Legal: Monash University Accident Research Centre

In discharging the duty to take reasonable steps to minimise risk of injury to students and staff, information is vital. Research projects can be very helpful, especially when results are presented in an accessible, and length-appropriate, manner.

We have recently had occasion to examine a website for this research centre (www.monash.edu/miri/research) and the closely associated Monash Injury Research Institute. The Monash University Accident Research Centre was established in 1987 and describes itself as Australia’s “largest and most respected transport safety research centre”. However, it is clear that the areas of research are wider than that.

The website adds: “Since our founding we have developed research-based solutions that have led directly to making Australians safer – and have made us an acknowledged leader in the field. We are committed to the excellence of our research, the independence of our recommendations and the engagement we have with the communities we serve.”

While the research themes are described as having a transport focus, it is clear from examining the material available on the website that much of the material is potentially of considerable relevance to educational decision-makers.

There are over 300 reports. Taking one (number 181) as an example, “Spiking injuries out of volleyball; a review of injury countermeasures”, the website contains a useful executive summary and then the full report. In the abstract, for example, appears the statement: “The weight of evidence indicates that volleyball has a lower risk of injury than all football codes, basketball and some high risk recreation activities, for example horse riding and skiing. Studies uniformly report that sprains and strains (predominantly ankle sprains) account for approximately two thirds or more of volleyball injuries. The ankle, hand/finger, knee and shoulder are the most common site of volleyball injuries.”

Under “staff publications”, books, book chapters, peer review journal articles and peer review conference papers are listed (although not published on the website).

Research and reports can be accessed by topics such as bicycles, falls, sport and recreation, young driver research and so on.

E-bulletins and fact sheets appear and can be read on the website. Perhaps the most immediately useful, however, is the biannual publication “Hazard”. It is published by VISU (Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit), part of the Monash Injury Research Institute (MIRI). The last two editions, Winter 2014 and Summer of 2014 (numbers 77 and 78), for example, dealt with “Overviewing playground equipment” “Preventing serious fall injury in children” and “Falls involving furniture, skateboards and scooters”. Of the 78 issues that are listed here, a considerable number are directly relevant to educators, such as “Preventing injury in sport and active recreation”, "Injury to children aged 5-15 years at school”, “Child fall injuries and overview” and “Recreational injury to older children”.

Taking number 77 as an example, it is approximately 20 pages in length, commences with a summary, using headings, graphs and bullet-points to make information accessible. It includes recommendations, further reading lists and priority issues. In respect of playground equipment, the section on supervision is directly relevant to school administration and teacher duties, reporting on studies of risky behaviours of 6-11 year olds.

We commend this site to you.

ANZELA National Conference

This year, Brisbane hosts the annual Australia And New Zealand Education Law Association National Conference on 28, 29 and 30 September. Full details and registration at www.anzela.edu.au/conference.

Andrew Knott
TressCox Lawyers

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 120 No 6, 21 August 2015, p29