Media Release
25th October 2009
Injury the Top Cause of Death for Australian Children
Kidsafe Celebrates 30th Birthday Tomorrow
Media Enquiries
Professor Mark Stokes President Kidsafe Vic 0408 038 267
Melanie Water State Manager Kidsafe Tel: 0421 730 252
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications 0417 329 201
Kidsafe, Australia’s peak body on child injury with celebrate its 30th Birthday on Monday (tomorrow)
Dr Mark Stokes National and Victorian President said every day, around 180 children are admitted to
hospitals in Australia as a result of injury. Some of these children will suffer permanent scarring or
disability as a result of their injury.
Tragically, around four children on average per week will die as a result of injury.
More Australian children aged 1 – 14 years die as a result of injury than from cancer, asthma and
infectious diseases combined. In 2005, 35% of all deaths in this age group were due to injury.
National Kidsafe Day is a day to focus on the prevention of unintentional childhood injuries. This year is
particularly important as we celebrate 30 years of major achievements in child injury prevention.
Although the last three decades has seen the number of injury related deaths and hospital admissions
for children reduced by more than half, there is still more work to be done.
Major milestones in the reduction of child injuries have included compulsory seat belt and bicycle helmet
legislation, compulsory fencing of pools, increased safety standard legislation on dangerous toys,
packaging of medicines and parental awareness of safety around the home.
This has all been helped by the introduction of the internet to provide wider access to information online.
Kidsafe Victoria will celebrate its 30th
Birthday on Monday at Fed Square in the playground with the
cutting of a ONE METRE Birthday Cake and some reflection on achievements over the past 30 years.
Three Kidsafe Awards will be presented; a lifetime achievement award, a lifetime achievement research
award and also a Kidsafe Champion award to three individual’s for their work over the last 3 decades in
making the world safer for children.
Media Invitation
Kidsafe Turns 30
10.30am
Monday 26 October 2009
Fed Square
Playground, Birrarung Marr
Melway Map: 2F Reference: H6
Ron Smith Kidsafe 0417 329 201
NEWS 
