MUARC 2017 Annual Report

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It gives me great pleasure to commend to you the Monash University Accident Research Centre Annual Report for 2017, marking the Centre’s 30th Anniversary.

In October 2017 I had the pleasure of speaking at MUARC’s 30-year anniversary event at the Melbourne Museum Theatre which focused on a vision of an injury free society. The calibre of guests at this public forum spoke volumes about MUARC’s importance to the key agencies who have come to benefit so greatly from the Centre’s world-class research.

As I highlighted on that evening, Monash is a university that pursues excellence and aims to extend the boundaries of knowledge. MUARC epitomises this pursuit. Its ability not only to make a real and observable difference in the world, but to do so over a sustained 30-year period, and in the face of significant challenges, such as the decline of the car manufacturing industry, is inspirational.

MUARC’s achievements over the last three decades have had a significant and enduring influence on safety and injury prevention. In this report you will read about the Centre’s extensive program of research and training through 2017, which is changing safety practices, preventing injuries and saving lives in our communities.

The Traffic Engineering and Vehicle Safety group has completed an important collaboration on the future of private transport at a critical time where autonomous vehicles promise many safety benefits but raise just as many questions. The team brought together a multidisciplinary consortium from across the University to consider future transport challenges and opportunities from legal, ethical, environmental and safety perspectives.

The Behavioural Science for Transport Safety team has made significant progress in its research on child passenger safety, older drivers and bicycle safety, delivering recommendations with the potential to save the lives of our most vulnerable road users.

The Human Factors in Transport and Workplace Safety team undertook a range of research across road safety, mining, injury outcomes and return-to-work areas. The Team completed a major project for the Commonwealth Department of Defence which provided critical information to improve communications and leadership within army teams.

The Regulation and In-depth Crash Investigation team continued its work on the TAC-funded Enhanced Crash Investigation Study, which will provide vital information on contributing factors in different road crash types to support new road safety strategies.

2017 marked the 25th annual publication of the Used Car Safety Ratings, a publication produced through the research efforts of the Centre’s Injury Analysis and Data Team. The booklet provides consumers with a comprehensive guide on the safety of any used vehicle they might wish to purchase.

The Victorian Injury Surveillance Research Unit produced two e-bulletins providing overviews of Victoria’s injury and injury-related death profile. Findings highlighted the top three sources of injury deaths were falls, suicide and transport – accounting for approximately three quarters of all injury deaths in the state for the period 2013–2015. The focus of the Unit’s influential Hazard publication this year was on intentional injury, which profiled recent trends in suicide deaths, self-harm injury, and assault injury and deaths in Victoria.

In partnership with Women’s Health initiatives in North East Victoria, the Disaster Resilience group commenced important research efforts to understand the capacity of communities to recover from disasters and what contributes to sustained resilience over the longer term. This work is funded through the National Disaster Resilience Scheme.

Responding to continuing strong demand, the Road Safety Management Leadership Program offered two programs in 2017 which attracted a broad range of senior people from transport agencies from across Australia and internationally. In other capacity building efforts, the Centre joined with Victoria Police in co-hosting a World Health Organization-sponsored delegation of Pacific Islander senior police in a three-day speed and drug enforcement training program.

MUARC’s Graduate Research Program also continues to contribute to the academic culture of the Centre with students participating in the Centre’s research seminar program, national and international conferences and publications in high-quality scientific journals.

A sincere congratulations to the Centre’s academic and professional staff on their many excellent achievements this year and across a long and distinguished 30-year history. MUARC’s work is highly valued by the University and plays a crucial role in saving lives around the world.

I would like to take this opportunity to bid farewell to MUARC as I retire from the University in March 2018. It has been a privilege to work with the Centre and witness its achievements over the last six years.

I wish MUARC all the best for the next 30 years.

F O R E W O R Dfrom Professor Pauline Nestor, Senior Vice-Provost and Vice-Provost (Research), Monash University

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A B O U T M U A R CThe Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) is one of the world’s most comprehensive injury prevention research institutions.

We are grounded in scientific and academic excellence, while producing research with real-life implications that translate readily into policy and practice – whether it’s understanding contributing factors to older pedestrian falls, studying community preparedness and recovery in the event of a disaster or comparing year-by-year trends in crash-worthiness of the private motor vehicle fleet.

MUARC is the home to many vital Monash researchers and groups. Because of the breadth of our research, we have a strong national profile and an international reputation that is growing in prominence.

The Centre identifies emerging injury problems, monitors progress, determines and evaluates solutions and advises government and industry on safety strategies. We encourage our experts to actively collaborate in solving pressing, practical problems – this allows our external partners access to expertise across their fields of interest. Our research is interdisciplinary and applies a systems framework to address injury prevention needs across three main settings:

• Homeandcommunitysafety

• Workplacesafety

• Transportsafety

We have already made Australia – and Australians – safer. Now we are harnessing MUARC’s global perspective and experience to help meet the challenges of public health around the world through international collaborative projects, graduate student mentoring and leadership training across Europe, North America, the Middle East, South Africa and Asia.

We also make significant contributions to capacity building and injury prevention initiatives in the Western Pacific Region through our status as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Violence and Injury Prevention. With our colleagues across Monash, we support and promote the principles of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and we are proud to contribute to the global network which strives to bring practical solutions for achieving safe, sustainable and resilient communities.

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R E S E A R C H A W A R D SIn2017,theresearchersandresearchgroupswithintheMonashUniversityAccidentResearchCentrewererewardedfortheiroutstandingworkwithavarietyofhonours,grantsandothernoteworthyopportunities.Wealsocelebratedthe30thanniversaryofMUARC’sestablishmentthroughouttheyear.ThosecelebrationsculminatedinapubliceventheldinOctober.

The Mary Fran Myers AwardDebraParkinson,anAdjunctResearchFellowwiththeMonashUniversityDisasterResilienceInitiative,wasthejointwinnerofthe2017MaryFranMyersAward,whichwaspresentedinBoulder,Colorado.Theawardwasestablishedin2002bytheGenderandDisasterNetworkanditsfirstrecipientwastheco-directoroftheNaturalHazardsCenterattheUniversityofColorado,MaryFranMyers.Shediedattheageofjust52in2004andtheawardisnownamedinherhonour.Itrecognisesthat“vulnerabilitytodisastersandmassemergenciesisinfluencedbysocial,culturalandeconomicstructuresthatmarginalisewomenandgirls”andrecognisesresearchwhichmakesprogressinthisarea.DebParkinsonwascommendedforhertwodecadesofresearchintogenderinequityandgenderedviolence.Between2009and2014,herresearchwiththelateClaireZarafocusedonenvironmentaljusticeandthegenderedeffectsofdisaster.ClaireZarawastheposthumousco-recipientoftheaward.DebParkinsonandClaireZara’sworkwithcommunitiesaffectedbytheBlackSaturdaybushfires,completedjustbeforeClaire’ssaddeathin2015,wasparticularlygroundbreaking.

Interdisciplinary ResearchAprojectinvolvingresearchersfromacrossMUARC,representingmultipleareasofstudy,wasgrantednearly$50,000infundingin2017.TheteamofAssociateProfessorMichaelFitzharris,ProfessorPeterCameron,ProfessorJudithCharlton,ProfessorMarkFitzgeraldandAssociateProfessorBrettWilliamswillgoaheadwith“Improvingpost-crashsurvivaloutcomesbyoptimisingacuteemergencycaresystems”thankstothefundswhichwereprovidedbytheMonashInterdisciplinaryResearchSupportScheme.

Theinitialgoaloftheirwork,whichwillcommencein2018,istoestablishabestpracticemodelofpost-crashcareusingVictoriaasoneexample.Thesecondphaseoftheprojectwillexaminethestructure,features,processesandpatientoutcomesinVietnam,Malaysia,IndiaandMyanmar.Thelong-termobjectivewillbetodeveloparesearch,educationandtrainingprogram.

World Health Organization Internship DrCarlynMuirwasthesuccessfulapplicantfortheMUARCWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)InternshipopportunityforEarlyCareerResearchersin2017.DrMuirwillcontributetotheRegionalActionPlanforViolenceandInjuryPreventionintheWesternPacific.Aspartoftheproject,DrMuirwillmapMUARCprojects,takingintoaccounttheiralignmentwithUNSustainableDevelopmentGoalsrelatingtoviolenceandinjuryprevention.

The AJ Mirkin Service AwardProfessorBrianFildesreceivedanimportantprizefromtheAssociationfortheAdvancementofAutomotiveMedicine(AAAM).TheAJMirkinServiceAwardrecognisesmembersoftheAAAMwhohavemadelong-standingcontributionsthroughinvolvementwiththecommitteeandprojects.ProfessorFildesisapastpresidentoftheAAAM.

Vice-Chancellor’s AwardAspartofthe30-yearcommemorations,asmallworkinggrouppreparedasubmissionfortheVice-Chancellor’sEducationandResearchAwards.Itwastitled‘30YearsofEffectiveCollaboration:TheMUARCModel’.ItoutlinedtheCentre’sthreedecadesofleadershipininjurypreventionresearchanditssuccessincreatingpracticalsolutionstosomeoftheworld’smostpressingproblemsinthediscipline.InNovembertheOfficeoftheVice-ChancellorannouncedMUARCastherecipientoftheprestigiousVice-Chancellor’sAwardforSustainedExcellenceinResearchImpactandEnterprise.

D I R E C T O R ’ S M E S S A G EItismygreatprivilegetowritethismessageforthe2017MUARCAnnualReportwhichhighlightsnotonlyayearofexcellentachievements,butacelebrationofthreeextraordinarydecadesofresearch,workandworld-changingideas.

MUARCwasestablishedonthe28thofJune1987asapartnershipbetweentheVictoriangovernmentandMonashUniversity.Atthattime,justfivestaffhad“MUARC”ontheirbusinesscardsandyet,asanewlylaunchedResearchCentrewithintheUniversity,MUARCimmediatelymadeitspresenceknown.Withinafewmonths,theCentrehadgivenevidencetotheCommonwealthgovernmentsuggestingthatsignificantinvestmentwasneededtoimprovethesafetystandardsincars.Ayearlater,MUARCplayedavitalroleinthenow-legendaryTACcampaign‘Ifyoudrink,thendrive,you’reabloodyidiot.’

The early yearsOverthenexttenyearsMUARCcementeditsreputationasoneoftheworld’sleadinginstitutionsinthefieldofsafetyandinjurypreventionresearch.Weleda20-year,in-depthcrashinvestigationthatledtomanychangesinourknowledgeofcrashcausationandinjuryconsequences.Locally,wehelpedmakesignificantchangestospeedcameraprograms,reducingspeedingacrossthestateofVictoria;wereducedthecostsofinjuryatblackspotlocationsthroughoutthestate;ourresearchledtochangesinchild-resistantpackagingandnurseryfurnituresafetystandardsandwemadegreatstridesintheareaofdomesticviolencethroughtheworkoftheVictorianInjurySurveillanceUnit;andweintroducedAustraliatousedcarsafetyratings.Weworkedwiththeautoindustryandthefederalgovernmentonvehiclecountermeasuresthatledtotheintroductionofnewvehiclestandardsinthiscountry;andweengagedwiththeAustraliaandNewZealandgovernmentsinadecadeofresearchthatledtochangesinolderpeople’slicencere-assessment.

Globally,weplayedaleadingroleintheSafetyRatingAdvisoryCommittee,aprojectthateventuallyledtoimprovementsbeingmadebygovernments,aswellastheinternationalautomobileindustryinvehicleratingsystemsandconsumeradvice.

The new millenniumIntheearly2000s,theTACSafeCarProjectwascompleted,demonstratingthegroundbreakingbenefitsofnewtechnologies,includingseatbeltremindersystemsandIntelligentSpeedAdvisorySystems.Weledseveralimportantstudiesevaluatingtherelativebenefitsofwireropebarriers,especiallyinruralareas.ThisworkprovidedkeyevidencefortheTACandVicRoads’currentSafeSystemRoadInfrastructureProgram,inwhichwireropebarriersarebeinginstalledalongVictoria’shigh-riskruralroads.MUARC’shumanfactorsresearchthroughthisperiodalsohighlightedtherisksofmobilephonetextmessagingwhiledrivingandinformedmoretargetedsafetycampaigns;andinourworkwithAmbulanceVictoria,weidentifiedimportantvehicle,operationalandergonomicsafetyimprovementsforemergencyservices.

