27 May 2014
A partnership between the Transport Accident Commission and Independence Australia is helping Victorian youth understand what it's like to live with severe spinal cord injury.
Details of the SpinChat partnership have been released alongside new figures showing reductions in new quadriplegia and paraplegia spinal cord injuries from transport accidents.
SpinChat sees young people with spinal cord injuries sharing their stories with high school students to raise awareness of living with injury and the potential consequences of taking risks.
The TAC data shows that in 2012/13, there were 11 new severe spinal cord injuries from transport accidents, compared to 17 the previous year and 25 five years ago.
As the attached table shows, while injury numbers have fluctuated in that time, over the longer term severe spinal cord injuries are reducing.
In total, more than a hundred people have received quadriplegia or spinal injuries in accidents in the past five years.
Over the past five years, the lowest number of severe spinal cord injuries were in Metro- Central (3), Central Highlands-Wimmera (4), Loddon-Mallee (5) and Metro – Inner Eastern (5).
The highest number of injuries occurred in the Southern Metropolitan area (23) followed by the outer Eastern Metropolitan area (15) and Gippsland (13).
TAC Chief Executive Officer Janet Dore said people who sustained severe spinal cord injuries in car crashes will need lifetime care from the TAC.
"There are many costs for these injured people. This includes the emotional impact as a person adjusts to life with their injuries and the effect on their family and friends," Ms Dore said.
"Those who receive catastrophic spinal injuries in transport accidents, will need lifetime support from the TAC of up to $10 million, depending on the severity of their injury. This reflects how much care is needed to help people lead full and independent lives.
"This is why SpinChat is so important - to help the community understand the impact of spinal cord injuries on people's lives," Ms Dore said.
Many of the speakers are lifetime clients of the TAC and the partnership is an opportunity to help them on their journey to independence. More information about SpinChat, including the speaker's stories, can be found at www.spinchat.org.au.
The State Government's Road Safety Strategy 2013-2022 is focusing on reducing serious injuries on Victoria's roads. To find out more visit www.roadsafety.vic.gov.au.
| Location | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2012/13 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro - Central | 3 | 3 | |||||
| Metro - Inner Eastern | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | ||
| Metro - Northern | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | |
| Metro - Outer Eastern | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 15 |
| Metro - Southern | 4 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 23 | |
| Metro - Western | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | ||
| Barwon - Western District | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||
| Central Highlands - Wimmera | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |||
| Gippsland | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13 | ||
| Goulbourn-Ovens-Murray | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |
| Loddon - Mallee | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | ||
| Not Known | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | ||
| Grand total | 25 | 21 | 13 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 105 |
Total metropolitan 64 Total regional 34
For more information contact Emily Bogue on 0429 416 778.
Media queries only:
- Nicolas McGay, 0403 710 889 or Nicolas_McGay@tac.vic.gov.au
- Alex White, 0419 529 505 or Alex_White@tac.vic.gov.au
- Devon McGillicuddy, 0466 029 169 or Devon_McGillicuddy@tac.vic.gov.au
Please refer any other enquiries to:
- Online form
- Tel: 1300 654 329
- Email: info@tac.vic.gov.au