Country: Australia
State: Queensland
Number of inhabitants:21,636
Programme started year: 2002
International Safe Communities Network Membership: Designation Year 2009
Full application available: www.mountisasafecommunity.com.au
http://www.safecommunities.org.nz/sc/mtisa

For further information contact:
Name: Lynette Drew
Institution: Tropical Population Health Unit – Queensland Health
Address: cnr Camooweal & Doreen Streets (PO Box 27)
City: Mount Isa    
Country: Australia
Phone: +61 7 47444842  Fax:  +61 7 47454573
E-mail: lynette_drew@health.qld.gov.au

The programme covers the following safety promotion activities:
For the age group

• Children 0-14 years:
  The main activity for this age group has been conducted by the Childhood Injury Prevention Program (ChIPP), which commenced as a demonstration project in early 2003.  Sponsored by Queensland Health and the Department of Emergency Services this partnership addressed injury priorities including drowning, burns & scalds, falls and poisoning.  The main injury prevention strategies of ChIPP have included:
  Drowning - Work with Mount Isa City Council regarding pool fence inspections
  Drowning - Pool fencing saves lives communication strategy to raise awareness of the importance of effective pool fencing
  Injury - Hot Water BURNS Like Fire campaign to raise awareness of the causes of burns and scalds
  Injury – ‘Train the Trader’ and ‘Buy Wise’ program to provide product safety seminars for retailers and consumers of nursery furniture
  Injury - Unsafe nursery furniture pick up service
  Injury - Cessation of the sale of baby furniture at the local rubbish dump
  Injury – Development and production of the ‘Safety for Piccaninny – Our Little Ones’ book
  Transport –‘Don’t give half a Gift Helmets Save Lives’ campaign to encourage the purchase of safety equipment when buying bikes as gifts
  Transport - Baby capsule hire program to improve access to baby capsules
  Poisoning - Lolly or Tablet? Promotion to raise awareness about the risk of children accidentally consuming pharmaceuticals
  
  The ChIPP gained the Queensland Department of Emergency Services 2005 Minister’s Award for Excellence in the ‘partnership & reconciliation’ category, for their work in developing the booklet, ‘Safety for Piccaninny – Our Little Ones’.  This Award provides recognition to work teams, units and volunteer groups in progressing the Department’s vision of ‘A safer community and a better quality of life in Queensland through world-class emergency and disaster services’.
  
  The group was also awarded both the Queensland and National Australian Safer Communities Awards which are presented by Emergency Management Australia (EMA).  The Awards are designed to recognise and encourage good practice and innovation across Australia’s emergency management sector, business, local government and community organisations that help to build safer communities across Australia.
  
  Additional injury prevention strategies for this age group conducted by other Action Partners include:
  Boycott of bronzed soft-drink bottles to reduce opportunities for substance misuse
  The ‘Family Healing Program to assist children with substance misuse issues to reengage with their families, school and other activities
  Voluntary code of practice for retailers regarding the sale of spray paints
  Guidelines / protocols for media regarding the reporting of volatile substance misuse
  Puppets to the Rescue program aimed at educating children regarding domestic violence, sexual abuse and antisocial behaviour
  Get Bled For Lead & Living With Lead programs aimed at reducing children’s exposure to lead in the environment
  Safe Access to public pool for people with a disability or frailty
  Consultations with Mount Isa City Council regarding construction of safe playgrounds and recreational facilities
  'Primesafe’ program aimed at providing primary school students with information about sun safety, first aid, bushfires etc

• Youth 15-24 years:
  The majority of activities for this age group have been conducted by the Substance Misuse Action Group, though as indicated below several other initiatives are underway:
   Access to Beer Goggles to raise people’s awareness of the impact of alcohol consumption on vision etc
  ‘Girlfriend Safe in the City’ campaign to encourage young women to look out for each other when out socialising
  ‘Sober Bob’ designated driver program
  The ‘Family Healing Program to assist children with substance misuse issues to reengage with their families, school and other activities
  Boycott of bronzed soft-drink bottles to reduce opportunities for substance misuse
   No Grog Here – alcohol free homes project aimed at encouraging Indigenous families to consider alcohol consumption and storage at home
  Of these, the initiatives aimed at encouraging safe alcohol consumption are ongoing while those addressing chroming tend to be intermittent  in response to uptake of this behaviour in the community.
  
