Injury statistics under scrutiny

Injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation will benefit from an Injury Information Forum being run by Statistics New Zealand in Wellington this week.

Deputy Government Statistician Cathryn Ashley-Jones said the range of organisations attending the forum shows the importance of good quality injury information in reducing injuries and improving treatment and rehabilitation outcomes.

“Government agencies, non-governmental organisations, clinicians, and researchers are joining advocates for children, workers, and older people to look at how we can improve injury data and information. Good quality data provides a better understanding of the nature of injury. It enables the sector to measure and monitor injury prevention initiatives, along with treatment and rehabilitation outcomes," Ms Ashley-Jones said.

“New Zealand’s injury statistics come from a range of sources – including Accident Compensation Corporation, the Ministry of Health, the Department of Labour, and the Ministries of Justice and Transport. So we have rich information but there are challenges in collating and reporting.

“Statistics NZ is New Zealand’s Injury Information Manager. In that role, we lead and coordinate injury information across the sector. This means working with government agencies to ensure key and relevant information is collected in a cohesive and standardised way. We are constantly looking for improvements.

“The Injury Information Forum is an opportunity for us to hear from the injury sector on how we can improve, and for those within the sector to share knowledge and skills.”

The forum’s keynote speaker is Dr Penny Allbon, Director of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Dr Allbon sees the needs of policy makers as central. They need access to data that is user-friendly and timely.

Ms Ashley-Jones said Dr Allbon brings a system-wide perspective to the discussion.

“Penny has over 20 years’ experience in financial, health, and welfare arenas at federal and state levels. She understands the direct links between measurement and policy change. It’s important to look at injury information in the context of the wider health and social support environment and she brings that perspective.”

Statistics NZ’s Injury Information Forum will be held at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, on Friday, 4 December 2009.