The campaign will be run during Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week which runs from 2-8 May 2016 across the country.

The Shine a Light on Road Safety campaign originated in Victoria in 2013 and spread throughout the rest of Australia for the first time last year.
It’s a timely reminder given the recent horrific road crash statistics that WA has recorded already for 2016.

The Road Safety Commission’s report for the first quarter of 2016 revealed that 52 people died on our roads between January 1 and March 31st – with young males, those in country areas and motorcycle riders over represented in the crash data.

Road Trauma Support is asking all motorists to Shine a Light on Road Safety by switching on their headlights on Friday May 6th to raise awareness about road safety and to share the hashtag #shinealightonroadsafety.

Road Trauma Support WA is also working alongside the SARAH group (Safer Australian Roads and Highways) to raise awareness of Yellow Ribbon Road Safety Week by illuminating notable Australian landmarks across the country.

Perth will join other State capitals by illuminating iconic city buildings during the week, with Perth’s Council House and The Bell Tower to be lit up and for the first time Elizabeth Quay will be illuminated in yellow on May 2 and 3 to help Shine a Light on Road Safety in 2016.

Road Trauma Support WA’s Patron and the director of the WA State Trauma Unit at Royal Perth Hospital, Dr Sudhakar Rao has thrown his support behind the campaign as it works to try to effect positive behavioural changes on our roads.

“I personally treat the physical devastation that road trauma wreaks on far too many people in our community.

“If we can all Shine a Light on Road Safety I know that together we can all make a difference,” Dr Rao said.

Shine a Light on Road Safety is a national campaign to raise awareness about road safety, to try and stop deaths and injuries on our roads and to highlight the effects on the thousands in our community affected by road trauma each year.

“Sadly issues surrounding road safety and its impact are more timely than ever given the Road Safety  Commission’s first report for 2016 which shows that already 52 people have died unnecessarily on our roads,” according to Injury Control Council of WA Chief Executive Venessa Wells.
 
“Unfortunately our staff at Road Trauma Support WA see first-hand how devastating and far-reaching the impacts of road trauma can be which makes campaigns like Shine a Light on Road Safety all the more relevant.”
 
One of the key messages for Shine a Light on Road Safety 2016 is to #stopdrivingblind and we are asking as many West Australians as possible to share the hashtag across various social media channels.
 
 We need help raising awareness about the Shine a Light on Road Safety campaign and Road Trauma Support WA and the work we do in the West Australian community.

Road Trauma Support WA is a free service offering support to all West Australians directly or indirectly affected by road trauma.

There are still many West Australians out there who don’t know we exist and it is important for more people to know that we are out there and that they have support if and when they need it.

Please join us and turn on your headlights on Friday May 6 and  #shinealightonroadsafety , #rtswa , #stopdrivingblind.


For further information or media enquiries please contact :
Georgia Sweeting
Communications Coordinator
Road Trauma Support WA
Phone : 08 9420 7262
Email : gsweeting@iccwa.org.au
web : www.rtswa.org.au

Below is a map showing the locations of the planned burns within your local area and a prescribed burning information sheet which gives describes the practice of prescribed burning. 
More information can be obtained on the department’s website at http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/management/fire/prescribed-burning/54-planning-for-prescribed-burning.
A large version of this map can be found in front of the CRC building on our Fire Information Board.

The department has an extensive planning, consultation and monitoring process as well as a rigorous approvals process.  While prescribed burning is not without risk, the department has implemented a deliberate and proactive risk management system to keep the risks associated with prescribed burning as low as possible. 

There may be some inconvenience to people during prescribed burning which may include smoke affecting people and local communities and some roads may be impacted during burning.  Where-ever possible, the department will try to minimise these impacts.

The department's daily burn program is uploaded on the departments website by 1000hrs each day (http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/management/fire/prescribed-burning/burns).  Alternatively people can like the department’s Facebook page to keep track of burning operations (https://www.facebook.com/dpawwa).

$1.75 million from Royalties for Regions to support young athlete travel

The latest round of the Athlete Travel Subsidy Scheme is now open, supporting young regional sports stars to travel and attend sporting events and training opportunities across WA and nation-wide.

Member for Warren-Blackwood, Terry Redman said the program was helping to take the burden off regional athletes and their families and allowed them to concentrate on their sport.

“Talented athletes aged 13 to 21 are being supported in their quest to be the best when attending regional, state and national level training and events, thanks to the Athlete Travel Subsidy Scheme and Royalties for Regions,” Mr Redman said.

“Grants are available from $150 up to $1,000 depending on the level of event and the distance required for travel, and the funding can be used to help support any out-of-pocket travel and accommodation costs.”

Since the program started, 887 regional athletes have benefited from $624,106 in funding assistance from the Athlete Travel Subsidy Scheme and Royalties for Regions.
Mr Redman said the initiative was supporting the next generation of WA’s sports stars.

“Regional WA is home for many of Australia’s sporting greats, including Brownlow medalist Nat Fyfe and former Hockeyroos captain and Olympic champion Rechelle Hawkes.

“It’s important for Royalties for Regions to support this investment into our young athletes to help them reach their full potential on the field, in the pool, on horseback, in the surf or wherever their chosen sport takes them.”

Minister for Sport and Recreation, Mia Davies MLA, said a total of $1.75 million from Royalties for Regions was earmarked to support the Athlete Travel Subsidy Scheme over four years.

“Promising young Western Australian athletes face unique challenges, with the distances they have to travel to compete and increase their skills and abilities being significantly larger than other states,” Ms Davies said.

Application for the Athlete Travel Subsidy Scheme close on May 13. For more information and application guidelines visit www.dsr.wa.gov.au/funding
 

For media enquiries please contact Terry Redman on 9848 3171 or Terry.Redman@mp.wa.gov.au