Injury Matters eNews | September 2023

Remove Hazards Campaign Launched
Stay On Your Feet^®

Injury Matters has launched the latest Stay On Your Feet® campaign, Remove Hazards. This campaign encourages older adults to keep their homes clear of common falls hazards, wear safe shoes, and check their eyesight.

Find out more about the Stay On Your Feet® program and how to prevent falls.

Alcohol and Injury Prevention: The latest research and advocacy opportunities
Catch up with Know Injury

Our Know Injury program recently hosted a great webinar alongside Peter Miller, Professor of Violence Prevention and Addiction Studies at the School of Psychology at Deakin University.

Professor Miller shared the latest findings from his research on alcohol policy, licensed venues, and violence, and explores practical strategies and advocacy opportunities for alcohol and injury prevention.

Six Supportive Steps Campaign
Launching Soon

Launching on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on Sunday 19th November through the end of December, Injury Matters’ Road Trauma Support WA is delivering the six-week online campaign ‘Six Supportive Steps’ to help people impacted by road trauma who are grieving the loss of a loved one support themselves or others during the holiday season.

Using actionable tips and strategies, the Six Supportive Steps campaign will run from the with each week focusing on one of six supportive steps.

Keep up with us on social media and our website to access the campaign toolkit to get involved this year.

Move Your Body grants are now open 

Applications for Stay On Your Feet® Move Your Body grants are now open. Grants of up to $5,000 (plus GST) are available and will fund projects running between 1 March and 31 May 2024. 

The Move Your Body  grants focus on important information for older adults to build their strength and balance to prevent falls and promote healthy ageing.  

Grants are open to community groups and not-for-profit organisations, health and fitness professionals, community workers working with older adults, retirement and lifestyle villages, physiotherapy clinics, and local governments. 

Joining forces: Strengthening the collaborative approach to community-based falls prevention
26 November 2023 at 1pm – 4pm

Injury Matters is proud to be hosting the pre-conference workshop Joining forces: Strengthening the collaborative approach to community-based falls prevention at the upcoming Australia and New Zealand Falls Prevention Society & World Falls Congress 2023 Joint Conference in Perth.

Upcoming Travel

Our team will be visiting multiple regional towns and regions in WA over the coming months, including:

• Albany from 16th – 19th October
• Esperance from 23th – 25th October
• Pilbara from 6th – 9th November

Advisory Committee Spotlight
Frank Bobongie

As we continue on our journey towards our Innovate RAP, our team have been working to deepen our relationship with our Advisory Committee, comprised of generous leaders and thinkers from around WA.

Frank Bobongie was one of our first Committee members and has joined in on many Injury Matters events this year. As an honorary Noongar man, he was born and raised in Kokomini (Mackay, Queensland), and supports the local community with organisations such as the Department of Justice and Guildford Grammar.

Frank is a great conversationalist, with fascinating stories of his life and experiences. We’re so thankful to have his support in guiding Injury Matters along the path of reconciliation.

Recent Travels in WA

Injury Prevention team members, Shaan and Sam, visited Kalgoorlie in early July to get involved in falls prevention activities in the community, expos, and working with Bega Health Services, the local Men’s Shed and attending the NAIDOC Week Elders Expo.

The Recovery Support team were also in the Wheatbelt in early July, delivering an After a Crash Workshop to Emergency Responders in Gingin, including St John WA, DFES and WA Police. The community demand and positive feedback from attendees remains strong, and Injury Matters is committed to connecting with communities across the state.

If you have an event or wish to have our team in your community for a presentation, contact us!

Meet the Remove Hazards grant recipients

With the next Stay On Your Feet® Remove Hazards campaign launching in September, Injury Matters congratulates the successful Remove Hazards grant recipients who have commenced planning their community-based grant programs.

Remove Hazards is one part of the Move Improve Remove messaging that encourages older adults to stay active, independent, and prevent falls. Remove Hazards looks at simple changes for preventing falls, focusing on home safety, feet and footwear, and eyesight. Meet our successful Remove Hazards grant recipients for 2023.

Supporting someone who’s grieving: What helps?

It can be hard to know what to say or do to help someone you care about cope with a sudden loss from road trauma. You may feel helpless in the face of their grief and worried about their wellbeing.

It can be difficult to understand the different emotional, mental, social and physical reactions they experience. This blog offers what we have found to be helpful to people who are grieving and traumatised.

Young People Advisory Group

Curtin University are currently seeking enthusiastic young people to join a Young People Advisory Group regarding alcohol advertising and its promotion around WA beaches, rivers and pools.

If you are aged 18-24 and live in metropolitan Perth or know a young person who may be interested in contributing to WA’s drowning prevention efforts, access the link below to learn more about the project and how to get involved.  

Donate to our Services

If you or someone you know has benefited from our free services, consider donating towards the ongoing delivery of our specialised road trauma services across WA.

Eat for Injury Prevention

We’ve teamed up with Grill’d Leederville for their Local Matters program in September! Stop by for a bite this month and drop your token in our jar to support safer people and places.