Injury Prevention for Indigenous Children Is Focus for New Study
The George Institute for International Health has today announced a newly-funded study that will address one of Australia's key health priorities, injury prevention and control amongst Indigenous communities.
Injury is one of the leading causes of death, illness and disability amongst Indigenous Australians, with a higher incidence than that for non-Indigenous populations. In addition, Indigenous youth and children are particularly at risk of injury, according to recent statistics.
The George Institute's Safe Koori Kids study will collect and examine injury data, identify risk factors, as well as design, implement and evaluate prevention strategies. The aim is to apply culturally relevant and sustainable interventions for Indigenous children and youth in school and community environments.
Principal researcher, Dr Kathleen Clapham, a leading Indigenous researcher at The George Institute, said that "The causative factors of injuries among Indigenous populations has received almost no research attention, yet Indigenous children and youth are currently over-represented in intentional and unintentional injury statistics. The study will be focussing on injury in selected urban Indigenous communities in New South Wales."
Recent reports have documented the negative impact on families and communities, however no studies to date offer sustainable and culturally acceptable solutions to the problem. The research involves the development of partnerships between Indigenous researchers, Indigenous communities, organisations, and government.
National Health and Medical Research Council funding of the study was announced earlier this week at the launch of Research Australia's 2005 "Thank You" Day program.
The study is a collaboration between The George Institute for International Health and Yooroang Garang: School of Indigenous Health Studies at the University of Sydney.
Over a three year period, the research will explore the incidence and impact of injury in Indigenous communities and collaborate with Indigenous schools, families and communities and make recommendations for changes to policy and practice that will benefit health and safety in Indigenous communities.
To obtain a copy of the study synopsis, or arrange interviews, contact Emma Orpilla, Public Relations Officer, The George Institute for International Health on ph: +612 8238 2424, mobile: 0410 411 983, email: eorpilla@george.org.au.
Notes for Editors:
The George Institute for International Health seeks to gather evidence to address the growing problems of heart and vascular disease, injury, mental illness and neurological diseases through high-quality research, evidence-based policy development and a range of capacity development programs.
Dr Kathleen Clapham is a Senior Research Fellow in the Injury Prevention and Trauma Care Division at The George Institute for International Health. Dr Clapham's areas of special interest include injury prevention in Indigenous communities, Indigenous health workforce development as well as race and health inequalities. A Senior Lecturer in Yooroang Garang: School of Indigenous Health Studies at the University of Sydney, Kathleen is also currently the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Representative of the Australian Injury Prevention Network (AIPN).
Co-researchers on the grant
Dr Freidoon Khavarpour, Senior Lecturer, Yooroang Garang: School of Indigenous Health Studies at the University of Sydney.
Professor Mark Stevenson, Director, Injury Prevention and Trauma Care Division, The George Institute.