Partnerships and collaborationMuchofMUARC’sresearchimpactrepresentssustainedeffortsandlong-termstakeholderpartnerships.Anotableexampleofsuchwork,thefallspreventionprogram,drewonadecadeofcollaborationwithnationalandlocalhealthagencies,leadingtoMUARC’sNoFallsstudy.Thisstudyhighlightedthatexerciseswhichemphasiseimprovedbalancecouldsignificantlyreducethenumberoffallsinpeopleagedover70.

MUARChascontinuedtochangethewaytheworldapproachesroadsafetyandinjurypreventiongenerally,intransport,intheworkplace,andinhomesandcommunities.TheCentrehaspioneeredmodellingapproachestoestimatethepotentialcostbenefitsofdifferenttechnologies,infrastructureandenforcementcountermeasureswhichhasprovidedinvaluableassistancetojurisdictionsfortheirprioritysettingandstrategicroadsafetyplanning.Otherlong-termprojectsandpartnershipsincludetheVictorianCountryFireAuthorityresearchprogramforidentifyingmeasuresthatpreventresidentialfires;theTAC-fundedEnhancedCrashInvestigationStudy,whichisprovidingnewinsightsoncrashdynamicsandimpactspeed,andtheOzcandriveinternationalpartnership,whichisprovidinganunprecedentedunderstandingofolderdrivers’healthanddrivingpatternsastheyage.

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More than just research In1998,MUARCgainedaccreditationtocommenceitsownPhDprogramand,sincethen,hasnurturedtheprogramfromitsfledglingoriginstoathriving,high-qualitygraduateprogramofmorethan40students.Morerecently,ourtrainingeffortshaveexpandedtoincludeexecutive-level,professionaltraining,includingaworld-firstRoadSafetyManagementLeadershipProgram(whichyoucanreadaboutonpage38ofthisAnnualReport).

Thisisjustasmallselectionofthemanymajorcollaborations,breakthroughsandsociety-widetransformationsthattheCentrehasledoverthepast30years.

MUARC in 2017Turningtomorerecentachievements,2017wasayearofmanymemorablesuccesses.Reflectingonsomeofthehighlights:

Massive potential benefits of vehicle technology

InnewresearchfundedbyAustroads,MUARCinvestigatedthesafetybenefitsofCooperativeITSandAutomatedDrivingapplicationssuchasforwardcollisionwarning,curvespeedwarningandrightturnassist.Thereportconcludesthatthe“fulladoptionamongthelightpassengervehiclefleetofaselectionofkeyautomateddrivingandconnectedvehiclesafetyapplicationshasthepotentialtopreventbetween4,100and6,500fatalandseriousinjurycrashesinAustraliaand310–485fatalandseriousinjurycrashesinNewZealandeachyear”.

The tragic case of children affected by domestic homicide

Duringayearwhenpartnerviolenceanddomesticabusewasagainthesubjectofintensepublicdiscussion,researchersfromMUARC’sTraumaRecoveryLabreleasedanimportantresearchpaperwhichaimedtobetterunderstandthecircumstances,needsandperspectivesofchildrenaffectedbydomestichomicide.LedbyDrEvaAlisic,thestudywasconductedintheNetherlandsandfundedbytheDutchResearchandDocumentationCentre,andtheAustralianNationalHealthandMedicalResearchCouncil.Keyfindingswerethatmanyofthesechildrenhadunaddressedhistoriesofdomesticviolenceandmanywereexposedtohorrificscenesofhomicide,experiencedmajorandlastingimpact,andwereevenmoreburdenedthantheresearchteamexpected.

Slowing things for the better in the City of Yarra

OneofthehallmarksofMUARC’sachievementsisitspartnershipswithotherorganisations,helpingthemtobuildascientificbasefromwhichtomakeinformeddecisions.Thisyear,afineexampleofsuchcollaborationsinvolvedlocalgovernmentpartnershipwiththeCityofYarraandconsideredthemeritsofaproposed30kilometreperhourspeedlimitinlocalstreets.TheycommissionedMUARCtoprovideadviceandtodevelopapre-trialstudy.Thereportestablishedthatthetrialwouldprovideimprovedsafetyandcommunitybenefits,andconcludedthatitwouldbeaworthwhileinitiative.

Awards and promotions

Wecelebratedthesuccessesofourstaffwhoseexcellencewasrewardedinvariouswaysthroughtheyear.MUARCOperationsCoordinator,MsLesleyRees,wasawardedtheVice-Chancellor’sAwardforExceptionalPerformancebyProfessionalStaff.TheawardisasignificantandexcitingrecognitionofLesley’soutstandingcontributiontoMUARCandMonash.Herloyalty,soundjudgementandexcellenceinadministrativeleadershiphascontributedtothebuoyantoptimismthatMUARCenjoystoday.Inthemostrecentacademicpromotionsround,DrJannekeBerecki-Gisolf,DirectoroftheVictorianInjurySurveillanceUnit,waspromotedtoAssociateProfessor.DrCarlynMuirwaspromotedtoSeniorResearchFellowandwasalsoappointedtothenewlyestablishedMUARC–WorldHealthOrganization(WHO)InternshiproleforEarlyCareerResearchers.DrKristieYoung,whohasledMUARC’sresearchondriverdistractionoverthepastdecade,wasalsopromotedtoSeniorResearchFellow.

Celebrating 30 years

InOctoberwehostedanimportantpubliceventtomarkthe30thanniversaryofMUARC.Mysincerethankstoallwhoparticipated,includingABCradiopresenter,JonFaine,whofacilitatedadebateontheday,Monashseniorleadershipteam–Provost,ProfessorMarcParlange,andSeniorVice-ProvostandVice-Provost(Research),ProfessorPaulineNestorwhoopenedtheeventwithme,andtheExpertPanelwhoprovidedtheirprofessionalinsightsonthepossibilityofaninjuryfreesociety.

PanellistswereMUARCDeputyDirector,AssociateProfessorStuartNewstead;VicRoadschief,JohnMerritt;EnMasseprincipalandKidsafeVictoriapresident,EricaEdmands;TransportAccidentCommission(TAC)chief,JoeCalafiore;TheDepartmentofJusticeandRegulation’sPoliceandCrimePreventiondeputysecretary,KateHoughton;andVictoriaPoliceAssistantCommissioner,DougFryer.

A special award (3 decades in the making)InaspecialeventhostedbytheVice-ChancellorofMonashUniversity,ProfessorMargaretGardner,MUARCwasawardedtheprestigiousVice-Chancellor’sAwardforSustainedExcellenceinResearchImpactandEnterprise.Theawardwasanimportantrecognitionof‘30YearsofEffectiveCollaboration:TheMUARCModel’.ThesubmissionhighlightedtheCentre’ssustainedpartnershipswiththeVictoriangovernmentthroughtwosignificantprograms:theBaselineRoadSafetyResearchProgramandtheVictorianInjurySurveillanceUnit.TheseprogramsembodytheuniquemodelthatMUARChascreatedinwhichresearchisintegratedintoagencyprocesses,policyandactivities.

CongratulationstothemanyhundredsofMUARCstaffandstudents,pastandpresent,andtothemanyMUARCpartners,whohaveallplayedapartinbuildingahighlysuccessfulresearchmodelthathasbeenformallyrecognisedbytheVice-ChancellorofMonashUniversityforsustainedexcellenceinresearchimpactandenterprise.

ThisisanimpressivehistoryonwhichwewillbuildMUARC’sfutureforthenext30yearsofresearchendeavourtowardsaninjury-freecommunity.

Professor Judith Charlton Director Monash University Accident Research Centre

B E H A V I O U R A L S C I E N C E F O R T R A N S P O R T S A F E T Y

The Behavioural Science for Transport Safety team is led by Professor Judith Charlton, and conducts research using a safe systems framework. The unit’s studies concentrate on vulnerable road users such as seniors, youth and children who use roads as drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

The Child Safety in Cars project Theunit’sfocusonchildpassengersafetycontinuedin2017withtheChildSafetyinCarsproject.Aspartofthelarge-scale,internationalcollaborativeproject,researchersusednaturalisticdrivingmethodstoobservechildrenasrearseatoccupantsduringreal-worldcartrips.TheprojectwasfundedthroughtheAustralianResearchCouncilLinkageSchemeandbringstogetherresearchersfromMonashUniversity,theChildren’sHospitalofPhiladelphiaResearchInstitute,UniversityofMichiganTransportationResearchInstituteandChalmersUniversityofTechnologyinSweden.

PhDcandidateSuzanneCrosscompleteddetailedvideoanalysisofchildren’sbehaviourduringtripsandtheirpropensitytoassumeheadpositionsthatmaycompromisetheirsafetyintheeventofacrash.Thisworkinformedthedesignofaseriesofsledtests(simulatedoff-setfrontalcrashes)whichwereconductedbyBritax(Australia)andAutoliv(Sweden)toidentifypotentialinjuryimplicationsofchildren’ssub-optimalheadpositions.SuzannepresentedherfindingsatseveralforumsduringtheyearincludingtheAustralasianRoadSafetyConferenceinPerth,theAustralianInjuryPreventionNetworkNationalConferenceinBallarat,andtheProtectionofChildreninCarsConferenceinMunich.

TheteamhostedvisitsbytwointernationalProjectInvestigatorstopresentresultsfromsledtestusingobservedchildpassengerpositionsfromtheproject’snaturalisticdrivingstudy.DrKatarinaBohmanvisitedfromAutoliv,Sweden,wheresheisanexpertinbiomechanicsandoccupantprotectionofrearseatchildoccupants.DrKristyArbogastvisitedfromtheUSwheresheisCo-ScientificDirectoroftheCentreforInjuryResearchandPreventionatTheChildren’sHospitalofPhiladelphia(CHOP).DrArbogastisaninternationallyrecognisedexpertonpaediatricinjurybiomechanics.Thefindingsofthesledtestswerealso

presentedattheAssociationfortheAdvancementofAutomotiveMedicineconferenceinLasVegasandtheProtectionofChildreninCarsConferenceinMunich.

PhDcandidateJonnyKuomadeimportantcontributionstothedriverdistractioncomponentoftheprojectandwasawardedthedegreeofPhDin2017.

Ozcandrive IIIIn2017Ozcandrive–nowknownasOzcandriveIII–markedits7thanniversarywithaspecialeventandpresentationtostudyparticipants.Thelongitudinalstudy,nowenteringits8thyear,isfollowingthehealthanddrivingpatternsofolderdriversandcanproudlyclaimtobetheoldestandlongestrunningcohortstudyofdrivers.Around180oftheoriginal257participants,allofwhomarenowoctogenarians,remainedactiveintheprojectin2017.

InAugust,theteamwelcomedanewPhDstudent,RenéeSt.LouisfromtheUSwheresheworkedasaResearchAssociateintheareaofolderdriversattheUniversityofMichiganTransportationResearchInstitute.Renéehasaninterestinunderstandingpositiveageingandthefactorsthatcontributetoolderadults’capacitytomaintainsafemobility,whiletheyaredriversandbeyond.

Oneofthemainobjectivesofthestudyistodevelopatoolthatclinicianscanusetoidentifyolderdriverswhomaybeunsafeandneedfurtherassessmentoftheirdrivingability.Thiscomponentoftheprojectisdrawingtoaclose,withpromisingoutcomesexpectedforreleasesoon.

Attwoconferences–theNaturalisticDrivingResearchSymposiuminTheHagueandtheInternationalAssociationofGerontologyandGeriatricsWorldCongressinSanFrancisco–membersoftheteampresentedfindingsfromfiveyears’worthofOzcandrivedata.

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PROFESSOR JUDITH CHARLTON Director

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JENNIE OXLEY Associate Director

MS RACHEL OSBORNE Research Assistant

MS SUZANNE CROSS PhD Student

MS PHUONG HUA Research Assistant

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Older drivers linkage study concludesDrSjaanKoppel,withAssociateProfessorMichaelFitzharris,AssociateProfessorStuartNewstead,AngeloD’EliaandProfessorJudithCharlton,completedanextensiveprogramofresearchonolderroadusercrashesandassociatedriskfactors.Thisresearch,commissionedbytheMUARCBaselineResearchProgram,usedVictoriandatasources(i.e.TAC/MUARClinkeddataset,VictorianAdmittedEpisodesDatasetandVictorianEmergencyMinimumDatasetdata,VicRoadsRegistrationdata,VicRoadsLicencingandOffencedataandCoronersCourtofVictoriadata)toexaminetrendsintheoccurrence,severityandassociatedcostsofolderroadusercrashesandassociatedriskfactors.

