Media Release - Friday 26 July 2013

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Injury Prevention Remains Low Priority in Transport More than 40 of Australias leading experts on injury prevention and safety promotion are gathering in Sydney today, focussing on injury prevention in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Coinciding with the release of the Australian Institute for Health and Welfares (AIHW) report into Injury of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Due to Transport 2005-06 to 2009-10, the Australian Injury Prevention Network (AIPN) symposium will feature a number of sessions on all facets of injury prevention including drowning, burns, road safety, child restraints and driveway safety, with a distinct focus on the impact of these areas of injury on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Keynote sessions will highlight the significant issue of suicide in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and best practice in prevention and treatment of burns, while other papers will cover injuries in AFL football. Symposium keynote speaker, Kathleen Clapham, Professor of Indigenous Health at the Australian Health Services Research
Institute, University of Wollongong, is encouraged by the focus being placed on addressing the inequitable distribution of injury between the Indigenous and non-indigenous population. Discussions like these are important so that Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander communities have genuine and direct input into research, policy and program development which meet their diverse needs said Professor Clapham. Injury is one of the major causes of hospitalization and death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people but it rarely comes up on our radars in terms of prevention, for either policy makers or researchers. This symposium is about raising awareness of the issues, and bringing people together to talk about how we can do better said Professor Rebecca Ivers of The George Institute for Global Health and of The University of Sydney. As the new AIHW report tells us, transport related injuries are the second leading cause of death, and fourth leading cause of serious injury (hospitalisation) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; and more than 98% of the fatal and non fatal transport injury cases involve land transport. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are 2.8 times more likely to be killed in a transport related incident, and 1.3 times more likely to be injured than other Australians, so it important that we work to reduce this disparity and address the specific cultural and location needs for this group added Professor Ivers.

More information and media interviews: Clare Murray, Australian Injury Prevention Network, 07 3138 4568 or 0409 813 276 Maya Kay, The George Institute for Global Health, 0410 411 983 The Australian Injury Prevention Network (AIPN) is the peak national body advocating for injury prevention and safety in Australia and represents the growing industry of injury prevention and safety promotion researchers and practitioners around Australia, whilst advocating to raise the profile, and influence change, in this important area of public health. The AIPN was formed in 1996 in order to establish collaboration between injury researchers, policymakers and practitioners and to provide a coordinated voice among injury prevention professionals. The AIPN is a not-for-profit, non-

government organisation with national and international membership from all sectors of the injury prevention community. The George Institute for Global Health is improving the lives of millions of people worldwide through innovative health research. Working across a broad health landscape, the Institute conducts clinical, population and health system research aimed at changing health practice and policy worldwide. The Institute has a global network of medical and health experts working together to address the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Established in 1999 in Australia and affiliated with The University of Sydney, the Institute today also has offices in China, India and the United Kingdom, and is also affiliated with Peking University Health Science Centre, the University of Hyderabad and the University of Oxford AIHW: Henley G & Harrison JE 2013. Injury of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people due to transport, 200506 to 200910. Injury research and statistics series no. 85. Cat. no. INJCAT 161. Canberra: AIHW.