Community Action
NPiS are involved in a number of local projects that are supporting our communities to take a lead role in identifying and addressing their own injury prevention and community safety needs. Some examples of these can be found below:
KIDDS – Kids Involved in Driving Down Speed
KIDDS is an innovative road safety project that
has involved students from six local primary schools in identifying
and taking action to address road safety issues outside their
school. Partners in the project include ACC, New Plymouth
Police and RoadSense. During the project the students have
collected and analysed data, including vehicle speeds, road
and weather conditions around their school which was used
to inform ideas for potential road safety action. Students
from all six schools presented the findings of their project
at a conference in June 2007. Since the conference funding
has been obtained from RoadSafe Taranaki to support an ongoing
road safety campaign and other initiatives.
Participatory Action Research Project – By Maori for Maori
NPiS are working with Tui Ora Ltd., Manaaki
Oranga and Better Homes on an innovative participatory action
research project across Taranaki. The project aims to harness
the wealth of expertise within local Maori communities by
training local people (known as ‘community researchers’)
to carry out research into the injury and community safety
needs of their own community. The community researchers are
supported throughout the project by an experienced Maori researcher.
The project is underpinned by the philosophy that local people
are experts in both defining their own community’s needs
and identifying solutions and actions to address those needs.
Once the research is completed, NPiS partners and other relevant
agencies will work with local Maori to develop joint plans
of action to address the identified needs.
Taranaki Older Persons Falls Prevention Strategy
Following our hugely successful Falls Prevention Seminar in May 2007, a workshop was held to identify ways in which falls prevention services could be better coordinated and to identify opportunities for developing new partnerships. The workshop highlighted widespread support for the development of a strategic group that could formalise this work.
In August 2007, the Taranaki Falls Prevention
Strategy Group was formed and a draft Falls Strategy has been
developed. Key objectives include raising awareness of falls
prevention, simplifying and streamlining referral process,
reducing barriers to accessing services and developing a holistic,
coordinated falls service. An initial action within the draft
Strategy was to undertake consultation on the proposed strategy
with older people across to Taranaki. This consultation was
completed in March 2008. Since then, a subgroup has been working
on developing a proposal for a Falls Prevention Co-ordinator
who would play a key role in improving co-ordination of local
falls prevention services and streamlining access to services
for older people.
Schools Agricultural Safety Team Challenge
The Schools Agricultural Safety Team Challenge is organised in partnership with Agriculture New Zealand, Department of Labour, Police, ACC, local secondary schools and a number of other sponsors and supporters. The annual event has been running for several years and offers a fun, interactive team event that tests teams of agricultural students from six Taranaki secondary schools on their safety knowledge.
Students are marked for their safe handling
of cattle, scaffolding, chemicals, firearms, ATV’s and
tractors. Last years’ event, held 27th July, attracted
schools from Hawera, Stratford, Waitara and New Plymouth with
Hawera High School winning the cup for 2007. This year the
event was held on 1st August 2008 at Francis Douglas Memorial
College with six schools taking part. Once again, Hawera came
out on top winning the cup for 2008. For more info on the
Agricultural Team Challenge please contact Gerard Karalus,
AgNZ on 06 278 0395.
Taranaki Suicide Prevention Needs Assessment
NPiS have recently undertaken a suicide prevention
needs assessment across Taranaki. The project aimed to identify
the extent of suicide and self-harm in Taranaki, to map prevention
and support services, identify service and training gaps and
to explore any opportunities for new projects and partnerships.
The final report was completed in August 2008 and can be found
on our website (on the 'Needs Assessment' page). For more
information or to become involved in the project, please email
npis@tdhb.org.nz or call Channa on 06 753 7777 ext 8792.
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