TAC and Independence Australia team up on spinal cord injury program

The Transport Accident Commission and Independence Australia have announced a new partnership that will increase awareness and understanding of spinal cord injuries among young people.

With young people aged 15-24 the most at-risk of acquiring a spinal cord injury, the SpinChat program will reach out to thousands of secondary school students to help them understand the potential impact of tragic accidents on their lives. 

Through SpinChat, young people with a spinal cord injury share their stories with Victorian school students to increase their understanding of what it's like to live with a spinal cord injury.

Independence Australia CEO Peter Turner said statistics show that on average almost one new spinal cord injury occurs nationally every day, most commonly through car crashes, water-related incidents and falls.

"We know that most spinal cord injuries are preventable, but unfortunately there is no cure. Most of our SpinChat speakers acquired their injury as teenagers as a result of a traumatic accident, giving them a unique ability to relate to student audiences," Mr Turner said.

TAC Acting CEO Clare Amies said in Victoria there were 117 spinal cord injuries in the past five years, just from car crashes.

"These 117 people will need lifetime care from the TAC. There are many costs for these clients. This includes the emotional impact on the person as they adjust to life with their injuries and the effect on their family and friends as well as the average lifetime cost of between $1.4 to $5.5m in treatment and support depending on the severity of the injury.

"That's another reason why SpinChat is so important - many of the speakers are lifetime clients of the TAC and the partnership is an opportunity to help them on their journey to independence.

The latest TAC claims data shows that of the 117 quadriplegia and paraplegia injuries, most were in the Southern Metropolitan area, outer Eastern Metropolitan area and Gippsland. 

"Independence Australia will be delivering SpinChat to about 6,000 students across the state this year, to help raise awareness of what it means to live with a spinal cord injury and encourage young people to minimise their risks," Mr Turner said.

Speaker profile: Josh Hose

During the summer after finishing high school, Josh Hose suffered a spinal cord injury. Josh, just 18 years old at the time, was on his way to Port Campbell with mates, when he was involved in a serious car accident. The driver lost control of the car and it rolled down a five metre embankment before collapsing on top of Josh. 

Josh spent the next two weeks in an induced coma fighting for his life. When he finally awoke in hospital, he learnt that he had sustained a spinal cord injury which resulted in quadriplegia. He would never walk again. 

This year, Josh aims to educate young people, and help prevent new spinal cord injuries by sharing his story with Victorian secondary school students as part of the initiative, SpinChat. In an open and honest account of how a split second decision can have a lifelong impact, Josh compels students to consider the consequences of risk taking and careless behaviour.

As part of his presentation this year, Josh will also be able to share with students the incredible success he has achieved despite his disability. In 2012, Josh competed at the London Paralympics, wining gold with the Australian Wheelchair Rugby team. 

TAC claims: quadriplegia and paraplegia injuries, by location:

Independence Australia: Rebecca Hannon on (03) 9418 0415

TAC: Nick Price on (03) 5225 7738