Theseanalysesidentifiedseveralcurrentandemergingolderroadusercrashtrends,including:

• Currentdatasystemsandlinkingopportunities

• Vehiclechoice

• Infrastructureandintersectiondesign

• Speedlimitsetting

• Licensingpolicy(includingmedicalreview)

• Implicationsof,andneedfor,safeactivetransport

• Educationalresourcestailoredforolderroadusers

ThefindingsfromthisresearchprogramwillbeusedbyVictorianroadsafetypartnerstoguidepolicyandinformthedevelopmentoffutureactionplanstoreduceolderroadusercrash-relateddeathsandseriousinjuries.

ANDS the next phase is…TheBehaviouralScienceforTransportSafetyandHumanFactorsteamscontinuedtheirimportantparticipationinAustralia’sfirstlarge-scalestudyofeverydaydrivingbehaviour,knownastheAustralianNaturalisticDrivingStudy(ANDS).TheprojectisanationalcollaborationledbytheUniversityofNewSouthWalesandinvolvingMonashUniversity,QueenslandUniversityofTechnology,theUniversityofAdelaide,Curtin-MonashAccidentResearchCentreandVirginiaTechTransportationInstitute(USA).Itusesadvancedsensorsanddata-loggingtechnologiestoexaminedriverbehaviourincludinginteractionswithroadinfrastructureandotherroadusers.

ThedatacollectionphaseoftheprojectwascompletedinDecember2017.Intotal,352volunteerdriversagedbetween20and70(inVictoriaandNewSouthWales)participatedintheresearchandhadtheircarsfittedwithaDataAcquisitionSystem(DAS)torecordtheirdrivingoverafour-monthperiod.TheDASisadevicecomprisingsensorsanddataloggers(includingvideo,accelerationinmultipleaxes,gyroscopicmotion,indicatorstatus,speed,radarandGPSposition)thatallowsresearcherstocontinuouslyrecordvehiclesandcollectdriver-baseddata.

ProfessorJudithCharltonheadstheMUARC-basedANDSteamwithDrKristieYoung,DrSjaanKoppel,TechnicalOfficers,Yik-XiangHueandAndrewLyberopoulosandResearchAssistant,RachelOsborne.

TheprojectreceivesfundingfromtheAustralianResearchCouncilthroughtheLinkageScheme.GovernmentandindustrypartnersincludetheCentreforRoadSafetyatTransportforNSW,NRMA,theTransportAccidentCommission,VicRoads,theMotorAccidentCommissioninSouthAustralia,theWesternAustralianOfficeofRoadSafety,SeeingMachinesandHyundaiAustralia.

Theprojecthasnowenteredthedataanalysisphase.ANDSdatawillallowresearcherstostudyhowdriversdealwithhazards,includingbusyintersectionsthathavenotrafficlightsanddifficultdrivingsituations(suchaspedestriansunexpectedlycrossingtheroadorotherdriversengaginginriskybehaviour).

AspartofherAustralianResearchCouncilDiscoveryEarlyCareerResearcherAwardproject,DrKristieYoungisusingtheANDSdatatoexploretherolethatpositivedriverself-regulationcanplayinmitigatingtheimpactofdistracteddrivingonperformanceandsafety.

Congratulationstotheentireteamwhohavecontributedtothesmoothoperationofthedatacollectionphaseoftheproject,includingtheverylargegroupofhighlycompetenttechnicalandresearchassistantswhohavesupportedtheProjectInvestigators.

Pioneering cycling work continuesThesafetyofcyclistsremainsapriorityresearchareawithinMUARC,giventhatthepopularityofcyclingcontinuestoincreaseinAustralia.Agreaterunderstandingoftheurbantransportsystemandtheimprovementsneededtocreateasafercyclingenvironmentareessentialifcyclistsaretobesafeandincreasedcyclingparticipationtargetsaretobeachieved.

The‘Safercyclingintheurbanroadenvironment’study,nowinitsthirdyear,isfundedthroughtheARCLinkageGrantScheme,andconductedinMelbourneandPerth.TheprojectisconductedinpartnershipwithCurtinUniversity,PortlandUniversityintheUSA,theTAC,VicRoads,MainRoadsWA,theAmyGillettFoundationandCyclingPromotionFoundation.Theresearchdrawstogetherexistingcyclistinjurydataanduniquecyclistexposuredata(usingnaturalisticstudymethods)todeveloproadinfrastructureprototypesthatimprovecyclists’safety.AnothercomponentofthestudyusesaninnovativeapproachtoevaluatetheeffectivenessoftheseprototypesusingMUARC’ssimulatorfacilities(theBikeSimanddrivingsimulator).

Theoutcomesofthestudywillinformfuturecyclinginvestmentprograms.Thefindingswillalsobeusedtoidentifywhereimprovementsshouldbemadetocurrentdesignpracticesorrouteselectionforcyclingprojectsandwherefurtherinnovationisnecessary.

Some highlights from the study include:• Intersectiontypologywasfoundtobeassociatedwith

riskofinjury.Specifically,theuseofroundaboutstocontroltrafficincreasedthelikelihoodofsevereinjuryoverusingtrafficsignalsandotherprioritycontroldevices.

• Exposuretounprotectedtramtracks,parking,andlongitudinalgradientwasassociatedwithinjury.

• Exposuretospeedlimitsinexcessof50kilometresperhourwithoutbicycleinfrastructureincreasedthelikelihoodofinjury(comparedwithlowerspeedlimitswithorwithoutbicycleinfrastructure).

• Severalinnovativebicyclelanedesignconceptswereshowntohavepotentialtoencouragesafercyclingbyincreasingthespatialseparationbetweencyclistsandmotorvehicles.

• CyclistperceptionsofthesedesignswerepositivecomparedwithdesignsthatarecommonlyusedinAustralianbicyclelanes.

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In other achievements:

Theteampresented‘Cyclistexposuretotheriskofcardoorcollisionsinmixedfunctionactivitycentres:Astudy’atthe61stAssociationfortheAdvancementofAutomotiveMedicineAnnualConferenceinMelbourne.ThestudywasalsopublishedinTrafficInjuryPrevention.

AttheAustralasianRoadSafetyConference2017,theteammadepresentationsfromtheAustralianNaturalisticDrivingandCyclingstudy:

• ‘Naturalisticobservationofroutechoicesincyclingstudies’(AssociateProfessorJennieOxleyetal).

• ‘Computervisionforbicyclelanewidthandlateralpositionestimation’(AssociateProfessorJennieOxleyetal).

• ‘Seenoevil,reportnoevil:Thebenefitofrearwardfacingfootagetoidentifyriskstocyclists’(BrendanLawrence,etal).

Teammembersalsomadepresentationsatinternationalconferences:

• ‘Validationofabicyclesimulatorforroadsafetyresearch’(SteveO’Hernetal.)attheRoadSafetyandSimulationConferenceinTheHague,Netherlands.

• ‘Fixiesandfrothies:AnexaminationofintoxicatedcyclinginAustralia’(SteveO’Hernetal.)attheInternationalCyclingSafetyConference,California,USA.

The future of the study

Thelastphaseofthestudytobeconductedin2018isa‘translationalworkshop’.Theworkshopwillbringtogetherlocal,nationalandinternationalexpertstosharefindingsanddiscusspathwaysandbarrierstoeffectiveinfrastructureimplementation.Theaimwillbeto:

a) improvesafetyforcyclistsonurbanroadsthroughinfrastructuredesign

b) enhancethedisseminationoffindingsfromtheresearchandprovidetheevidence-basetoinformtheselectionanddevelopmentofroaddesignandinfrastructuremeasurestoaddressprioritycyclistcollisionsandfuturecyclinginvestmentprograms.

Supporting safe mobility among older road users in New South WalesTherearesignificantchangesemergingregardingtransportandmobilityexpectationsamongolderroadusers,includinghighpersonalmobility,greateruseoftheprivatecar,aswellasincreaseduseofothertravelmodes.

InaprojectcommissionedbyTransportforNewSouthWales,theteamundertookanextensivereviewoftheeffectivenessoftools,resourcesandprogramsto:

• supportolderdrivers’self-regulationandtransitiontoretirementfromdriving;and

• assisthealthprofessionalsandlicensingauthoritiestoassessfitnesstodrive.

ThereviewexaminedthequalityofevidencefortheeffectivenessofresourcesandprogramsandprovidedrecommendationsfortheapplicabilitytotheNewSouthWalestransportandlicensingcontext.

Atotalof53resourcesandprogramswereidentifiedfordriversaddressingself-regulationandsaferdriving,transitionfromdrivingand34toolstoassistcliniciansinassessingfitnesstodrive.Onehundredandninety-twopaperswerereviewedprovidingevidenceontheeffectivenessoftheseresources.Inaddition,thereviewhighlightedmorethan233modeshiftschemesdesignedtoencourageolderpeopletousetransportmodesotherthandrivingaprivatemotorvehiclewereidentified.

Basedontheirextensivereview,theresearchteampresentedanumberofgood-practiceprinciplesandpromisingtoolsandprogramstoaddressthesafetransportationandmobilityneedsofolderpeople.Thereportalsohighlightedthecrucialroleofcliniciansandtheimportanceofpartnershipsbetweenhealthprofessionals,driverlicencingauthorities,localgovernmentandpeakbodiesforageing.

TheteamincludedAssociateProfessorJennieOxley,ProfessorJudithCharlton,DrSjaanKoppelandResearchAssistants,PhuongHua,MohammedAburummanandTriciaWilliams.

European driver training and fitness to drive project InpartnershipwithaconsortiumofEuropeanresearchteamsincludingTransportResearchLaboratoriesandLoughboroughUniversity(UK),SWOV(Netherlands)andBaST(Germany),ProfessorBrianFildesandAssociateProfessorJennieOxley,withtheassistanceofTriciaWilliams,deliveredastudyondrivertraining,testingandmedicalfitnesstodrivefortheEuropeanCommission.

Theyundertookacomprehensivereviewofdifferentapproachestotraining,testing,graduatedaccesstoriskfordriversandmotorcyclists,drivinginstructorcompetencies,andrequirementsonmedicalfitnesstodrive(includingitsrelevanceforolderdrivers).Theprimaryfocusofthereviewwastoevaluateandsummarisetheavailableevidenceontheeffectivenessofdifferentapproachesintermsofroadsafetyoutcomes.

CurrentpracticeacrossEuropewasalsooutlined,basedontheexistingliterature(coveringthemajorityofMemberStates)wherepossible,andalsobasedonresponsestoashortonlinesurvey(withwideparticipationfrom25countriesinEurope).

Usingtheevidencereviewed,aseriesofgood-practiceapproacheswasdefined,andthendiscussedatastakeholderworkshopinBrussels.Thefocusofthediscussionattheworkshopwasonidentifyingbarrierstoandenablersofimplementationofthedifferentgood-practiceapproachesinEuropeancountries.

Twenty-sevenrecommendationsweremadetosupportprogresstowardsgoodpracticeinalltheseareasacrossEurope.

Making mixed use arterials saferInpartnershipwiththeAustralianRoadResearchBoard,CorbenConsulting,theCentreforAutomotiveSafetyResearchandMHWGlobal,AssociateProfessorJennieOxleyandDrKarenStephancontributedtoastudyinvestigatingthesafetyofmixedusearterialsinAustralasia.

Thisstudyprovidesasynthesisofkeysafetysolutionsaswellasissuesthatneedtobeconsideredwheneffectivelyaddressingsafetyonurbanmixedusearterialroutes.Suchroadsaccountforalargeproportionofhigh-severitycrashesinAustraliaandNewZealand,particularlyinvolvingvulnerableroadusers.

AustroadscommissionedresearchtohelpidentifysolutionsthatmightbeappliedonthesearterialroadstoimprovesafetythroughtheprovisionofSafeSysteminfrastructure.

TheprojectinvolvedassessmentofsixcasestudiesaroundAustraliaandNewZealand.Preliminaryconceptdesignsweredevelopedforeachoftheroutesbasedonthefindingsfromseveralworkshopsandsubsequentdiscussions.ThelikelysafetybenefitswereassessedwithestimatesoflikelycrashreductionsaswellasalignmentwiththeSafeSystemobjectiveofeliminatingdeathandseriousinjury.

ThefindingsofthisstudywillhaveimplicationsforroaddesignandoperationandwillfacilitateagreaterunderstandingoftheSafeSystemapproachamongstdesigners,localauthoritystaff,keystakeholdersandthepublic.

