Safe WaitakereCommunity Injury Prevention Project (WCIPP)

Background

Program Goals:

A community-based, all ages injury prevention project aimed at reducing injury and promoting community health through the creation of a safer environment in the City of Waitakere, New Zealand. 

Intent:

Unintentional injuries

Risk Factors Addressed:

Falls

Place of occurrence:

Community

Age/Age Range:

All ages

Other Population Characteristics:

Multi-cultural community home to approximately 1/3 of all New Zealand residents, including indigenous Maori people and Pacific Island people.

Resources

Year Developed:

1994

Collaborative Organization(s):

Supported by the Waitakere City Council, ACC and SafeKids

Funding Resource(s):

The Ministry of Health (MOH) continues to provide funding and provides an average of 215,000 $NZ (approx 151 126 $Cdn) per year

Implementation

Context/Setting:

Strategies Used:

Education; Engineering; Economics; Enactment

Activities Used:

Multi-disciplinary approach involving business professionals, health care professionals, teachers, police and fire protection personnel, day care workers and other members of the community.
Stakeholders and community agency representatives form a multi-sectoral management group called the Governance Board who function to monitor the operation of the WCIPP and to provide support to the working parties.
 Premise that strategies that combine efforts to reduce environmental hazards, develop improved policies as well as practices that aim to improve behavioural choices with consideration for individual and cultural differences, can achieve the greatest impact in preventing injuries from occurring. 

Program Evaluation:

Formative and process evaluation; Progress report required every 6 months to Ministry of Health

Source of Best Practice:

Volpe, R. & Lewko, J. (2004). Preventing Neurotrauma: A Casebook of Evidence-Based Practices. Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation.

Original Source:

Coggan, Patterson, Brewin, Hooper , & Robinson (2000). Evaluation of the Waitakere Community Injury Prevention project. Injury prevention, 6, 130-134.

Supplementary Material:

http://www.safewaitakere.org.nz

Local Example(s):

N/A

Contact Information: 

Margaret  Devlin
Project Coordinator
Safe Waitakere Community Injury Prevention Project
Waitakere City Council, Private Bag 93 109
Henderson, Waitakere City
New Zealand
email: margaret.devlin@waitakere.govt.nz
Tel: +64 9 836 8000 ext 8540

Outcomes

Long-term outcomes/Effectiveness:

City council developed a mandate that all future programs must state how their project intends to meet and further safety; and that all public building design must incorporate safety criteria into its construction

Short-term outcomes:

Increased awareness of injury and prevention
Increased participation in  prevention initiatives
Significant increase in safety equipment related to children
Significant decrease in injury hospitalizations while comparison populations show increase in injury hospitalizations

Other

Date of Review:

2004

Classification:

Best Practice