivering presentations and workshops, meeting with stakeholders, commemorating the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims and launching the annual Six Supportive Steps Campaign.
Road Trauma Support WA has also seen an increase in individuals accessing the counselling service over this period. We’re proud to deliver post-crash care support to the community and are excited to be able to continue to innovate and assist people in their recovery in the New Year.
Christmas is, unfortunately, tragically, one of the most dangerous times on Australian roads. The Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) have a Christmas road safety message with a reminder of the importance of being prepared, respecting the road, ensuring your vehicle is fit for the journey and looking out for other road users.
Thank you to everyone we’ve had the opportunity to work, travel and connect with in 2023. Our office will be closed from the end of the day Friday, 22 December and reopen on Tuesday, 2 January for 2024. If you need immediate support in this period, please contact 13YARN on 13 92 76 or LifeLine on 13 11 14, or text 0477 131 114.
The Road Trauma Support WA Team at Injury Matters would like to wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. We appreciate the support we’ve had this year from individuals, communities, and organisations across all Western Australia and look forward to working with you all in the new year.
Six Supportive Steps Campaign
Road Trauma Support has launched our online Six Supportive Steps Campaign which helps people impacted by road trauma who are grieving the loss of a love one support themselves or others during the holiday season.
It’s not too late to get involved in the campaign. Follow Road Trauma Support WA on Facebook and X, and share and like our weekly supportive tips. You can also download the Six Supportive Steps Digital Resources Kit to help tailor your own articles and posts.
This week is the fourth step ‘Act’ – taking action to find the balance between celebrating and quiet time. Keeping a routine during this time can help to focus on what is in your control and maintain a good balance.
If you feel you need additional support or counselling contact Road Trauma Support WA on 1300 004 814, your GP, or other support services such as Lifeline 13 11 14 or Griefline 1300 845 745.
Road Trauma Support out in the community
In October we travelled to the Great Southern to support the RAC Project Road Smart event in Albany. While in the region the team met with stakeholders and presented Introduction to Road Trauma Support WA sessions to members at the Albany Men’s Shed and Albany Department of Fire and Rescue.
The team had the pleasure of being invited to the Goldfields Esperance in October, to present at the 2023 Transafe WA Forum. Recovery Support General Manager Christine Smith presented on ‘Introduction to Road Trauma Support WA for those in the road transport industry’. Thank you to Transafe WA for the invitation to present.
While in Esperance, Christine met with the Shire of Esperance, St John WA, and Esperance Health Service sharing information about Injury Matters programs and opportunities to strengthen our work in preventing injuries and supporting those recovering from injuries.
St John WA invited the team to the Pilbara in November, to deliver two workshops in Karratha and Onslow for emergency services personnel. Each workshop had wonderful engagement discussing the nuances of road trauma in their region and discussion around how they support themselves and others in the community.
While in the Pilbara the team met with the City of Karratha, Shire of Ashburton, and the Karratha Women’s Place to share resources and learn more about programs being run at each location. Emergency Nurse staff at Karratha Health Campus and Onslow Hospital also made time during their shift to meet with the team to hear about Injury Matters programs and how to utilise Road Trauma Support WA information and resources with patients.
We’d like to thank everyone who made time to meet with us and attend the workshops. We were made to feel very welcome while visiting and we look forward to returning to the region soon.
If your community or organisation are interested in education and training opportunities with Road Trauma Support WA, reach out to our friendly team to discuss which workshops would be suitable. Contact admin@rtswa.org.au| 1300 004 814 (free call).
Road Trauma Support Regional Planning 2024
The team are currently planning their regional activities for 2024. Current dates and towns include Kulin 15th February, Bunbury 28th & 29th February, Karratha 11th June, Esperance 6th August and Geraldton 15th October, with some additional locations still being planned.
If you would like our team to meet with your community or organisation, and hear how we can support people impacted by a road incident, deliver a presentation or workshop and/or attend an event, please contact us at admin@rtswa.org.au or 1300 004 814 (free call).
Road Safety Grant Applications
The Road Safety Community Grant Program supports the development and implementation of sustainable projects and one-off community activities that assist in promoting road safety across the state through the Road Trauma Trust Account (RTTA). Rounds for applications open twice yearly in January and July.
With January upcoming you can subscribe to be notified of future grant rounds in the grants portal and get an overview of what’s involved with the application process.
If you would like to include a road trauma workshop or presentation as part of your community grant, contact the team at Injury Matters on how we can support you on (08) 6166 7688.
Synapse: Peer Support Communities
Synapse is Australia’s Brain Injury Organisation. Synapse provides a range of support services for people who have been impacted by brain injury and disability.
Synapse WA have a large peer support community in Perth which offers people with a brain injury the opportunity to connect with others to socialise, share experiences and feel understood and supported.
Kings Park Warriors are a small friendly group of people that have a brain injury who have been providing support to Perth locals since 2018. There are now two extensions of this group – Kings Park Warriors Young Adults and Kings Park Warriors for Carers, who meet regularly.
To find out more about on how to connect with these groups, contact Local Engagement Officer Kim Henderson khenderson@synapse.org.au / 0499016426.
Thank you to everyone we’ve had the opportunity to work, travel and connect with in 2023. Our office will be closed from end of day Friday, 22 December and reopen on Tuesday, 2 January for 2024. If you need immediate support in this period, please call: LifeLine on 13 11 14 or text 0477 131 114
13YARN on 13 92 76