Behavioural Science for Transport Safety | MUARC Annual Report 2017 13

14 MUARC Annual Report 2017 | Human Factors in Transport and Workplace Safety

H U M A N F A C T O R S I N T R A N S P O R T A N D W O R K P L A C E S A F E T Y

The Human Factors team is made up of members with a diverse array of knowledge and from various disciplines, among them psychology, design, computer science and engineering. As a unit, we are interested in how people interact with complex work systems; our overarching aim is to prevent accidents, mainly through the use of human-centred methods. We focus on safe design and user-centred evaluation of systems, equipment, tasks and environments.

In2017,theunitcontinuedtoconcentrateonareassuchasroadtransport,mining,medicalandtheworkplace.

Welcome to Dr David LoganDrDavidLoganjoinedtheHumanFactorsandWorkplaceSafetyteaminearly2017,havingworkedatMUARCformanyyearsinareassuchasroadsafetymodelling,engineeringandvehicleautomation.Amongstthemanyprojectsheundertookin2017,heledamajorprojectforAustroadsthatexaminedthesafetybenefitsofautomatedvehiclesandCooperativeIntelligentTransportSystems.TheprojectinvolvedinputfromothermembersoftheHumanFactorsteam,includingDrKristieYoungandProfessorTimHorberry,aswellasMUARCcolleaguesfromoutsidetheunit.

Army teamwork project concludesAmajorprojectinvolvingProfessorHorberryinMelbourne(andBenHogganinAdelaide),inpartnershipwiththeCommonwealthDepartmentofDefence,cametoasuccessfulendinearly2017.Theprojectspannedmultipleyears,coveringbothlab-basedworkandfield-basednaturalisticresearch.TheHumanFactorsteamhelpeddesigndifferentexercisesinvolvingteamsofsoldiersandstudiedimprovementincommunicationsandleadershipwithinthearmyteams.

A (mining) project complete; a book on the wayForthelastseveralyearsProfessorHorberryhasbeenworkingwithcolleaguesfromtheUniversityofQueenslandandtheNationalInstituteforOccupationalSafetyandHealthintheUnitedStatesonseveralprojectsintheminingsector.Theseproducedaroadmapforhuman-centreddesignofminingequipment,includingdevelopmentofdesignmaterial,casestudiesandeducationalinformationforusebythemineralsindustry.Themostrecentprojectcametoaconclusionin2017.

Theteamwillusetheoutcomesfromitforabook:Human-CenteredDesignforMiningEquipmentwhichiscurrentlybeingcompletedbyHorberry,Burgess-LimerickandSteiner.ThebookwillbepublishedbyCRCPressUSA/TaylorandFrancisUK,andwillbeavailableinearly2018.

A long road to a short course LedbyDrSharonNewnam,theteam’sworkinthefieldofworkplaceroadsafetycontinuedin2017.Inadditiontoprogressbeingmadeonexistingprojects,wedevelopedashortcourseinworkplaceroadsafetythisyear,andplantooffertheprogramforthefirsttimein2018.

Injury outcomes work progressing well DrDianneSheppardcontinuestoleadtheunit’sworkintheareaofinjuryoutcomes.Oneofhermajorprojectsin2017wastheongoingdevelopmentandtestingofafasttrackrecoveryapp,fundedbytheNewSouthWalesStateInsuranceRegulatoryAuthority.DrSheppardwasalsoaChiefInvestigatorforasuccessfulgrantfromtheNationalBreastCancerFoundationcalled“Testingthefeasibilityofasupportinterventionfortransitioningbackto‘good’workfollowingbreastcancer”.Thisprojectwillstartin2018.

Human Factors in Transport and Workplace Safety | MUARC Annual Report 2017 15

16 MUARC Annual Report 2017 | Human Factors in Transport and Workplace Safety

Human Factors in Transport and Workplace Safety | MUARC Annual Report 2017 17

Simulators take centre stageTheHumanFactorsteamisresponsibleforMUARC’sdrivingandridingsimulators,andtheyonceagaintookaleadingroleintheworkoftheunitduringtheyear.Thecar,portablecar,cycle,motorcycleanddefencesimulatorswereusedsteadilythroughout2017.TheyalsoattractedinterestfromthemanylocalandinternationalvisitorswhotouredMonashfacilitiesbetweenJanuaryandDecember.

InclosecollaborationwithAssociateProfessorMichaelFitzharris,theteambeganinearnestamajorsimulatorprojectlookingatdevelopingthenextgenerationoffatigueanddistractiontechnology.ThisworkisbeingconductedusingCooperativeResearchCentreProjectsfundingandisbringingtogetherMUARC,SeeingMachinesandRonFinemoreTransport.Throughout2017themajoractivityundertakenaspartofthisprojectwastestingalertandsleep-depriveddriversinourcarsimulator.Weaimtotestupto80,andtestingwillcontinueinto2018.TheleadresearcherisChristineMulvihill,directedbyProfessorHorberryandAssociateProfessorFitzharris.

Thenewestadditiontooursimulatorsuitewillbeastate-of-the-arttrucksimulator,whichweworkedonthroughout2017,andwhichwillbereadyforusein2018.

Distraction research worth paying attention to Followingaperiodofmaternityleave,DrKristieYoungcommencedherDiscoveryEarlyCareerResearcherAwardfellowshipinMarch2017.Theworkshecommenced,andwillcontinuein2018,aspartofthefellowship,isinvestigatingdriverdistractionandself-regulationofattention.

Inthesamebroadfield,DrYoungandProfessorHorberryundertookprojectsin2017withbothMetroTrainsandVicRoadslookingatdriver/operatordistractionissuesandhowtheycanbemanaged.

ProfessorHorberry,DrYoungandRachelOsbornecommencedaMUARCBaselineprojectlookingatpedestriandistractioncausedbysmartphoneuse,withaparticularfocusonriskybehavioursfromusingsmartphoneswhilecrossingbusyroads.Thisworkwillcontinuein2018.

Global opportunities TheHumanFactorsandWorkplaceSafetyteamcontinuedtoenjoymanynationalandinternationalcollaborativerelationshipsandopportunitiesin2017.Theseinclude:

• AvisitingFellowshipatCambridgeUniversityinEnglandforProfessorHorberry.

• JointprojectswithcolleaguesinEuropeandNorthAmerica(suchasDrNewnam’sheavyvehiclesworkwithUniversityofMichiganTransportationResearchInstituteintheUSA).

• Majorinternationalconferences,amongthemDrLoganattheAssociationfortheAdvancementofAutomotiveMedicineConferenceintheUSAinlate2017.

WewerealsoactivewithothercolleaguesacrossMonashUniversity.Forexample,wewerepartoftwoMonashInfrastructuregrantswhichfinishedattheendof2017,oneinvestigatingautomatedvehiclesandtheotherconcentratingontramsafety.

Congratulations to our PhD students ItwasanotherexcellentyearforourPhDstudentswhoonceagainundertookcutting-edgeresearchincriticalareassuchas:

• Medicalsafety(RaphaelaSchnittker)

• Miningindustryleadership(Sarah-LouiseDonovan)

• Workplacerisk/OHS(IvanCikara,MohammedAburumman)

• Trafficincidentmanagement(VanessaCattermole,supervisedbyProfessorHorberryattheUniversityofQueensland)

• Vehicleautomation(NebojsaTomasevic)

TheyareregularlypublishingtheirworkinleadingscientificjournalssuchasAppliedErgonomics.

18 MUARC Annual Report 2017 | Injury Analysis and Data

I N J U R Y A N A L Y S I S A N D D A T A

Led by Associate Professor Stuart Newstead, the Injury Analysis and Data (IAD) team’s expertise lies in highly analytical data-driven safety research. The unit’s researchers are specialists in numerical and behavioural sciences and public health, possessing the ability to manage, analyse and present accident and injury data to produce real-world benefits. Collecting, analysing and interpreting data with accuracy, rigour and insight is essential to the safety sciences, and this expertise brings about collaborations with leading public and private organisations across Australia and the world.

Quantifying and improving the safety of vehiclesDuring2017,theteam’sprogramofresearchintovehiclesafetyperformanceachievedasignificantmilestone.Augustmarkedthe25thannualpublicationoftheUsedCarSafetyRatings(UCSRs),whichisproducedbytheIADteam.Thiscomprehensiveguidegivesconsumersinformationonthesafetyoftheircurrentvehicleandanyusedvehiclestheyareconsideringbuyingbasedonreal-worldcrashoutcomes.

Thisyear,theratingswereabletocovermorevehiclemakesandmodelsthaneverbeforeduetoenhancementstothedatasystemunderpinningtheratings.

Asignificantchangetothisyear’sratingswastheinclusionofacrashriskratingtoaugmenttheexistingratingsthatfocusoninjurymitigationintheeventofacrash.Araftofcrashavoidancetechnologiessuchaselectronicstabilitycontrolandautonomousemergencybrakinghavebeenintroducedintonewvehiclesinrecentyears,theimpactsofwhichwillnowbereflectedintheUCSRprogram.

CapitalisingonthepowerofthedatabaseassembledtoproducetheUCSRs,theteamcompletedanumberofadditionalresearchprojects.

StemmingfromareviewbytheAustralianGovernmentofnewandusedvehicleimportationrules,researchersfromtheIADunitcompletedastudyexaminingthepotentialsafetyimpactsofallowingadditionalusedimportedvehiclesintoAustralia.NewZealand,whereusedvehiclesareimportedinlargenumbers,wasusedasthebenchmarkcomparisontoestimatethelikelysafetyimpactsofsimilarpolicyinAustralia.Theteamexploredtheimpactofvisibilityfromvehiclesontheriskofpedestriancollisions;theyalsomeasuredthebenefitsofreversingtechnologies,suchascamerasandsensors,inreducingpedestrianback-overcrashes.

TheteamundertooktwomajorprojectsincollaborationwitheconomicsconsultancyEconomicConnectionsandengineeringconsultancyPekolTrafficandTransport.ConductedfortheAustralianAutomobileAssociation,thefirstexaminedthepotentialsafetyandemissionsbenefitsfromgovernmentpolicytoreducetheaverageageoftheAustralianlightvehiclefleet,whichhasbeensteadilyincreasingovertime.ThesecondestimatedthesafetybenefitsrealisedbytheAustralianNewCarAssessmentPrograminacceleratingthefitmentofprovensafetytechnologiesinnewvehiclesinAustralia.

Improving the safety of high-risk and vulnerable road usersIfweconsidertheroadtraumaprobleminstatisticalterms,vulnerableandhigh-riskroadusersaredisproportionatelyrepresented.Withthisinmind,anumberofresearchprojectsundertakenbytheIADteamin2017focusedonkey,high-riskroadusergroups.

EvaluationofthePDriversProject,oneofthelargesttrialsofabehaviourchange-basedprogramfornewprobationarydriverseverundertaken,nearedcompletionin2017.EvaluationoftheNewSouthWalesSafeDriverCourse,asimilarprogramaimedatlearnerdrivers,alsonearedcompletion.Resultsfromboththeseprojectsshouldbeavailablein2018andwillprovidesignificantevidenceonthebenefitsofbehaviourchangeprogramstoimprovingnovicedriversafety.

AspartoftheMUARCBaselineResearchProgramfundedbytheVictorianGovernmentRoadSafetyPartnership,amajorresearchprogramexaminingolderroadusersafetyandpredictingthefuturetraumaburdenfromcrashinvolvementofolderroadusersinVictoria’sageingpopulationwascompleted.

Injury Analysis and Data | MUARC Annual Report 2017 19

TheIADteamcontributedtothedesignandassemblyofaresearchdatabasetofacilitatetheprojectandtheanalysisofcrashpatternsandlicensingtrendsinolderroadusers.Outcomesfromtheprojecthaveledtostrategicprioritiesforimprovingolderroadusersafetybeingidentified.

TwonewprojectscommencedundertheBaselineResearchProgramtowhichtheIADteamwillmakeamajorcontribution.Thefirstisexaminingtheroleofprescriptionmedicinesincontributingtoroadcrashrisk.ItwillundertakeacomprehensiveliteraturereviewtoestablishcurrentknowledgeregardingprescriptionmedicinesandroadsafetyaswellasinvestigatingthefeasibilityofestablishingasuitablelinkeddatasystemtofurthermeasureriskintheVictoriancontext.AsecondprojectseekstoestablishacomprehensivedatasystemtoinformheavyvehiclesafetyresearchinVictoria–thishasbeenidentifiedasapriorityareaduetotheprojectedfuturehighgrowthinheavyvehicleexposure.

