Geraldton Conference 2009
'Strengthening Rural and Remote WA' - Community Safety and Injury Prevention Conference 2009
Monday 29 to Tuesday 30 June 2009 Queens Park Theatre, Cathedral Ave, Geraldton, Western Australia
ICCWA, with the support of the Department of Health WA, brought together a diverse range of professionals and community members for a regional conference to showcase injury prevention programs, network to build partnerships and promote support services available in the sector.
This free conference, held in Geraldton on 29-30 June, was about sharing experiences and challenges and to inspire delegates living and working as rural and remote health professionals. Garry Wilkes, Medical Director St John Ambulance WA, supported the event as MC, which was officially opened by Dr Marisa Gilles, public health physician for the Midwest/Gascoyne and associate professor at the Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health. Dr Gilles highlighted key issues in the Midwest region, particularly alcohol-related harm. A passionate advocate for injury prevention, Dr Gilles took the opportunity to promote that she is going ‘Dry in July’, and encouraged all attendees to join her.
The themes of Strengthening rural and remote communities and Community action themes highlighted that community members can play a successful role in advocating for safer practices and safer environments. The conference was also an opportunity to promote the contribution of dedicated organisations working in injury prevention. Keynote presentations from Meegan Brotherton, Safework SA, creator of Choose Respect Gary Butcher, and Graeme Drew and Theo Newhouse from the Nathan Drew Memorial Foundation, supported these key themes with personal stories of promoting safety in the workplace, schools and community.
Shaun Nannup (ICCWA Indigenous Liaison Officer) delivered an exceptional keynote presentation, providing insight into ways mainstream organisations can engage and work with Aboriginal communities. Providing an excellent introduction to key injury prevention issues including falls prevention and child safety, keynote presenter Professor Joan Ozanne-Smith is a Professorial Fellow at the Monash University Department of Forensic Medicine and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, where she heads Prevention Research Services. Joan also heads the Monash University WHO Collaborating Centre for Violence, Injuries and Disabilities. The day two Conference theme focussed on community action for reducing alcohol-related injury. Colleen O’Leary’s presentation discussed current research and broader implications of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder for individuals, families, communities, health and social service sectors. Currently a research associate at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Colleen is a member of the Western Australian Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Model of Care Working Group established by the Department of Health WA.
Health Networks Senior Development Officer Karina Moore discussed the process of extensive consultation with metropolitan, rural and remote areas in the development of Models of Care for health care across Western Australia. Health professionals and community members have had the opportunity for input into the Models of Care, and are encouraged to access the Health Networks for information, and provide feedback to the Networks on an ongoing basis. Delegates were guided through the Health Networks website using examples from the Injury and Trauma Network and Falls Prevention Network. The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet was available with Associate Professor Richard Midford on hand to guide delegates through the website to access information on injury prevention in Indigenous communities.
Conference Workshops
Janelle Leiper, Epidemiology and Evaluation Coordinator, WA Country Health Service, Population Health Unit delivered an interactive workshop entitled, ‘Evaluation with Program Logic – measuring the success of your program’. In this session, the group was guided through what an evaluation using Program logic may look like with Gary Butchers’ ‘Choose Respect’. Feedback from participants of this workshop was extremely positive. Meegan Brotherton facilitated a ‘Safe Communities: Putting interest into action’ session. Participants were guided through some of the resources and support available to Australian communities, along with some international case studies. The discussion was supported with examples from Denmark Safe Community by Dr. Gillian Sellar, who again highlighted the contribution from volunteers in driving change and initiatives in the community. A workshop on The Map of Loss from the ‘A Way Through’ Project delivered by Dr Beth Jackson from ICCWA was well received, with many participants registering expressions of interest to attend the full two day workshop. The Conference was an excellent development and networking opportunity with a number of outstanding high profile speakers. One delegate commented, ‘It has inspired me to work more for my community.’ Comments from participants when asked, ‘What did you like most about the Conference?’ ‘It was in the Midwest.’ ‘Hearing about what is happening in other communities.’ ‘Great to hear what different organisations are doing; that there is coordination through Health Networks.’ ‘Shaun Nannup stands out as it gave another approach to a ‘white fella’ like me. Graeme Drew and Theo Newhouse were inspiring. Just great. Over expectation.’ ‘The most diverse range of speakers in one Conference, all of which were relevant to me.’