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CRCAH Project No: SD184
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Administering Organisation:
Flinders University
Project Leader:
Yvonne Helps
Contact Details:
Yvonne Helps
Tel: 08 8201 7623
Fax: 08 8374 0702
Email: yvonne.helps@flinders.edu.au
Team Members:
The researchers are from Flinders University, including:
- Yvonne Helps, James Harrison and Jerry Moller (Research
Centre for Injury Studies)
- Inge Kowanko (and previously Kim O'Donnell) (Flinders
Aboriginal Health Research Unit), and
- Charlotte de Crespigny (School of Nursing and Midwifery, NCETA
and DASSA).
CRCAH Program Manager:
Scott Davis,
Social
Determinants of Health program
Funding Sources:
- Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
- Flinders University (in-kind cointributor)
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What is the project about?
Mobility is a basic human need, and transport
(walking, driving, travelling as a passenger), is the way that it
is achieved. The starting point for this project was the
proposition that safe and sufficient transport should be accessible
to everyone. Lack of safety can be a consequence of insufficient or
inadequate transport. For example, given a need to travel - for
work, education, medical services, family or cultural reasons, or
recreation - and limited transport options, a person might travel
in an unsafe way rather than not travel. The study themes and
approach were informed by a series of forums held in 2005, 2006 and
2007, involving representatives of Aboriginal organisations and
officers of government agencies. Consultations with focus groups
and personal interviews were conducted, and case studies recorded,
in several Aboriginal communities.
Summary of Outcomes:
This project resulted in numerous actions aimed at
improving the safety or sufficiency of transport for Aboriginal
people in SA. For example:
- The establishment of an informal forum of representatives from
agencies and organisations from a diverse range of areas.
- The National Indigenous Working Group (auspiced by the
Australian Transport Safety Bureau) formed a taskforce to review,
update and redistribute Aboriginal road safety material.
- The SA Thinker in Residence, Professor Ilona Kickbush,
recommending to the SA Premier and Cabinet that driver education
and licensing be added to the State Strategic Plan as a key
strategy to improve mobility, to establish identity, and to give
improved employment and life opportunities for Aboriginal
people.
Who is involved?
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Aboriginal communities (Adelaide and Far
West Coast region, SA)
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Australian Transport Safety Bureau
(ATSB)
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CRCAH
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Flinders University
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Aboriginal Health Counicl of SA
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SA
Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure
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Office of Indigenous Policy
Coordination
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SA
Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM)
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SA
Metropolitan Fire Service (SAMFS)
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SA
Police (SAPOL)
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TAFE SA
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Tullawon Health Service
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Zebra Finch Men's Group
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Kura Yerlo Centre
Implications of findings for policy
and practice:
The
availability of safe and sufficient transport has diverse
implications for safety, health and welfare. Recommended actions in
the project report include:
- Improving access to driver
licensing education in different learning styles, and increased
availability of driver training and driving supervision, to
overcome barriers to obtaining a driver's licence.
- A long-term initiative on
seat restraint education, promoting user behaviour, and improving
access to and use of infant and child car restraints.
- Establishing a regional
passenger service to regularly run from Yalata and other outlying
communities to Ceduna.
- Development of a joint
program between road safety, drug and alcohol, and licensing
agencies to reduce the likelihood of drink/drug
driving.
Project Publications:
Fact Sheet: Addressing Transport Needs of Aboriginal
People (2008)
Related Links:
Indigenous Road Safety - an Indigenous
Health InfoNet web resource and yarning place to
promote the road safety of Indigenous people across
Australia
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[Last updated March 2008]