Finally,theteamcompletedaliteraturereviewfortheTACexaminingtherelationshipbetweendistractingactivitiesandcrashrisktoinformthedevelopmentandtargetingoffuturecountermeasurestomitigatethesebehaviours.

Assisting in setting strategic directionsRoadsafetystrategiesdevelopedbygovernmentagenciesinAustraliaprovidetheframeworkforselectingandimplementingcountermeasurestoachievespecifiedgoalsforroadtraumareduction.During2017,boththeVictorianandNewSouthWalesgovernmentscommencedtheprocessofreviewingtheperformanceofcurrentroadsafetystrategiestoidentifywhethersettraumareductiontargetswerelikelytobeachievedand,ifnot,whichadditionalorexpandedcountermeasurescouldbeimplementedtodoso.Aspartofthesereviews,theIADteamdevelopedamodellingapproachtoestimatetheroadsafetyimpactsofpastandlikelyfuturecontributionsofroadsafetyprogramsimplementedunderthecurrentstrategy.

20 MUARC Annual Report 2017 | Injury Analysis and Data

DR TREVOR ALLEN Research Fellow

MS LAURIE BUDD Research Assistant

MR ANGELO D’ELIA Research Fellow

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR STUART NEWSTEAD Deputy Director

DR CARLYN MUIR Senior Research Fellow

MS LINDA WATSON Research Fellow

MS CASEY RAMPOLLARD Research Officer

Injury Analysis and Data | MUARC Annual Report 2017 21

Researchalsoproducedforecastsoffutureroadtraumalevelspredictedbasedonanticipatedprograminvestmentunderthecurrentroadsafetystrategies.Theseforecastswerethenusedasthebasisforfurtherstrategicmodellingofpackagesofadditionalcountermeasuresrequiredtomeettraumareductiontargetssetundereachstrategy.

AkeyenableroftheIADteamstrategyresearchwastheTrafficEnforcementResourceAllocationModel(TERAM)previouslydevelopedundertheBaselineResearchProgram.Forthefirsttime,TERAMallowedestimationofthepotentialroadtraumaimpactsofadditionalinvestmentinenforcementprogramsbyVictoriaPoliceandtheDepartmentofJusticetobeintegratedintothebroaderstrategicroadsafetymodellingexercisealongwithmoretraditionalinvestmentsininfrastructureandvehiclesafetyimprovements.

AspartoftheCurtin-MonashAccidentResearchCentrecollaboration,acomprehensiveliteraturereviewofprioritiesandcountermeasurestoimproveruralandremoteroadsafetywasundertaken.ThereviewwillprovidepolicydirectionfortheWesternAustraliangovernmenttotargetsafetyprogramsintoanareathatrepresentsasignificantproblemforthatstate.

Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of road traffic policing Theteamdemonstrateditsexpertiseintheareaofpolicetrafficenforcementthroughawiderangeofprojectsundertakenin2017.TheunitcommencedprojectsfortheACTGovernmenttoevaluateboththeAlcoholInterlockProgramforconvicteddrink-driversandthefixedandmobilespeedcameraprogram.Resultsfromthesestudiesareexpectedin2018.

MethodologywasalsodevelopedfortheoptimumselectionofnewfixedspeedcamerasitestomaximiseroadsafetybenefitsinbothVictoriaandWesternAustralia.TheteamcompletedfurtherevaluationoftheQueenslandCameraDetectedOffenceProgram(CDOP)aswellasaprojectprovidingstrategicadviceonthepotentialfutureexpansionoftheCDOPtomaximisetheroadsafetyandeconomicbenefitsoftheprogram.

UnderourWorldHealthOrganizationCollaboratingCentreonViolenceandInjuryPreventionfortheWesternPacificRegion(WHOWPRO)arrangements,theIADteam,inpartnershipwithVictoriaPoliceandWHOWPRO,developedanddeliveredaworkshoptitled‘SafeSystemandPoliceEnforcementinselectPacificIslandNations’.Theprogramfocusedonlegislation,policingandenforcementequipmentforroadsafety.

Keyobjectivesforthecourseincluded:

1. Tosupporttheopportunityforincreasingtechnicalknowledgeinnationalcounterpartsoneffectiveroadpolicing.

2. Tofacilitatethedevelopmentoftechnicalnetworksoftrafficpoliceinlow-andmiddle-incomecountries.

3. Tosupportscalingupofenhancedenforcementoperationsinlow-andmiddle-incomecountries.

Thecoursewasdeliveredusingarangeoflearningformats,includingclassroomactivitiesandpracticaldemonstrationsduringpoliceoperations.Feedbackonthecoursewasverypositive.ParticipantswereseniorpoliceandjusticeofficialsfromPacificIslandcountries.

Guiding emergency servicesStrongcollaborationbetweenMUARC(ledbytheIADteam)andtheVictorianCountryFireAuthoritycontinuedin2017.Anumberofkeyprojectswerecompletedaspartofthecollaborationduring2017,including:

• AnanalysisoffactorsinfluencingcrashinvolvementofCFAvehiclesleadingtorecommendationsonstrategiestoreducecrashriskandtheCFAfleet,includingfire-fightingappliancesaswellascorporatefleetvehicles.

• FurtheranalysisoffactorsinfluencingtheriskandseverityofresidentialfiresinCFAservicedareas.OutcomesofthisprojecthavebeenintegratedintoaCFA-developedmappingtooltoidentifyhighprevalencezonesforidentifiedriskfactors.Themappingtoolisbeingusedtomorepreciselyandeffectivelytargetpreventioninitiatives.

• AfeasibilitystudywasconductedintothepotentiallinkageoftheCFAFireIncidentReportingSystemwithvariousotheradministrativedatasourcestoimprovetheidentificationandseverityclassificationofpeopleinjuredinCFAattendedevents.Thefeasibilitystudyledtoapilotlinkageoffeasibledatasourcestobeconductedduring2018.

In2017,anotherfocuswasoccupationalinjuryintheemergencyservices.IncollaborationwithcolleaguesfromtheMonashFacultyofMedicine,theIADteamconductedtwoprojectsaimingtobetterunderstandbothphysicalandpsychologicalinjuryinpolice.Thepoliceinjurystudyinvolvedanalysisofinjuryclaimsovertime,andthementalhealthprevalencestudyinvolvedanorganisation-widesurveyofbothoperationalpoliceandpublicserviceemployees.

22 MUARC Annual Report 2017 | Injury Outcomes Research

I N J U R Y O U T C O M E S R E S E A R C H

With an overarching aim of helping injured people to receive better healthcare, the Injury Outcomes Research Group conducts research into how they react to, respond to and cope with injury and trauma. The group comprises researchers who possess expertise in medicine, epidemiology, statistics, psychology, health promotion and population health. Researchers from across MUARC work in close collaboration with the Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research (ISCRR), WorkSafe Victoria, the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), as well as injury-focused stakeholders across the world.

Crash and injury outcomes for older road usersAmajor,MUARC-widecollaborativeprojectexploringcrashandinjuryoutcomesforolderroadusersincludedtheanalysisoftheTAC-LinkedClaimsDataset.Thisprovidednewinsightsintothefinancialcostofolderroadusertrauma,whichisdirectlyrelatedtothetypeofroaduserandalsothespeedzoneinwhichthecrashoccurred.

Thismulti-facetedproject,fundedundertheMUARCbaselineprogram,willbecompletedin2018.

Spinal cord injury prevention research AssociateProfessorMichaelFitzharriscontinuedactiveparticipationintheInternationalSpinalCordSociety(ISCoS)astheChair,RoadCrashPreventionSub-Committee,andMemberofthePreventionCommittee.

DrSaraLiuattendedthe56thInternationalSpinalCordSocietyAnnualScientificMeeting,ISCoS,whichwasheldinDublin,whereworkwaspresentedon‘TheincidenceandcostofSCIresultingfromroadcrashesinVictoria,Australia’.ShealsoparticipatedinthePsychologists’InterestGroup.

Rehabilitation supportDrSaraLiuandAssociateProfessorMichaelFitzharriswereengagedbyAPPsychologyandConsultingServicestoevaluatetheirMotivationalInteractionstrainingprogram.Theprogramsupportsorganisationstodevelopstrategieslinkedtooutcomes.Itdoesthisbytrainingandcoachingpeopleintherehabilitationsectortodevelopskillsinbettermanagingpeoplepresentingwithcomplexandchallengingwellbeingissues.

In2017apilotanalysiswascompletedandsupportwasfoundfortheprogram.TheteamhascontinuedtoworkwithAPPsychologywiththeaimofimplementingalarge-scaleevaluationoftheirprogram,whichisnovelinthisfieldofoccupationalrehabilitationandcompensationproviders.

Trauma and trauma recovery TheTraumaRecoveryLab,withinMUARC,aimstounderstandandfacilitatechildren’sandfamilies’recoveryfromtraumaticstress.TheLabpresentedonchildtraumaoutcomesin11internationalconferencepresentationsin2017,includingattheconferencesoftheEuropeanSocietyforTraumaticStressStudies(Denmark)andtheInternationalSocietyforTraumaticStressStudies(USA).

MUARCresearchersalsohadnumerouspaperspublishedonthesubjectoftraumaduringthisyearinareassuchas:

• Parent-childconversationsafterpotentiallytraumaticevents

• Childrenbereavedbyfatalintimatepartnerviolence

• Psychologicaldistressinpre-hospitalproviders

• Trauma-informedcareforchildrenintheambulance

• Theepidemiologyoftrauma

TheywerepublishedinjournalssuchasTheJournalofEvidence-BasedMentalHealth,PLOSONE,EuropeanChildandAdolescentPsychiatry,EmergencyMedicineJournalandJournalofPaediatricsandChildHealth.

The short- and long-term outcomes of work-related injuryTheWorkSafeVictoriahospitaldatalinkagestudyisamulti-phasepieceofworkfundedbyWorkSafeVictoriathroughtheInstituteforSafety,CompensationandRecoveryResearch(ISCRR).Thestudyisdesignedtodeterminetheimpactofpre-injuryhealthonshort-term(uptotwoyears)andlong-term(uptosevenyears)outcomesofwork-relatedinjury.

Pre-injuryhealthiscapturedintermsofchronicdiseaseindicators,developedforthisprojectfromICD-10-AMcodedadmissionsdata.Injuryoutcomesincludeclaimduration,timeoffwork,healthserviceuse,butalsolong-termmorbidityandmortality.TheteamofinvestigatorsonthisprojectareDrJannekeBerecki-GisolfandVoulaStathakis(MUARC).

VoulaStathakispresentedsomeoftheresultsfromthefirstphaseofthestudyattheAustralianInjuryPreventionNetworkconferenceinBallaratinNovember.Herpresentationwastitled‘ChronicdiseaseprevalenceinacohortofinjuredworkersinVictoria,Australia:usinghospitaldatalinkagetodeterminepre-injuryhealth’.

Thesecondphaseofthestudyinvolveslinkageofworkers’compensationclaimstohospitaladmissionsanddeathdataforaperiodofuptosevenyearsaftertheinjury.Thelinkeddatawassuccessfullyappliedforandreceivedin2017.Thenextreport,duein2018,willfocusontheeffectsofwork-relatedinjuryonchronicdiseaseincidenceandhealthserviceuse,aswellastheimpactonmortality.

Health service needs of TAC clients before and after transport accidents ThisprojectinvolveslinkingTACclaimsdatawithVictorianHospitalAdmittedEpisodesData(VAED),Mentalhealthservicesdata(CMI/ODS),andAlcoholandDrugInformationSystem(ADIS)data.ThestudyisfundedbytheTACthroughISCRR.

DatalinkageiscarriedoutbytheVictorianDataLinkageUnitattheDepartmentofHealthandHumanServices.

Thepurposeoftheprojectistoprovideabetterunderstandingof:

1. HowTACclients’pre-existingphysicalandmentalhealthandhealthserviceuseaffecttheirinjuryandclaimoutcomes.

2. TheimpactofcompensableroadtrafficinjuryonTACclients’long-termphysicalandmentalhealthandhealthserviceuse.

ThiswillprovideaknowledgebasethatcanbeusedtoimprovethesupportprovidedtoTACclients.Thescopeoftheresearchincludesnotonlyhospitaladmissiondatatodeterminecomorbidity,butalsomentalhealthandalcoholanddrugtreatmentdata,whichhavenotbeenstudiedbytheTACbefore.TheinvestigatorsonthisprojectareDrJannekeBerecki-Gisolf,DrTrevorAllenandDrSaraLiu.

