While injuries are more common in people over the age of 65, injuries are the leading cause of death for people aged 1-44.
Overall, males have higher rates than females for both injury hospitalisations and deaths.
Sadly, more than 13,400 people die each year in Australia from their injuries.
Modern advancements in trauma care have meant that more lives are now saved. However, the knock-on effect means that more people are also admitted to hospital where it’s common for survivors to experience serious complications. This can lead to extended hospital stays, long-term disabilities, worse quality of life and reduced life expectancy.
The most common injuries in Australia occur due to falls, transport-related collisions, workplace and recreational injuries, and from self-harm or interpersonal violence.
Our best strategy is to prevent injuries from happening in the first place. If injuries do occur, our efforts focus on minimising the chance of death and severe disability.
Our program targets:
Leading causes of death and complications in trauma patients
Improving care for severely injured patients.
The HMRI Injury and Trauma Research Program aims to improve the lives of people affected by injuries and reduce the burden of injuries on our healthcare system and society.