Implementing the national priorities for injury surveillance

Abstract

• Injury is a leading cause of disability and death in Australia
and is recognised as a national health priority area.
• The foundation of successful injury prevention is injury
surveillance, and national policies and strategies developed
over the past 20 years to reduce the burden of injury in
Australia have included 22 recommendations on surveillance
— only three of which have been completely implemented.
• Priorities for improving injury surveillance include:
x1000BE improving current injury mortality and morbidity data
collection systems;
x1000BE filling the gaps in injury surveillance;
x1000BE maintaining vigilance over data quality;
x1000BE increasing the integration and accessibility of injury data;
x1000BE developing technical expertise in surveillance.
• Barriers to implementation of the current National Injury
Prevention and Safety Promotion Plan include the lack of an
implementation plan, performance management structure,
appropriate national governance structure and resources —
all of which could be overcome with government