In2017,linkedTAC-VAEDdatawassuccessfullyappliedforandobtained,andthefirstreport,detailingTACinjuryoutcomes,wascompletedanddeliveredtotheTAC.Analysisforthenextreport,exploringthelinkeddata,isunderway.Thementalhealthandalcoholanddrugservicedatalinkagehasbeenapprovedandthelinkeddatasetsareexpectedin2018.

Injury Outcomes Research | MUARC Annual Report 2017 23

24 MUARC Annual Report 2017 | Injury Outcomes Research

Injury Outcomes Research | MUARC Annual Report 2017 25

Injury Comorbidity Index Study InSeptember2016,Tharanga(Tara)FernandocommencedherPhDworkonthedatalinkageprojecttitled‘TheInjuryComorbidityIndexStudy’.Thestudy,whichisacollaborationbetweenMUARCandtheDepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,involvesdatalinkageofhospitaltreatedinjuryanddeathdata.ThePhDsupervisorsareDrJannekeBerecki-Gisolf,DrStuartNewsteadandDrZahidAnsari.

TheincidenceandprevalenceofinjuryandchronichealthconditionsareontheriseinAustralia.ThisstudybuildsontheconceptsusedintheCharlsonComorbidityIndex(CCI)toquantifytheeffectofcomorbidityonoutcomes.TheCCIisnowdated(duetoadvancementinmedicalsciences)andpresentsvariouslimitations,includinglimitedapplicability.

ThepurposeofthisPhDstudyistodevelopandvalidatenewindicestoassesstheimpactofcomorbidityoninjuryoutcomesandcomparetheperformanceofthenewindiceswiththeCCI,usingAustralianadministrativedatasetsanddatalinkage.Theoutcomesofinterestaremortality,readmissiontohospital,lengthofstayinhospital,hospitalcosts,complications,useofcriticalcareservicesandtheneedforlong-termnursingcare.Thenewcomorbidityindiceswillbeusedtodevelopscaleswhichpredictthelikelihoodoftheseinjuryoutcomesandwillbebeneficialtoepidemiologicalresearch,clinicalcareincludingriskstratificationofpatientsathospitaladmissionandplanningofhealthandsocialservices.

Thestudyisprogressingwell;theVictorianandNewSouthWaleslinkeddatasetwasreceivedin2017.DatalinkageapplicationtoWesternAustraliawassuccessfulandethicsapprovalobtained.Draftingofthefirsttwopapersforthisthesisarecurrentlyunderway.

Occupational rehabilitation TheoccupationalrehabilitationcollaborativeendeavourbetweenDrDianneSheppardfromMUARC,AssociationProfessorGeorgiaHalkettfromCurtinUniversity,andDorothyFrostfromIPARRehabilitationmadesignificantprogressin2017.

AfterbeingawardedaCancerCouncilVictoriaresearchvacationstudentship,theteamsecuredagrantforatwo-yearprojectfromtheNationalBreastCancerFoundation(NBCF).Thisgrant,willallowthemtoworkonaprojectcalled‘Testingthefeasibilityofasupportinterventionfortransitioningbackto‘good’workfollowingbreastcancer’.Thereturntoworksupportinterventionaimstoidentifyandmodifytheimpactofbiopsychosocialandworkplacefactorsthatcouldhindertransitioningtogood,sustainableworkforbreastcancersurvivors.Apilotimplementationofthefeasibilitystudyisalreadyunderwaywiththefirstparticipantscomingthroughtheprograminearly2018.TheNBCF-fundedprojectwillenableDrSheppard’steamtodevelopandevaluateanovel,innovative,multimodalprogramtosupportthosewhohavebeendiagnosedwithbreastcancertooptimisetheirwellnessandqualityoflifethoughparticipationinworkthatistailoredtotheirspecificneeds.

Injury recovery appIn2016,DrSheppard,begancollaborativeworkonpromotingactiveandself-managedrecoveryforpeoplewithmildtomoderateinjuriesfollowingamotorvehicleaccident.

Theinjuryrecoveryappisnowinprototype(beta)stage,withtrialimplementationplannedforMarchorApril,2018.Theappwillbetrialledwiththetargetpopulationforaperiodofeightmonthsuponwhichfollow-upevaluationdatawillbecollected.Resultsareexpectedtobeavailableinearly2019.

Vacation studentshipDrSheppard,alongwithanoutstandingthirdyearPsychologystudent,AliceMacdonald,wereawardedacancerresearchvacationstudentshipforthesummerperiod2017–2018.Asaresultofthefundedstudentship,Alicespentsixweekspreparingandwritingasystematicreviewontheefficacyofwork-relatedinterventionsforcancersurvivors.

M O N A S H U N I V E R S I T Y D I S A S T E R R E S I L I E N C E I N I T I A T I V E

The impact of climate change demands that everyone becomes more resilient to its outcomes. The Monash University Disaster Resilience Initiative (MUDRI) responds to this challenge with its multidisciplinary team that combines industry and academic experience in emergency public health, anthropology, emergency management, social science and disaster risk reduction. The group comprises Emeritus Professor Frank Archer, Dr Caroline Spencer, Dudley McArdle, Dr Saadia Majeed, Dr Debra Parkinson and Samantha Bailey. Launched in 2012, MUDRI dates back to 2005 where it had its origins in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Research outputsDuring2017,theMUDRIteamworkedonanumberofresearchgrantsandpublications:

Australian Government Attorney General’s Department

NationalEmergencyManagementProgram:Literaturereviewonabottom-upapproachtocommunityresilience.

Women’s Health Goulburn North East and Women’s Health in the North

LiteraturereviewonLong-termDisasterResilience:Whathindersorenablesdisasterresiliencebeyondthefirstthreeyearsofadisaster.ThisprojectwillinformtheNationalConferenceonDiversityinDisasterinApril2018.TheNationalDisasterResilienceGrantSchemefundedtheseprojects.

Community evaluations

Twoevaluations:

• Anevaluationofworkshopsbasedonresponsibleburning-offpracticesforEMTRAIN.

• AnevaluationoftheECHCentreofResiliencefortheEmeraldCommunityHouse.

Research publications

Fivepublications,andtworeportstofunders.OfnotewasTheAustralianInstituteofDisasterResilience’sMonographcalledGenericEmergencyDisasterManagementStandards:AFrameworkforHigherEducationProgramsinEmergencyandDisasterManagementforAustralia,aprojectledbyProfessorGerryFitzGeraldfromtheQueenslandUniversityofTechnology.

Graduate educationIn2017,theMUDRIhigherdegreebyresearchprogramcomprised11studentsintheMastersbyResearchandseveninthePhDprogram.AllMUDRIstudentsremainontrackwithcandidaturemilestoneachievements.

StudentsfrombothcohortsattendedtheannualMUDRIone-dayColloquiumandengagedwithnationalleadersinthefield.MUDRIcelebrateditsfirstMasterssubmission:DudleyMcArdle’sthesisonprofessionalisminemergencymanagement.

MUDRIalsowelcomed23courseworkstudentsfromtheMasterofInternationalDevelopmentPracticeandMasterofNursingduringtheyear.WeparticularlyappreciatedthecontinuedacademicandprofessionalsupportfromtheFacultyofArts.FacultystaffprovidedvaluableassistancetoMUDRIandfacilitatedtherestructuringofthetwocurrentMUDRIunitsintoareviseddoubleunit‘Guidingprinciplesforprofessionalsengagedindisastersandhumanitariancrises’,whichwillbeimplementedin2018.

26 MUARC Annual Report 2017 | Monash University Disaster Resilience Initiative

Monash University Disaster Resilience Initiative | MUARC Annual Report 2017 27

Major lectures ProfessorGerryFitzGerald,ProfessorofPublicHealthandDirectoroftheCentreforDisasterandEmergencyManagementatQueenslandUniversityofTechnology,presentedthe12thAnnualProfessor‘Skip’BurkleJnrKeynoteLecture,titled‘EmergencyandDisasterManagementinAustralia:Aframeworkandstandardsforhighereducationproviders’.ThiswasahighlightofMUDRI’syear.

ThethirdClaireZaraMemorialLecturewasheldatthe2017EmergencyServicesFoundationNationalConference.MaryBarry,theCEOofOurWatch,anorganisationthataimstopreventallformsofviolenceagainstwomenandtheirchildren,presentedthekeynotepresentationtitled‘WhyGenderEqualityisImportantinEmergencyServices’.

Global reachTheinternationalexposureofMUDRIcontinuedtogrow.MUDRIstaffmadetwopresentationsattheWorldCongressforDisasterandEmergencyMedicineinToronto,Canada.Twopostgraduatestudentspresentedthreepresentationsatthisconference.

EmeritusProfessorFrankArchercontinuedasamemberoftheWorldAssociationforDisasterandEmergencyManagement’s(WADEM)PrehospitalandDisasterMedicineEditorialBoard.DrCarolineSpencerwasre-electedtoherroleontheWADEMRegionalOceaniaChapterCouncilandwasappointedtotheWADEMEditorialBoard.JoeCuthbertsoncontinuedtoco-chairtheWADEMEMSSectionandwaselectedasChairoftheOceaniaChapterCouncil,andtotheWADEMBoard.

FrankArcherandCarolineSpencervisitedMUDRIAlumniinHonoluluandChristchurch.

MUDRIcontinueditsexcitingnewcollaborationwiththeUniversityofGreenwich,London.Theunitwillundertakeresearchonusingcomputersupporttoincreasecommunity-basedresilienceandpreparednessintheeventofanunexpectedemergency.

Professional outreach TheprofessionaloutreachofMUDRIincluded:

• ReviewoftheNationalCommunityRecoveryManualmanagedbytheAustralianInstituteofDisasterResilience.

• MembershipoftheGenderandDisasterPod,inpartnershipwithWomen’sHealthGoulburnNorthEastandWomen’sHealthintheNorth.

• MembershipoftheNationalEmergencyManagementEducationAlliance,hostedbytheAustralianGovernmentAttorneyGeneral’sDepartment.

Launchedin2015,theMUDRI/EmergencyManagementVictoriaCompendiumonCommunity-BasedResilienceCaseStudies,afirstinAustralia,continuedtogrowstronglyin2017.MUDRIcollatedcasestudiestohelpcommunitiesdeveloptheirresilience,particularlyinthesettingofdisastersandemergencies.ResilientMelbourneincludesthisprojectinitsStrategyasameanstoscale-upresilience.

Awards and achievementsTheprestigiousMaryFranMyersInternationalAwardwaspresentedtoDrDebraParkinsononbehalfofabroadgenderanddisastercollaboration,whichincludedtheresearchers(DebandthelateClaireZara,aformerPhDCandidateatMUDRI),theGenderandDisasterPod(SusieReidofWomen’sHealthGoulburnNorthEast;HelenRiseboroughofWomen’sHealthIntheNorth;andEmeritusProfessorFrankArcherofMUDRI),EmergencyManagementVictoria,theDepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,theGenderandDisasterTaskforceandthecommunity.

TheInternationalGenderinDisasterNetworkpresentedthisannualaward.TheawardacknowledgestheleadershipoftheteamassociatedwiththeVictorianWildFiresof2009andsubsequentriskresilienceinitiatives,butalsothecollaborativeworkacrossresearchersandpractitionersbasedatwomen’shealthNGOs,MonashUniversity,emergencymanagementandhealthprotectionorganisationsinVictoria.TheawardrecognisestheimportantVictorian-basedresearchinthefieldofgenderanddisaster,theinnovativecollaborationandthesustainedwaytheteamaddressedissuesoflocal,nationalandinternationalsignificance.

SaadiaMajeedacceptedaFellowshipintotheinternationalIntegratedResearchonDisasterRisk(IRDR)YoungScientistsProgramme.IRDRisadecade-longresearchprogramcosponsoredbytheInternationalCouncilforScience,theInternationalSocialScienceCouncilandtheUnitedNationsOfficeforDisasterRiskReduction.TheAcademyofScienceshoststhisprograminChina.

DrCarolineSpencergraduatedfromtheyear-longRiversandRangesCommunityLeadershipProgram(RRCLP).ModelledonothersuccessfulVictorianleadershipprograms,thisprogramtakesparticipantsthroughaten-monthtransformationallearningexperience.Theprogramgivesparticipantsexposureandconnectionstocommunity,stateandfederalleaders,takingleadersonajourneyofpersonaldiscoveryandusingtheprinciplesofcommunitycapacityandresiliencebuilding.RRCLP’svision‘developsleadershiptobuildresilient,connectedandthrivingcommunities’.

