Vital student scheme sustained
More funding has been provided for a program that gives students a visceral look at the risks of drink driving.
The Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth (PARTY) scheme has been run by trauma experts from Royal Perth Hospital.
The program has already given over 10,000 students a first-hand look at the consequences of accidents on and off the road.
The program’s future was in dispute during a funding stoush last year, but the WA Government has now put up $402,000 from the Road Trauma Trust Account to continue funding the program this year.
While road safety funding is allocated year-to-year basis, Health Minister John Day says the program has been underwritten until 2020.
Nick Lonie is an accident victim who suffered severe head injuries after falling from a ute while drinking at a beach party, and now shares his story with students.
“It's good that I can tell the real story, and if it impacts on one or two of them to not make a bad decision in life or to stop others making a bad decision, then that's all good,” Mr Lonie told the ABC.
There is also a push for the program to be expanded into regional WA.
Given that country regions have a disproportionate number of deaths on roads, Road Safety Minister Liza Harvey was asked if country regions should be a priority.
“I think there's certainly merit in looking at expanding that,” she said.
“Anything we can do to try to reverse that trend is something we need to consider and look at.”