Understanding hospital morbidity coded data: Applications for injury surveillance

Currently there is a lack of knowledge, understanding, and familiarity of researchers with using hospital data for injury surveillance and thus it is currently not being used to its full potential. The National Centre for Classification in Health with the National Injury Surveillance Unit will be hosting a workshop for injury researchers to gain a better understanding of the quality and utility of hospital morbidity data for injury surveillance purposes. This workshop will provide an overview of the key issues to consider when using morbidity data for injury surveillance purposes. Participants will be given a hands-on experience in the process of coding cause of injury events. The processes used to collect, code and compile cause of injury hospitalisation data and the implications of these processes for data quality will be described in detail. Approaches for making better use of these data and interpreting these data more effectively will be presented. Alternative classification systems and processes for revisions of current classification systems will be described.

Time: 09:00-12:00
Cost: $50.00 AUD
Contact: Dr Kirsten McKenzie – National Centre for Classification in Health – k.mckenzie@qut.edu.au

Water Safety Workshop: Challenges, opportunities and bringing it all together to achieve 50% reduction in drowning by 2020

This workshop aims to bring together a range of stakeholders in the water safety area to explore current research, practice and policy. The workshop will provide a structured exploration of key themes arising from the water safety strategy with opportunities for vignettes, questions, comments and thoughts from the audience. The proposed outcomes of the workshop are:

•  An exploration of current water safety policy, what exists, how it works, how it could be more effective and areas where policy is required.

•  An exploration of creating an evidence base for effective water safety practice, what is this, who should be involved and how do we make it happen.

Time: 09:00-11:00
Cost: $50.00 AUD
Contact: Dr Richard Franklin – Royal Life Saving Society Australia – rfranklin@rlssa.org.au

Child Injury Prevention – re-energising after 30 years

Hosted by KIDSAFE (the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia)

Outline: It is 30 years since major public and government attention was drawn to child injury in Australia, which prompted the formation of KIDSAFE in 1979. Child injury has been reduced since then, but there is much more to be done. For example, Australia is currently experiencing substantial regulation change in the area of child motor-vehicle restraints as a known road safety intervention, requiring children to be appropriately restrained up to the age of 8 years, implying massive community change.

In this workshop, the example of child restraint legislation change will be used as a focus for discussion about what needs to be done to re-energise effective community change. The workshop will involve a discussion panel of experts representing the major stakeholder groups in child injury prevention, eg. manufacturing, standards, research, regulation, community education and safety advocacy:

• Mr Eric Chalmers, Kidsafe ACT Inc (Chair)
• Prof Lynne Bilston, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute
• Mr Michael Lumley, Britax Childcare Pty Ltd
• Mr John Wunsch, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
• Ms Sue Wicks, Kidsafe WA Inc
• Mr Greig Craft, Asia Injury Prevention Foundation

KIDSAFE invites all persons interested in child injury prevention, safety promotion, public health and road safety, to participate in this workshop. The workshop aims to compile recommendations for road authorities and relevant stakeholders to facilitate the legislation change.

When: Saturday 25th July 2009, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Where: Sofitel Hotel, Collins Street, Melbourne
Cost: $50.00 AUD (Please register via the Conference Registration Form available at www.injuryprevention2009.com – please note you do not need to register for the entire conference if you only wish to attend the workshop)

For further information:

Ms Aleksandra Natora, KIDSAFE VIC: anatora@kidsafevic.com.au
Ms Sue Wicks, KIDSAFE WA: sue@kidsafewa.com.au

National Coroners Information System

The National Coroners Information System (NCIS) is a database which contains detailed information about every death reported to a coroner from around Australia . From 2009, it will also contain national coronial data from New Zealand .

Session 1 - Introduction to the NCIS (1 hour)

This session is designed for individuals new to the concept of the NCIS and will cover:

•  What is the NCIS?
•  How is it useful for injury prevention?
•  Type of information available?
•  Who can apply, access fees and the application process.

Session 2 – Advanced Tips on Using the NCIS and Interactive Help Session (1 hour 15 mins)

This session is designed for existing users of the NCIS who would like to enhance their use of the NCIS and/or ask specific questions about particular NCIS items. This session will cover:

Participants can register for one or both sessions depending on their experience with the system.

Time: Session 1 - 13:00-14:00, Session 2 – 14:15-15:30
Cost: Session 1: $25.00 AUD , Session 2 $25.00 AUD, Session 1 and 2 $50.00 AUD
Contact: Ms Jessica Pearse – Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine – jessicap@vifm.org

Evaluation: How Can We Do it Better?

This workshop aims to examine methods of evaluation for injury programs. Following a keynote presentation providing an overview of the topic, interactive sessions, in small groups, will cover case studies involving evaluation of state-wide programs, evaluation of community level programs, and effectiveness and efficacy trials. Participants will gain detailed understanding of the issues involved in selecting evaluation methods in each context. This workshop should contain lively debate on a difficult subject and be of interest to injury prevention researchers, practitioners and policy makers of all levels of experience.

Time: 09:00-14:00
Cost: $100.00 AUD
Contact: Associate Professor Rebecca Ivers, George Institute – rivers@george.org.au

Working Together to Prevent Injury

Further details to be provided.

Time: 12:30-13:30
Cost: No Cost
Convenor: Dr Richard Franklin – Royal Life Saving Society Australia – rfranklin@rlssa.org.au

Developments and debates in Global Burden of Disease methods for injury research

One-day symposium. Members of the Injury Expert Group of the GBD2005 project are developing methods and encountering numerous matters requiring debate and discussion (see http://sites.google.com/site/gbdinjuryexpertgroup). These range over techniques, theory and the practicalities of finding data. Some implications go beyond the GBD2005 project. So far, these discussions have mainly occurred within the Expert Group. The symposium will be an opportunity for you to learn more about the project, to hear from people leading discussion of some of these issues and to contribute to debate and to the project.

Arrangements: You are invited to express interest in attending the symposium by sending and e-mail message to stacey.avefua@flinders.edu.au Please use the e-mail subject heading "GBD injury symposium". Places are limited to 30, to enable the meeting to function as a symposium. We will let you know as soon as possible whether you have a place.

Time: 09:00-15:00
Cost: No Cost
Convenors: Associate Professor James Harrison and Dr Kavi Bhalla