About Us
Kidsafe is the leading Australian, non-government, not-for-profit charitable organisation dedicated to preventing unintentional childhood injuries and reducing the resulting deaths and disabilities associated with childhood "accidents" in children under the age of 15 years.
Each year about 350 Australian children (aged 0-14 years) are killed and 60,000 hospitalised by unintentional injuries - the kind often referred to as 'accidents'. Many of these are easily prevented by simple means.
Injuries are the leading cause of death in Australian children aged one to fourteen, accounting for nearly half of all deaths in this age group. More children die of injury than die of cancer, asthma and infectious diseases combined.
Unintentional injuries account for about 90% of all injury-related deaths in children and about 98% of all injury-related hospitalisations. Injuries are the leading cause of death in Australian children aged one to fourteen, accounting for nearly half of all deaths in this age group.
The Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia was established in 1979. The Western Australian Division was established in 1980. The trading name Kidsafe was adopted nationally in 1993. Since the establishment of Kidsafe, the number of child deaths and hospitalisations has halved.
Please click here to view Kidsafe WA's Privacy Policy.
Please click here to view Kidsafe National Strategic Plan.
Vision
A Safer place for Kids
Mission
To lead the action to minimise the unacceptable risks and consequences of unintentional injury to children in our adult-focused world.
Our Values
- Concern for the well-being of children (as the basis for growth of Australian Society)
- Prevention is better than cure
- Evidence Based Best Practice
- Recognising and Valuing our people
Our Aims
To prevent child deaths from unintentional injury and reduce the severity of unintentional injuries to children aged less than 15 years, through education, research, advocacy and environmental and legislative change.
What is an injury?
Injury is defined as:
Physical harm or damage to the body. It may be intentionally or unintentionally caused. An injury may be minor and require little or no care, or may be more serious, requiring treatment or hospitalisation and may result in permanent scarring, disability or death.
In Western Australia:
About 41 children per year die and about 7,500 are admitted to hospitals throughout the state as a result of injury. About a quarter (about 10,000) of all Emergency Department presentations at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children each year result from injury.
Past and Present Activities
The Kidsafe WA Resource Centre incorporates a Safety Demonstration House that highlights the potential danger areas around the home and some of the prevention measures available to reduce the risk of those injuries occurring. The Kidsafe WA Centre provides a child injury information and referral service to parents, carers, students, health professionals, government agencies, other non-government organisations, business and the wider community. The Centre has available a range of information materials, videos, display kits and safety products for sale. Kidsafe WA also operates a child car restraint hire, fitting and checking service.
In addition to the Kidsafe WA Resource Centre and Safety Demonstration House, Kidsafe WA conducts specific injury prevention campaigns and projects, such as:
- Bassinet / Capsule Loan Scheme piloted 1984
- Piloted the first Injury Surveillance System in PMH Emergency Department 1986 – 1992
- Playground Injuries 1987
- Neighbourhood Injury Prevention Program for Education and Research (NIPPER) 1988 – 1991
- Shopping Trolley injuries in toddlers 1990
- Home Injuries 1991
- Research into death & injuries in the 0 – 2 yr age group in motor vehicle crashes 1992
- Bike Injuries – Promotion of helmet wearing to prevent head injuries when riding bikes 1992
- Cabbies Care for Kids 1994
- Hot Water Burns Like Fire – Is Your Hot Water Kidsafe? 1994, 1999, 2001 – 02
- Safety Rules OK! Injury Free Schools piloted in the Narrogin Education District, with the Education Department of WA and the South West Population Health Unit. 1995
- Child Restraint Information Kits for Health Professionals 1995 & 1998
- Poisons Lock Up and Away – a project targeting poisoning in the 0 – 4 year age group. 1997, 2004 - 2006
- Baby Safe – a project to educate antenatal and postnatal parents on strategies to reduce injuries in the home 1998
- Safety Rules OK! state-wide implementation 1998 – 2000
- Pilot Free Child Restraint Checking 1998
- First West Australian Child Restraint fitters training course conducted 1999
- Safety in Schools Week 1999 – present
- Establishment of Kidsafe WA Child Car Restraint Hire, Fitting & Checking Service 2001 & ongoing
- Child Injury Prevention Network 2002 – 04
And advocates for legislative and environmental changes to improve the safety of children.
The continued operation of Kidsafe WA is dependent on funding obtained from donations, fundraising, income generated by Kidsafe Centre activity, corporate sponsorship, specific project funding and purchase of specific services by government.
