Federal Minister launches national injury prevention enterprise

Childhood injury; young adult risk-taking behaviour, workplace injury; injury in older people; and injury within Indigenous communities will be discussed at the launch of a $20 million centre in Brisbane this morning (October 1).

The Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Kay Patterson, will launch the new centre, known as Injury Prevention and Control (Australia) Ltd (IPCA) at a Brisbane Customs House function at 11.30am.

CEO of the new Centre Associate Professor Rod McClure of UQ’s School of Population Health said researchers from across Australia would present results of major research initiatives on injury at the centre’s launch.

“Injury is the leading cause of death in people under the age of 45 years and a leading cause of serious disability in all ages, costing the community an estimated $13 billion a year,” he said.

“Unlike so many cancers, genetic diseases and many chronic conditions which are well advanced before detection, we know already enough about what causes injuries to prevent their occurrence in the vast number of healthy individuals who this year will become new statistics.

“However, while we may often know ‘what works’ to prevent injury we do not know ‘how to make it work’ at the population health level.”

Associate Professor McClure said Injury Prevention and Control (Australia) Ltd was a $20 million investment by Federal and State Governments, research institutions and private enterprise, to address injury prevention and management in Australia.

“It’s a collaboration between research organisations, community and industry partners and Government entities from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia,” he said.

“With backing from the National Health and Medical Research Council, IPCA is already the largest enterprise of this kind operating in this context in Australia. It continues to grow, with new sponsors, new investors, new collaborators and new projects under negotiation.

“The organisation has a critical mass of internationally respected researchers speaking for and working towards a public health response to this important community issue.
“I believe IPCA will make a real difference to injury prevention nationwide. Our research is wholly relevant because it is driven by government, business and community priorities.

“We look forward to the outcomes of the research reducing the financial and social burden.”

Media: For further information contact: Dr Rod McClure telephone 07 3365 5544, Mobile: 0417 766 515; email: r.mcclure@sph.uq.edu.au