  Additional activities have also been undertaken by other Action Partners such as:
  Consultation with Mount Isa City Council regarding safe access to the public pool for people with a disability or frailty and construction of  safe playgrounds and recreational facilities
  ‘Don’t forget me when you’re talkin’ DV’ program aimed at educating young people about domestic violence and how it is not acceptable
  Negotiations are underway to create the ‘Ladies Auxiliary Garden’ which will recognize the achievements of the ladies Auxiliary as well as    providing a safe place for gentle exercise to increase mobility and emotional wellbeing
  
  Finally, our newest Action Partner, the Safety in Custody Working Group is looking into initiatives they can implement to assist members of this age group who enter into the legal system including:
  Prisoner chooses not to disclose medical condition resulting in this condition not receiving appropriate treatment
  Prisoner displaying volatile behaviour not within formal mental health definitions resulting in unclear referral/treatment pathways
  Prisoner is transferred to Mount Isa without adequate medication, re-ordering processes are time consuming and difficult to negotiate
  
• Adults 25-64 years:
  For this age group, the work of the Mount Isa Safe Community Action Partners has focused on safe alcohol consumption, falls prevention and interpersonal violence as included below:
   ‘Sober Bob’ designated driver program
  Working with families as part of the Family Healing Program to assist children with substance misuse issues to reengage in usual activities
  ‘Stay on Your Feet’ forum to discuss issues relevant to the prevention of falls in the community
  Counselling/support group for perpetrators of domestic/interpersonal violence
  ‘Stingers’ sporting group campaign to raise awareness that domestic violence is not acceptable
  No Grog Here – alcohol free homes project: aimed at encouraging Indigenous families to consider alcohol consumption and storage at home
  
  Although other more general projects are also either underway or being planned:
  Consultations with Mount Isa City Council regarding safe access to the public pool for people with a disability or frailty and construction of safe playgrounds and recreational facilities
  ‘Mount Isa Shop Safe’ initiative aimed at changing seniors perception that Mount Isa CBD is unsafe by identifying premises that will provide a resting place for seniors
  Negotiations are underway to create the ‘Ladies Auxiliary Garden’ which will recognize the achievements of the ladies Auxiliary as well as   providing a safe place for gentle exercise to increase mobility and emotional wellbeing
  
• Older Adults 65+ years:
  The main body of work relating to this age group has been conducted by the Mount Isa Seniors’ Safety Working Group and includes:
  ‘Stay on Your Feet’ forum to discuss issues relevant to the prevention of falls in the community
  Consultation with Mount Isa City Council regarding safe access to the public pool for people with a disability or frailty and construction of safe  playgrounds and recreational facilities
  ‘Mount Isa Shop Safe’ initiative aimed at changing seniors perception that Mount Isa CBD is unsafe by identifying premises that will provide a resting place for seniors
  Seniors ‘Stepping out’ program and gentle exercise groups for older people to help improve mobility and reduce the risk of falls
  
  While the Seniors Safety Working Group has carriage of the majority of initiatives targeting this age group, other Action Partners are also working on activities which will benefit this group including:
  Negotiations are underway to create the ‘Ladies Auxiliary Garden’ which will recognize the achievements of the ladies Auxiliary as well as  providing a safe place for gentle exercise to increase mobility and emotional wellbeing
  Hot Water BURNS Like Fire campaign to raise awareness of the causes of burns and scalds
  No Grog Here – alcohol free homes project aimed at encouraging Indigenous families to consider alcohol consumption and storage at home

In the following Environments:

