Injury Matters

Unintentional poisoning is one of the leading causes of injuries in WA, accounting for 179 deaths in 2021. Injury Matters is hosting this hybrid seminar where we will hear from Louise Edwards from the Poisons Information Centre to learn more about poisoning prevention strategies to enable health professionals to promote and support effective health education. The seminar will also: Describe the mechanism of poisoning that is included in data collection. Describe the types of substances that commonly cause poisoning and identify the populations at the highest risk for poisoning incidents in Western Australia. Explain the role and services provided by...

Are you interested in understanding and reducing the risk of alcohol use in older adults? Join us for an informative 60-minute online webinar focused on alcohol use among older adults. Recent data highlights a concerning trend of risky alcohol use by older adults. Given our ageing population, additional action is needed to be able to identify and support older adults at risk of alcohol-related harm. Without additional action, there will be increased demand on our healthcare system, and just as important, it will affect our older adults’ quality of life. We all have a role to play in reducing the...

The Injury Prevention Summit is a one-day event held biennially by Injury Matters, via the Know Injury program, with funding from the Western Australian Department of Health. The Injury Prevention Summit will connect injury prevention and safety promotion practitioners, policymakers, and representatives from Local Governments across WA to facilitate collaboration and exchange injury prevention knowledge, ideas, and information. For more information and registration click here.

Join Injury Matters on 18 June 2025 from 10:00am-11:00am (AWST), with guest speaker Henrietta Podgorska from Umbrella Multicultural Community Care Services, for the “Building Trust and Engaging Multicultural Communities in Injury Prevention Programs and Services” webinar. Western Australia (WA) has a rapidly increasing multicultural population, made up of a variety of different communities, each with their own unique identity and experiences. WA has the largest proportion of residents born outside of Australia, where 38% of Western Australians were born overseas. Cultural, social and psychological impacts on health may increase the prevalence of injury among multicultural communities. That is why effective...

Local governments play a significant role in developing, coordinating and delivering injury prevention, safety policies and programs in their local area. Local governments’ responsibility for health can include encouraging: health promotion behaviours, opportunities for social connection and recreational participation to increase and maintain physical and mental wellbeing. Falls are a significant public health issue in Western Australia. 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 fall each year. Falls can have a real impact on an individual’s life that can lead to a loss of independence and confidence, increased concerns of falling and difficulty doing daily tasks. Falls are...