Safe Kids Australia/Kidsafe - Visit Web site

Injury Facts

• Accidental injury is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 14 in Australia.

• Each year about 300 Australian children are killed and 60,000 hospitalized because of accidental injuries.

• The leading cause of injury death is motor vehicle crashes, followed by drowning, burns, falls and poisoning.

• The cost of child injury deaths in Australia is an estimated $1.5 billion annually in Us dollars.

Who We Are

Kidsafe is a program of the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia.  It is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing accidental child death and injury. In August 2001, Kidsafe became an affiliate of Safe Kids Worldwide .

What We Do

Kidsafe works at state and local levels in cooperation with government, industry, the media, schools, hospitals, community groups, voluntary organizations and individuals.

Kidsafe conducts public education campaigns, provides information, develops resources and initiates special projects to raise awareness of child safety issues and injury prevention, while also helping to create better policy to protect children through standards development.

Kidsafe has developed committees that address playground standards, hot water control, water safety and product safety.

Where are we now? ( July 2005 - Recent Programs)

Striving for Safety in 2005!

From June 13 to 17, 2005, Kidsafe Western Australia held their sixth annual Safety in Schools Week. By forming partnerships with other organizations, government departments and businesses, the program aims to reduce the incidence of accidental injury through education in primary and district high schools. The events included activities on fire and burn safety, helmet use during sports activities, safe ways to cross roads, water safety, dog bite prevention, bicycle safety and playground fall prevention.

Come Out and Play

On March 22 and 23, 2004, Kidsafe brought child safety stakeholders out onto the playground for the third National Playground Conference in New South Wales. Local government officials and professionals from the health, education, childcare, sports, recreation and design fields convened to share information about injury prevention and safe play. The inaugural Kidsafe Design Awards ceremony recognized the efforts of many attendees.

World Health Day 2004

In honor of World Health Day 2004, Kidsafe offered free child restraint fitting and checking services in shopping centers. Throughout the year, Kidsafe runs a child restraint rental and checking service in four regions. All states in Australia promote the use of child restraints.

Other Resources

• Country Report 2003-2004