• Home:
  Initiatives underway through within the Mount Isa community to improve safety within the home include:
  Home safety audits for new parents and for older people including inspections of homes by members of the Fire Brigade
   ‘Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives’ campaign to encourage the installation and maintenance of smoke alarms
  Identification, removal and the prevention of resale of unsafe nursery furniture
  No Grog Here – alcohol free homes project aimed at encouraging Indigenous families to consider alcohol consumption and storage at home
  Get Bled for Lead and Living With Lead programs to raise awareness regarding the reduction of exposure to lead in the environment
  Hot Water BURNS Like Fire campaign to raise awareness of the causes of burns and scalds
  Pool fencing saves lives communication strategy to raise awareness of the importance of effective pool fencing and work with Mount Isa           City Council regarding pool fence inspections
  ‘Lock Them Up, Store Them High’ promotion to ensure safe storage of potential poisons
  Development and production of the ‘Safety for Piccaninny – Our Little Ones’ book specifically designed for use with Indigenous families
  
• Traffic:
  Responsibility for traffic safety initiatives lies with several of our Action Partners.  As a result there is considerable activity underway within this area:
  ‘Don’t give half a Gift – Helmets Save Lives’ campaign to encourage the purchase of safety equipment when buying bikes etc as gifts
  Baby capsule hire program to improve access to baby capsules
  Reestablishment of the operationally focused Traffic Advisory Committee  as a result of the Road Safety Group
  Driver Reviver campaign to encourage people to rest regularly when driving long distances
  Education regarding safety considerations when driving on outback roads
  'Sober Bob’ campaign to encourage people to have a designated driver
  
• School:
  Actions regarding safety at school primarily focus around the ‘Primesafe’ program aimed at providing primary school students with information about sun safety, and first aid.
  
• Sports:
  Two key initiatives aimed at improving the safety of people participating in various sports are:
  Workshops with sporting groups regarding safety and equipment needed to ensure sporting activities are conducted in a safe manner
  ‘Don’t give half a Gift – Helmets Save Lives’ campaign to encourage the purchase of safety equipment when buying bikes etc as gifts
• Leisure:
  Several initiatives are underway through the Physical Activity Task Force and the Seniors Safety Working Group to improve people’s safety while participating in leisure activities including:
  ‘John Campbell Miles Memorial Circuit’ to encourage safe exercise and mobility to assist in falls prevention
  Consultations with Mount Isa City Council re construction of safe playgrounds and recreational facilities (Physical Activity Taskforce)
  Safe access to public pool for people with a disability or frailty
  Negotiations are underway to create the ‘Ladies Auxiliary Garden’ which will recognize the achievements of the ladies Auxiliary as well as  providing a safe place for gentle exercise to increase mobility and emotional wellbeing
  ‘Mount Isa Shop Safe’ initiative aimed at changing seniors perception that Mount Isa CBD is unsafe by identifying premises that will provide a resting place for seniors
  
  In addition the Mount Isa Substance Misuse Action group has several initiatives aimed at encouraging the safe consumption of alcohol including:
  ‘Girlfriend Safe in the City’ campaign to encourage young women to look out for each other when out socialising
   ‘Sober Bob’ campaign to encourage people to have a designated driver
  

Violence prevention (intentional injuries):

• Key responsibility for initiating programs aimed at reducing interpersonal violence lies with the Family Violence Community Action Group which has initiated the following activities:
       -    Counseling/support group for perpetrators of domestic/interpersonal violence
       -    ‘Stingers’ sporting group campaign to raise awareness that domestic violence is not acceptable
       -    ‘Puppets to the Rescue’ program aimed at educating children regarding domestic violence, sexual abuse and antisocial behaviour
       -    ‘Don’t forget me when you’re talking DV’ program aimed at educating young people about domestic violence and how it is not acceptable

Programmes aiming at “High risk-groups”:

As indicated above several of the activities underway within Mount Isa are specifically aimed at meeting the needs of at risk populations including:

