SAFE Schools: Developing Community Health Partnerships

Abstract

The SAFE (Safe Accident Free Environment) Schools Project is an innovative injury prevention project which focuses on health and safety issues relevant to the City of Onkaparinga catchment area. Specifically, this project was relevant for the education of school students as it linked with the nationally developed school curriculum, Health and Physical Education Statement and Profile (Curriculum Coorporation, 1994), in particular the components relating to 'Safety, Community Practices and Health of Populations' (Curriculum Coorporation, 1994). The project used a collaborative approach to involve students at primary school level in learning how to identify and respond to safety hazards that affect their everyday lives. Local primary schooI staff, a community health team from Noarlunga Health Services (NHS), community members and key people from local service agencies worked together to involve the students in a creative and practical way in learning about safety hazards. Students developed skills in identifying and reporting safety hazards in their school and local community with opportunities to develop and work with a process that provides positive action in regard to safety hazards.