MUDRI @ MUARCMUDRIagaincontributedtoMUARCin2017andwewouldliketothankthestaffwhochampionedthegroup’ssuccesses.MUDRI’sstrengthliesinitspeopleandnetwork;itisstrongerforhavingtheirsupportasitcontinuesitsmissiontobuildtheresilienceofmanycommunitiesinthefaceofunexpectedemergencyevents.

28 MUARC Annual Report 2017 | PhD and MPhil Candidates

P H D A N D M P H I L C A N D I D A T E S

The graduate research program continued to provide a vibrant research environment for MUARC’s PhD, Masters and Honours/vacation students in 2017. Our graduate students undertake transformative and interdisciplinary research that is at the forefront of finding sustainable, social, economic, environmental and technical solutions to eliminating injury. Their research topics align with MUARC’s priority to provide the scientific evidence that underpins the prevention and management of injury across the full range of injury types and mechanisms within transport, workplace, home and community settings.

Ourgraduatestudentcohortremainedstrongthroughout2017.Atthecommencementof2017,wehadatotalof42students(29PhDand13MPhil).Inaddition,oursupervisorsco-supervisedanadditional13non-MUARCstudents(enrolledinvariousfaculties,MonashMalaysiaandQueenslandUniversityofTechnology).Theyearfinishedwith39students(27PhDand12MPhil).

Student highlights• Wewelcomedonenewstudentin2017:

ReneeStLouis(internationalscholarandrecipientofMonashBlockGrantScholarship).

• MohammedAburummanwasawardedaResearchTrainingProgramscholarship.

• Fivestudentscompletedandgraduatedin2017:JonnyKuo,MaggieTrotter,TimLathlean,AmandaWarmerdam,SaraswathyVenkataraman(MonashMalaysia).

• Ourstudents,includingPhDandMPhilstudents,contributedto18publishedjournalarticlesduring2017.

• Fourstudentssubmittedtheirtheses:MaatjeScheepers,SteveO’Hern,DudleyMcArdle,RisonMuhrison(international).

• IntheThreeMinuteThesis,JianrongQuiwasthewinneroftheMUARCcompetition,andwentontorepresentMUARCintheMonashUniversityfinals.

• MohammedAburummanwasselectedastheStudentRepresentativeontheBoardoftheAustralasianInjuryPreventionNetwork.

• Successfulmilestonescompletions:ConfirmationofCandidature(9),MidCandidatureReview(3),Pre-SubmissionSeminars(5).

• TheMUARCVacationstudentprogramwasalsosuccessfulin2017,attractingfour2016/17andseven2017/18summerand1winterscholarshiprecipients.

• Honoursstudents–1(finalyearPhysiotherapyHonoursstudent)

Other highlightsMUARC’ssecondGraduateResearchWorkshopwasrunin2017.Studentsengagedininteractivepresentationsonwritingskills,librarysearches,studydesignandresearchmethods,andimplementationscienceaswellaswritingsessions.

“ Studying at MUARC is great. There are lots of opportunities to develop skills to help us with our PhDs. Students can attend writing workshops, study design and data analysis seminars and journal club meetings. MUARC also has a number of social events throughout the year for students and staff to get together, making sure we all feel involved in the centre.”

HAYLEY MCDONALD — PHD STUDENT ‘THE CONTRIBUTION OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL IN SERIOUS INJURY CRASHES’

PhD and MPhil Candidates | MUARC Annual Report 2017 29

Front: MS THARANGA (TARA) FERNANDO PhD Candidate

MS HAYLEY MCDONALD PhD Candidate

MS JIANRONG QIU PhD Candidate

MS RENÉE ST. LOUIS PhD Candidate

MR BRENDAN LAWRENCE PhD Candidate

MS ANGELA CLAPPERTON PhD Candidate

Back: ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JENNIE OXLEY Associate Director, Graduate Research

MR NEBOJSA TOMASEVIC PhD Candidate

MS SUZANNE CROSS PhD Candidate

MR MOHAMMED ABURUMMAN PhD Candidate

30 MUARC Annual Report 2017 | PhD and MPhil Candidates

Transport Safety

Name ProjectTitle Supervisors

InamAhmad Criteriaforchildsafetyfeaturesinvehicle. SjaanKoppel|BrianFildes|DavidLogan

SamanthaBuckis Youngdriversandcrashriskfactors–eventdatarecorderssheddingnewlightonspeedingbehaviour. MichaelFitzharris|MikeLenné|AmandaStephens

NimmiCandappa UnderstandingthecrashdynamicsofwireropebarrierinthecontextofSafeSystemideals. BrianFildes|DavidLogan

BelindaClark UnlicenseddrivinginAustralia. StuartNewstead|JennieOxley|MarkStevenson

SuzanneCross ChildreninCars:theroleofin-vehiclebehaviourinchildoccupantprotection. JudeCharlton|SjaanKoppel

AngeloD’Elia Adatasystemframeworkforroadsafetyresearchwithapplications. StuartNewstead|CarlynMuir

MohammadIbrahim Scientificapproachforroadsafetystrategyframework. BrianFildes|DavidLogan

BrendanLawrence Understandingthenatureofunreportedbicycleincidents. JennieOxley|DavidLogan|MarkStevenson

HayleyMcDonald Thecontributionofdrugsandalcoholinseriousinjurycrashes. JannekeBerecki-Gisolf|StuartNewstead|KarenStephan

StevenO’Hern Evaluationofevidence-basedinfrastructureforsafercycling. JennieOxley|MarkStevenson

JianrongQiu Exploringtheroadsafetyimpactsofbussafetyinspections. DavidLogan|JennieOxley|ChristopherLowe

ReneeSt.Louis Impactofchangesinhealthandfunctionalimpairmentsondrivingpatternsofolderadults. JudeCharlton|SjaanKoppel

NebojsaTomasevic Investigationoftransfercontrolfromautomatedvehiclestothedriver. TimHorberry|BrianFildes|KristieYoung

JessicaTruong Safesystemsandsafetyculture–HowtomoveTowardsZero. IanJohnston|StuartNewstead

LukeValenza Olderpassengersandfallsintrams. JudeCharlton|JennieOxley|SelbyCoxon

Workplace Safety

Name ProjectTitle Supervisors

MohammedAburumman Asafetyculturetranslationtoolkit:Guidingindustryincreatingasaferworkingenvironment. SharonNewnam|BrianFildes

IvanCikara Hasthe‘ChainofResponsibility’legislationimprovedroadtransportsafety? SharonNewnam|SjaanKoppel

Sarah-LouiseDonovan SafetyCultureandleadership:Examiningtheinfluencesforimprovedsafetyoutcomesinhighriskorganisations. TimHorberry|MikeLenné|PaulSalmon

MaatjeScheepers Evaluationofapsychosocialscreeninalargeinjurycompensationorganisation. DiSheppard|SharonNewnam|MeaghanO’Donnell

RaphaelaSchnittker Applicationofcognitivesystemsengineeringinanaesthesia:Developingandevaluatingadecision-makingsupporttoolforairwaymanagement. StuartMarshall|TimHorberry|KristieYoung

AmandaWarmerdam Work-relateddriversafety:Amulti-levelinvestigation. SharonNewnam|DiSheppard|MarkStevenson

P H D S A N D M P H I L S

PhD and MPhil Candidates | MUARC Annual Report 2017 31

Safety in the Home and Community

Name ProjectTitle Supervisors

JanneBowen Buildingandstrengtheningresilienceincommunitiespriortoemergencies. FrankArcher|CarolineSpencer

JoanneBriggs QualityprojectevaluationoftheArmyAboriginalCommunityAssistanceProgramfromamilitaryparticipantperspective. FrankArcher|LeanneBoyd

AngelaClapperton Victoriansuicides:Investigatingthepresenceandnatureofmentalillnessandexploringpathwaystosuicide. StuartNewstead|JanePirkis|LyndalBugeja

JohnColeman Doescollaborativeplanningforgeneralpracticescontributetoamoreresilientemergencyresponse? FrankArcher|CarolineSpencer

JosephCuthbertson Disasterriskandthesocialdeterminantsofhealth. FrankArcher|JoseRodriguez|AndrewRobertson

SusanDavie HowpreparedisAustraliatoprotectchildreninemergencies? FrankArcher|EvaAlisic|NoelCranswick

CraigFerguson Recentmajornationalnaturaldisastershaveidentifiedinadequaciesincrisisleadershipattheincidentcontrollevel. FrankArcher|TonyPearce

TharangaFernando Theinjurycomorbidityindexstudy. JannekeBerecki-Gisolf|StuartNewstead|MohammadAnsari

FrancesHaire AnalysingperceptionsoffloodsinAustraliatoinformbehaviourchange. FrankArcher|DougPaton|DeanneBird

RogerJones Developingapracticaltooltohelpindividualsandcommunitiesinassessingandmanagingemergencyrisk. FrankArcher|CarolineSpencer

RavathiKrishna AcrossculturalcomparisonofChildCentredDisasterRiskReduction(CC-DRR)strategiesinIndiaandAustralia. EvaAlisic|KevinRonan

TimLathlean Trainingloads,playerwellnessandinjuryriskinelitejuniorAustralianfootballplayers. CarolineFinch|StuartNewstead|PaulGastin

DudleyMcArdle Australia’semergencymanagers–towardsprofessionalisation. FrankArcher|CarolineSpencer|F(Skip)Burkle

HeatherMoody HumanitarianguidelinesandframeworkswithintheAustraliandisastermanagementcontext. CarolineSpencer|CarlynMuir

BiancaOlstein AcomparativestudyoftheemergencyresponsetomasscasualtyincidentsanddisastersbetweenIsraelandAustralia. FrankArcher|GeorgeBraitberg

MatthewPepper Disasterresilienceandemergencyresponse. FrankArcher|F(Skip)Burkle

SureshPokharel Multiplestressesandurbanvulnerability:Whyandhowbuildingresiliencyshouldbeafocus. FrankArcher|F(Skip)Burkle

MarkPotter Examiningtheresponseandrecoveryinterfacewiththeaimofimprovingcommunityresilience. FrankArcher|GregLeach

AdamPoulter Professionalisationoftheinternationalhumanitarianworkforce–whatarethebarriersandopportunities. FrankArcher|F(Skip)Burkle

FionaRoberts InvestigationintomeasuringDisasterResilienceandRecovery. FrankArcher|CarolineSpencer

KateWhite Aninvestigationofthechangingnatureof‘communityresilience’asacontemporaryissueintheVictorianemergencymanagementsectorforsharedunderstandingandsharedresponsibility. FrankArcher|CarolineSpencer

DianaWong DisasterHealthEvaluation. CarolineSpencer|FrankArcher|LeanneBoyd

32 MUARC Annual Report 2017 | Regulation and In-depth Crash Investigation Unit

R E G U L A T I O N A N D I N - D E P T H C R A S H I N V E S T I G A T I O N

The Regulation and In-Depth Crash Investigation (RICI) team is interested in matters relating to road and vehicle safety regulations; we consider how decisions are made, formulated and supported through evidence-based science. Our unit, led by Associate Professor Michael Fitzharris, creates comprehensive in-depth crash data, in addition to data from hospitals, police and compensation systems to identify safety concerns.

In2017,RICIconcentratedonseveralresearchprojectsaddressingnumerousroadsafetyissueswithinfivespecificthemes:

• Alcoholanddrug-driving

• Driverbehaviour:anger,aggressionandspeed

• Motorcyclesafetyresearch

• Technologytoaddressdriverfatigueanddistraction

New projects in 2017Analysis of crashes on Transurban Roads

WewerecommissionedbyTransurbantoexaminetheroadsafetyperformance,withrespecttocrashes,ofroadsownedandoperatedbythecompany.Thestudywillexaminecrashdataacrossthreestates:Victoria,NewSouthWalesandQueensland.Weexpecttohaveresultsreadyin2018.

Monash Alfred Injury Network collaboration

Weledthedevelopmentofaprojectaimedatimprovingpost-crashsurvivaloutcomesbyoptimisingacuteemergencycaresystems,whichisapartnershipwiththeMonashAlfredInjuryNetwork(MAIN).

FundedbytheMonashUniversityInterdisciplinaryResearchgrantscheme,theworkwillfocusonidentifyinghowcrashnotificationtechnologyandacutecarecanbeoptimisedsoastoprovidepeopleinjuredinroadcrashesthebestchanceforsurvivalandrecovery.