•  ‘Safety for Piccaninny – Our Little Ones’ booklet developed by the ChIPP which was the recipient of the Queensland Department of Emergency  Services 2005 Minister’s Award for Excellence in the ‘partnership & reconciliation’ category.  This Award provides recognition to work teams, units and volunteer groups in progressing the Department’s vision of ‘A safer community and a better quality of life in Queensland through world-class emergency and disaster services’.
• The ‘Family Healing Program’ was also structured to make it more appropriate for use with Indigenous clients although participation in the program itself was limited to this particular population.
• ‘Mount Isa Shop Safe’ initiative aimed at changing seniors perception that Mount Isa CBD is unsafe by identifying premises that will provide a resting place for seniors.  This project was developed in response to information gathered through a community survey undertaken as  part of a community connectedness project.
• In addition the Safety in Custody group has specifically documented their focus on high risk groups in their terms of reference.  However, since this group was formed very recently they are yet to implement specific interventions.

 Surveillance of injuries:   

• Where: Mount Isa Base Hospital Emergency Department
• Started year:  1997
• Numbers per year:  The most recent intensive audit of injuries presenting at the Emergency Department of Mount Isa Base Hospital was conducted in 2001 by Karen Dempsey as part of her Masters of Applied Epidemiology through the Australian National University.  This survey found that over the period 1990-2001 an average of approximately 2220 males and 1210 females presenting to Mount Isa hospital for treatment of injuries annually.  Over this time, injuries sustained by these individuals resulted in more than 5500 presentations per year.  The Mount Isa Safe Community Advisory Team is investigating opportunities to have this survey of injury presentations repeated.  Until then ongoing injury surveillance activity is underway through the Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit.
• Population base: Mount Isa Health Service District, which covers an area of some 300,000 square kilometres.  This includes the Local Government as of Mount Isa City Council, Mornington Shire Council, Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council, Cloncurry Shire Council, McKinlay Shire Council and the Carpentaria Shire Council.  It has been estimated that the population of this area is in excess of 30,942.  Of this 22.7% identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

 Publications: (Scientific)

• The commencement of the Mount Isa Safe Community Initiative was as a result of the work of Maters of Applied Epidemiology Student report on the injury rates in Mount Isa.  In addition a more recent study of road related injury in the region has been completed.  As publications associated with this become available they will be noted on the Mount Isa Safe Community website (http://www.mountisasafecommunity.com.au/).

 Produced information material, pamphlets:

• Burns and Scalds:
       -    Hot water temperature cards
       -     Parent awareness kits for primary health care workers and community groups
       -     Brochures
       -     List of local retailers which stock safety equipment
       -     Radio ads
       -     Television community service announcements
       -     Trade magazine articles
       -     Newspaper editorials and ads
       -    Community newsletter articles

• Falls:
       -    Checklists for safety features on nursery furniture,d equipment and bunk beds
       -    Newspaper ads to assist with the identification of safety features on nursery furniture and equipment
       -    Lists of local retailers which stock safety equipment
       -    Community newsletter articles

• Poisoning:
       -    Set of three posters focusing on the need to store medications, chemicals and poisons safely
       -    Board display of childproof locks for use on cupboards and drawers
       -    Interactive display: ‘Lolly or Tablet?’ and activity sheet
       -    Fact sheets: ‘Childhood Poisoning in Our Local Area’
       -    Newsletter articles and media releases

• Other:
       -    Safety For Piccaninny – Our Little Ones
       -    Don’t Give Half a Gift publicity materials
       -    Magnetic Pool Fence Maintenance Checklist
       -    Series of Poisoning Posters
       -    No Grog Here signs

Staff

• Number:  1  full-time (currently vacant), Temporary:  3 years
• Organization: Hosted by the Mount Isa Centre for Rural & Remote Health Funded by Xstrata Community Partnerships Program
• Specific inter-sectoral leadership group:  Mount Isa Safe Community Advisory Group
• General public health/health promotion group:  Tropical Population Health Unit, Mount Isa & Gulf

International commitments:

• Study visits:  Townsville
• Participation in Safe Community conferences:  Christchurch (TBC)
• Hosting Safe Community Conferences:  Inclusion of a safety session within the program of the biennial Mount Isa Remote Health Conference convened by the Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health
• Other: Participating in the Safe Communities teleconferences providing / sharing resources throughout the Safe Communities network.