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  Australian Youth and Road Trauma Forum

 Years 10,11 &12

                

  Due to NSW State Government funding, the 2010 forum is now FREE to all schools. Schools will be contacted in regards to this change.

Acer Arena - Homebush

Trauma care encompasses all facets of the patient journey from the prehospital phase, to acute care and recovery through to rehabilitation. The Trauma Service at Westmead Hospital works closely with Allied Health, specialised rehabilitation teams and the Brain Injury Unit to facilitate this journey.

Westmead Hospital's Trauma Unit is constantly reminded as those who care for trauma victims that young people in the age group 15 - 30 years are disproportionately represented in road trauma. As a result they have a strong commitment to education that promotes prevention of road traffic trauma.

In April 2005 Westmead Hospital's Trauma Week initiative of an Injury Prevention Forum was developed - the Forum events were focused in the Western Sydney area and were aimed at increasing the awareness of the extent of trauma related injury and the implications of this to the general public. The final event held in 2005 was a forum of Senior Secondary Students (Year 11 & 12).

After reviewing the evaluation report of the 2005 Trauma Week Forum, young people who experience road trauma were identified as the demographic population that this committee wished to address on a continuing basis and reflected the real need to concentrate on road trauma education for adolescents in a visual and interactive way.

The Youth and Road Trauma Forum's primary objective is to reduce the fatality and injury rates of young people and to ensure that the community is aware of injury prevention, trauma care services and related resources available.

The forum is a one-day program held at the Acer Arena that is repeated over 3 days. Students gain an understanding of the responsibilities involved with driving. They witness and experience first hand the potential risks associated with driving and being a passenger. This is road safety being delivered in an engaging and dynamic manner.

The morning session is focused on the crash scenario, which includes the lead up to a car crash involving 3 young people and a motorcyclist. The scenario shows the interaction of the rescue services at a crash scene and the potential consequences of being involved in a crash as well as the patient's journey through the hospital from the emergency department to rehabilitation.

Following the crash scenario, 3 presenters from the Brain Injury Unit at Westmead Hospital who have all suffered a traumatic brain injury as either a pedestrian, passenger or driver of a car, give talks about their experiences which is a powerful reminder of how trauma can affect anyone.

The afternoon session of the program includes a demonstration of wheelchair basketball involving students attending the forum. We have a speaker who has sustained a spinal injury due to a car crash. There is then a stopping distance demonstration showing vehicle safety with audience participation.

The forum provided students who are most at risk, a realistic look at the trauma caused by road crashes and provided them information and strategies in an attempt to reduce serious injuries and deaths. The forum's contents and structure aimed to treat young people as adults allowing them freedom to choose from a range of interactive exhibits.

The Balnaves Foundation is a private philantrhopic organisation which provides philanthropic support to charitable enterprises across Australia. Established by Neil Balnaves in 2006, The Balnaves Foundation disperses over $2 million annually supporting eligible organisations that aim to create a better Australia through education, medicine and the arts with a focus on young people, the disadvantaged and Indigenous communities.

The Balnaves Foundation is co-funding the Australian Youth and Road Trauma Forum by providing $100,000 for 2010. The Foundation recognises that drivers education and awareness is critical in working to reduce the rate of crashes and deaths on our roads; particularly by those who are most at risk - young people.

For further information visit www.balnavesfoundation.com