2007 Award Winners
On Friday 2nd November 2007, the Injury Control Council of Western Australia held its annual Injury Prevention Awards 2007. The purpose of these awards is to recognise the valuable contributions to the reduction of injury and the promotion of community safety in Western Australia. The Awards were presented by Ms Wendy Murray, Director of the Office of Crime Prevention and Associate Professor Richard Midford, President of ICCWA.
The ICCWA Community Injury Prevention Award:
The North Parmelia Primary School Safety Club
The North Parmelia Primary School has established the North Parmelia Safety Club. The Safety Club has been instrumental in raising awareness and implementing strategies that reduce risk to staff, students and families. The students constantly promote the message “think safe, play safe”. The leadership skills displayed by this team of dedicated students to improve safety and awareness around the school has been inspirational to both staff and students.
Jordan Adams and Sharni Winter with teacher Angela Luttrell
The ICCWA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Injury Prevention:
The Denmark Safe Community Committee
In October this year, Denmark was re-designated as the only World Health Organisation Safe Community in WA, and the Denmark Safe Community Committee has done some amazing work in a range of injury prevention areas in order to achieve this result.
Dr Gill Sellar, The Denmark Safe Community Committee
The ICCWA Award for Excellence in Injury Prevention Research:
Gerri Clay, Independent Living Centre of WA
The Independent Living Centre of WA undertook a large research project investigating the Physical Impact of Caring on Family Carers, with a particular focus on injury and prevention. The research originated out of recognition of the physical demands placed on people who care for family members at home and the lack of evidence and research on this topic.
Gerri Clay and Dena Stafford, Independent Living Centre
The ICCWA Media Award for Excellence in Injury Prevention Reporting:
Jaime Muirhead, The South Western Times
Jaime Muirhead has been a journalist in the South West for a number of years and wins this award for reporting the issue of suicide in a responsible and accurate manner. There is much evidence to support the fact that reporting on suicide can have an impact on vulnerable people and the way in which suicide is reported can be particularly significant. Jaime regularly contacts groups involved with injury prevention, health and community safety where possible to obtain the most accurate information as the basis of her articles.
The ICCWA Student Award:
Sarah McKerracher, University of Western Australia.
Sarah McKerracher is a final year Bachelor of Health Science student from the University of Western Australia. In July 2007 Sarah began a 13 week placement with ICCWA and has undertaken a range of tasks related to injury prevention including research, advocacy, funding proposals and preparation of educational materials. Sarah has shown an extensive interest in injury as a health issue throughout her degree and has consistently shown professionalism and leadership potential.
Sarah McKerracher
The ICCWA Volunteer Awards:
Helen Clark, Nancy Ciampini, David Taylor
At our annual Injury Prevention Awards, we recognise the volunteers who have achieved three years’ service as an ICCWA volunteer. Our volunteers work tirelessly in the community to raise awareness about falls prevention and to lead walking groups in shopping centres and encouraging people to stay physically active. Our volunteers give unselfishly of their time and energy and they are wonderful role models for healthy ageing.
Another very special volunteer, David Taylor, would have also reached his third year of service as a Stay on Your Feet volunteer. Very sadly and suddenly, David passed away earlier this year. David was a committed, reliable and very effective volunteer and it was ICCWA’s good fortune that he chose to become a Stay on Your Feet volunteer.