Safety for piccaninny!.

"Illustrations by Julie Haysom"--P. 1.

[Prepared by] Tropical Public Health Unit Network - Mt Isa and Gulf. ; Winner: Pre-disaster Category, Federal/State Government Stream, Safer Communities Awards 2005.

Cover title.

A booklet promoting child injury prevention, developed specifically for the Mount Isa Aboriginal community, is successfully raising awareness of child safety to address an identified community issue. The booklet, titled Safety for Piccaninny - Our Little Ones, was produced by the Queensland Department of Emergency Services and Queensland Health in close partnership with the Aboriginal community of Mount Isa. Safety for Piccaninny - Our Little Ones is a significant outcome of the Child Injury Prevention Project which is being piloted in both the Mount Isa and Mackay communities. The project is trialling and evaluating an intervention that aims to reduce the high rates of injury in children 0-4 years of age to levels commensurate with rates in urban areas. The project focuses on reducing injury in four key areas - drowning, poisoning, burns/scalds and falls. Safety for Piccaninny - Our Little Ones is the first Indigenous specific injury prevention booklet produced in Australia. It has been designed to support local Aboriginal families in keeping their young children safe from injury. The title of the booklet and the words used reflect the everyday language used by the Aboriginal people of Mount Isa. ie "Don?t go leaving bubba to bogie (bath) by themselves." This project demonstrates a tangible outcome from a partnership approach between government and an Aboriginal community of Mount Isa. It has contributed to the reconciliation process by enabling government officers and community to learn from each another and develop awareness, understanding, appreciation and respect for the culture and customs of Aboriginal people. Safety of Piccaninny - Our Little Ones is a wonderful example of innovation and collaboration and an excellent example of community capacity development in an Indigenous community. This has resulted in a great sense of pride in themselves and their community.