In its inaugural visit to Horsham next week, The Alfred’s Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) program will deliver true and sometimes challenging injury awareness messages to youth.
Trauma experts from The Alfred, Wimmera Health Care Group, Youth C.A.N, Ambulance Victoria and Victoria Police, as well as an injury survivor, will teach students about the consequences of taking risks and increase their awareness of the impact of traumatic injury.
Trauma is responsible for two-thirds of deaths in the 15-24-year old age group, with many young survivors sustaining permanent disabilities. The Grampians region has the second highest incidence of patient hospitalisation for major trauma in Victoria.
P.A.R.T.Y. Outreach will replicate a hospital setting within the Horsham Town hall to accommodate an estimated 125 local year 11 students per day.
Director of Trauma Services at The Alfred, Professor Mark Fitzgerald, said the program aims to reduce the number of injuries in young people.
"By receiving injury awareness messages based on real life experiences, it is hoped that students will understand the concepts of choice, risk and consequence and think through their actions in the future," said Prof. Fitzgerald.
Wimmera Health Care Group emergency department nurse unit manager Bernadette Ryan said her team sees many young people present who have been involved in major trauma due to making risky decisions.
"If we can reach these year 11 students and educate them on the effects of trauma, not only to themselves, but to their families and friends, and prevent them from risk taking, the time we put into running this program will be worthwhile," said Mrs Ryan.
P.A.R.T.Y. Senior Coordinator Anna Gunn said the consequences of risk taking are often devastating and can be life-long for patients, families and their communities.
"We have found Horsham to be an extremely welcoming and proactive region, and we look forward to delivering the program in order to change adolescent perception and behaviour associated with risk-taking," said Ms Gunn.
The program runs on Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th September, 2018. Please see details of the media opportunity below:
When: Tuesday 18th September, 2018
Time: 11:30am-12:30pm
What: Photo, video and interview opportunities at P.A.R.T.Y. Outreach Horsham. Interview opportunities will include health and emergency services professionals, injury survivor and school staff and students.
Where: Horsham Town Hall, 71 Pynsent St, http://www.horshamtownhall.com.au/
Contact: Anna Gunn, Senior P.A.R.T.Y. Program Coordinator, 0428 318 858, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
P.A.R.T.Y. at The Alfred Background
The P.A.R.T.Y. program is a dynamic and interactive injury awareness and prevention program that uses vivid clinical reality to show participants the consequences that can occur when engaging in risk-taking behaviour. Developed by a nurse in Canada 30 years ago, the program has historically been delivered in the hospital environment, following the journey of a trauma patient. The Outreach program has since evolved in order to reach a greater number of youth. Performing arts centres in regional areas are transformed into makeshift hospitals to replicate the working hospital environment.
The in-hospital P.A.R.T.Y. program has been running at the Alfred since 2009 and the Outreach program since 2012. The program is supported by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services and AAMI.
P.A.R.T.Y. at The Alfred is excited about the interest that the program has drawn from both the health and emergency services and school communities within the Greater Horsham region.