Theprojectinvolvesadesktopreviewofkeyelementsofpost-crashtraumacaresystems,andwillthendocumentpracticesinAustralia,Vietnam,Malaysia,IndiaandMyanmar.Theoverarchinggoalistoidentifyhowimprovementsinpost-crashcarecanbeimplementedwithaviewtoreducingthenumberofdeathsinthesecountries.

Theprojectwillbegininearnestin2018.ItinvolvespartnersfromtheSchoolofPublicHealthandPreventiveMedicine(ProfessorPeterCameron),DepartmentofSurgery,CentralClinicalSchool,TheAlfred(ProfessorMarkFitzgerald),DepartmentofCommunityEmergencyHealthandParamedicPractice(AssociateProfessorBrettWilliams),andMUARC(ProfessorJudeCharltonandAssociateProfessorFitzharris).

Achievements

DrSaraLiuwasawardedherDPsych(Clinical),andwasratifiedasaRegisteredClinicalPsychologistbytheAustralianHealthPractitionerRegulationAgency.CongratulationstoSara.

Regulation and In-depth Crash Investigation Unit | MUARC Annual Report 2017 33

Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs

Thefirstofourfivemajorthemesfor2017wasalcoholanddrug-driving,andweperformedsignificantresearchworkinthisarea.

Drug-driving

Inthefieldofdrug-driving,wecontinuedourstudycalledDrug-driving:improvingourunderstandingofriskandmotivationfordrivingafteruseofillicitsubstances.TheprojectisfundedundertheMUARCBaselineprogram.

In2017,wecontinuedtofocusonareviewofcurrentliteratureondrug-drivingandcrashrisks.WealsoconductedinterviewswithspecialistsinthedrugandalcoholfieldinmetropolitanandruralVictoriaonissuessurroundingdrug-drivingbehaviour,withaviewtoprevention.

Weupdatedouranalysisofdrug-drivingdata,includingresearchonthedrivingbehaviourofknowndrug-usinggroupsthroughourcollaborationwithProfessorPaulDietzeatTheBurnettInstitute.

Ourworkinthisareacontinuesin2018,asweprepareforaVictoria-wideAlcohol,illicitdrugandprescriptionmedicationsurvey.

Alcohol and drink-driving behaviour

Theteamexploredarangeofissuesconcerningalcoholconsumptionpatternsanddrink-driving,withanemphasisontheacceptabilityofalcoholinterlocksystems.

Weundertookresearchintodrinkingpatterns,includingalcoholdependencyandbinge-drinking,anddrink-drivingrelatedrisks.

Wepresentedatconferencesandpublishedanumberofpapersonthistopic,whichappearedinAccidentAnalysisandPreventionaswellasAustralasianRoadSafetyConference.

Driver behaviour: driver anger, aggression, speed and mindfulnessDriver aggression and speed

Wecontinuedourresearchintodriverbehaviour,usingcommunity-basedsurveydatatoconcentrateparticularlyonaggressionandspeed.

MembersofourteampresentedapaperattheAustralasianRoadSafetyconferenceinPerth.Inthispaper,wereportedondatafromanationalsurveyconductedin2014pertainingtotheprevalenceofself-reportedaggressivebehaviours,takenfromtheDriverBehaviourQuestionnaire.Thisresearchgeneratedconsiderablemediaattention–itwasreportedinTheAge,PracticalMotoring,TheWestAustralianandonABCNewsBreakfast,3AWbreakfast,ABCGoulburnMurray,TheProject,Channel7News,Channel9News,Channel10News,news.com.au,ABCRadioSydneyandinoronvariousotherprintandbroadcastmedia.

Ourresearchalsoexaminedspeedcomplianceandspeed-relatedbehaviouracrossAustraliaandthreeRICIteammembershadtheirworkonthesubjectpublishedinAccidentAnalysisandPreventionin2017.

International partnerships

Collaborativeresearchintoangryandaggressivedrivingcontinuedin2017withinternationalcollaboratorsfromCranfieldUniversityintheUK,MiddleEastTechnicalUniversityinCyprusandtheFrenchArmedForcesBiomedicalResearchInstituteinFrance.

Thisworkfocusedonindividualcharacteristicsassociatedwithself-reportedangryandaggressivedriving,suchasgenderrolesandappraisaltendencies.WecollecteddatafromdriversinUkraineandFranceandthestudyresultedinthreepublications:‘DriverangerinFrance:therelationshipsbetweensex,genderroles,traitandstatedrivingangerandappraisalsmadewhiledriving’,‘Genderroles,sexandtheexpressionofdrivinganger,and‘GenderrolesandtheexpressionofdrivingangeramongUkrainiandrivers’.

Mindfulness and driving

Ourteambegananinvolvementinthemindfulnessanddrivingproject,whichcommencedin2017.LedbyDrSjaanKoppelfromtheBehaviouralScienceforTransportSafetyunitatMUARC,thecollaborationalsoinvolvesDrAmandaStephens(RICI),KristieYoung(HumanFactors),DrCraigHassedandDrRichardChambers.

Weconductedasurveyinvestigatingtherelationshipsbetweenmindfulnesspracticesandaberrantdrivingbehaviours.Theresultsshowedthatincreasedmindfulnessisassociatedwithreductionsindrivinganger,aggressionanddistraction.Onepaperfromthisproject–‘Whatistherelationshipbetweenaberrantdrivingbehaviours,mindfulnessandself-reportedcrashesandinfringements?’–hasbeenacceptedforpublicationinTrafficInjuryPreventionandtwofurtherpapersareunderreview.

ThisprogramisbeingdevelopedfurtherthroughtheawardofMUARCseedfunding.ThiswillfacilitatedevelopmentofanARClinkageproposaltoexploretheassociationsbetweenmindfulnesspracticesanddrivingbehaviour,aggressionanddistractioninsimulatedandreal-worldconditions.

Motorcycle researchOurcollaborationwithDrJulieBrownatNeuroscienceResearchAustralia(NeuRA)onthesafetyofmotorcycleclothingcontinued.Thisworkfocusedonassessmentprotocolsformotorcycleclothingstandards,andresultedintwopublishedpapers,inTheJournalofSafetyResearchandTrafficInjuryPrevention.

FollowingtheAustRoadsMotorcycleIn-depthCrashStudyledbyNeuRA,researchcontinuedintoriderbehaviour,riskfactorsandcrashes.ThisledtothepublicationofapaperinAccidentAnalysisandPrevention.Thestudyfoundthat,overall,ridersreportedrelativelysafebehaviours;theyfrequentlyusedprotectivegearandinfrequentlyengagedinaberrantbehaviour.However,eventhoughinfrequent,violationsofspeedanderrorsrelatedtocontrolofthemotorcycleincreasedtheriskofhavinganearcrash,andperformingstunt-typebehaviourswasclearlyassociatedwithcrashes.Thisworkpointstoarangeofinterventionsneededtoimprovethesafetyofmotorcyclesandreduceinvolvementincrashes.

34 MUARC Annual Report 2017 | Regulation and In-depth Crash Investigation Unit

ResearchonourAustralianResearchCouncilDiscoverymotorcycleprotectiveequipmentprogramintensifiedin2017.AfteranupgradetotheMUARCmotorcyclesimulator,weconductedanexperimenttoassesstheeffectsofheatstressonmotorcycleperformanceandsafetywithtenmotorcycleriders.Theridersweretestedontwooccasions,firstwithnormalgearandtemperature,thenfor60minutesattemperatures1.5degreeswarmer.Analysiswillcontinuein2018andwillfocusonanysafety-relatedperformancedecrements.

MUARCcontinuestoparticipateinthemulti-yearEUCOSTAction,knownasSafeTwoWheelers.MeetingswereheldthroughouttheyearinEurope.JointworkwithAssociateProfessorJulieBrownandDrLaurenMeredithfromNeuRAandProfessorNigelTaylorfromtheUniversityofWollongongonMotorcycleprotectiveclothing,crashprotection,thermalstrainandriderperformancewaspresentedattheSafe2WheelersworkshoponprotectivegarmentsheldinPlzentheCzechRepublic.

Driver fatigue and distraction In2016weenteredintopartnershipwithSeeingMachines,aCanberra-basedcompanyfocussedoncreatingstate-of-the-artdrivermonitoringsystems.SeeingMachinestechnologyassessesdriverfatigueanddistractioninreal-time.MUARCworkedwithSeeingMachinesontwocollaborativeprogramsin2017:

In-vehicle technology and the assessment of driver fatigue

SeeingMachinescommissionedMUARCtoconductanevaluationoftheeffectivenessofthereal-worldperformanceoftheirdriver-statemonitoringsystemfittedtovehiclesinalarge-scalecommercialtransportfleetinAustralia.Usingfiveyearsofdata,theresearchhighlightedthebenefitsofprovidingreal-timefeedbacktodrivers,andtothecompanyitself.Reductionsintherateoffatigueeventsinexcessof90percentwerefound.Drivershadfewerfatigueevents,andwhentheydidoccurtheywereofshorterduration.Theyalsooccurredmuchlaterintoeachtrip.

ThefindingsoftheresearchwerepresentedbyAssociateProfessorMichaelFitzharrisatthe25thInternationalTechnicalConferenceontheEnhancedSafetyofVehiclesinDetroit(USA)inJune2017.AteamofourresearchersalsopublishedapaperinTrafficInjuryPrevention:‘Therelativeimportanceofreal-timein-cabandexternalfeedbackinmanagingfatigueinreal-worldcommercialtransportoperations’.

Development of driver state sensing systems

TheAdvancedSafeTruckConcept,fundedundertheAustralianGovernmentCooperativeResearchCentresProgrammes,commencedinearnest.TheprojectisapartnershipinvolvingSeeingMachines,RonFinemoreTransportandMUARC–includingRICIandtheHumanFactorsteam.Inlate2017,VolvoTrucksAustraliajoinedtheconsortium.ProgrammanagementmeetingsrotatedthroughCanberra,WodongaandMelbourne.

Theprogramhasanumberofelements.In2017,literaturereviewswerecompletedonstate-of-the-artassessmentofdriverfatigue,distractionandworkload.Atthesametime,theprogramteamdevelopedadriverstatemonitoringsystemthatincorporatesanassessmentofdriverphysiologyandothermeasures.Themonitoringplatformintegratesmultipletechnologies,includingwearables.Thegoalistomonitorthedriverinarestedandafatiguedstatewithaviewtoidentifyingearlyindicationsoffatigue.SafetyperformanceisconcurrentlyassessedusingMUARC’sadvancedcardrivingsimulatorfacility,aswellasAustralia’sfirsttrucksimulator.

ApresentationwasgivenabouttheprogramattheAustralianRoadSafetyConferenceinPerth.

TechnicalworkcommencedontherolloutofthetechnologyinAustralia’sfirston-roadnaturalistictruckstudy.Thisprogramisongoingandwillcontinuethroughto2019.

Regulation and In-depth Crash Investigation Unit | MUARC Annual Report 2017 35

MR TOM BEHRENDT Technical Officer

DR SARA LIU Research Fellow

MS ANNA MAGENNIS Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Officer

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MICHAEL FITZHARRIS Associate Director

MS TANDY POK Project Coordinator

MS SUJANIE PEIRIS Research Assistant

MS NATALIE SEETO Research Assistant

36 MUARC Annual Report 2017 | Regulation and In-depth Crash Investigation Unit

Enhanced Crash Investigation Study – continued progressLedbyChiefInvestigatorAssociateProfessorMichaelFitzharris,theEnhancedCrashInvestigationStudy(ECIS)seekstoprovidetheTransportAccidentCommission(TAC)withevidence-basedroadsafetycountermeasureoptions.OuroverarchingaimistotargetandreducethenumberofseriousinjurycrashesinVictoria.

OurteamcomprisesAustralian-basedInvestigatorsProfessorMikeLennéandDrBruceCorben,whileinternationalInvestigatorsincludeAssociateProfessorDianaBowmanfromArizonaStateUniversityintheUSA,ProfessorAndrewMorrisfromLoughboroughUniversityintheUKandProfessorClayGablerfromVirginiaTechintheUSA.

In2017wefocusedoncaseclosureanddatavalidationforall408casesinthestudy.Thisbroughtasignificantelementofthestudytoanendand,inJanuary2018,wesaidfarewelltoanumberofmembersoftheteamwhomadeaninvaluablecontributioninthisarea:

• MrRobinJackel(Controlsites)

• MrRaiCurry(Crashvehicleinspector)

• MrGeoffRayner(Crashvehicleinspector)

• MissNicolaElliott(ResearchNurse)

• MissKathrynJoseph(ResearchNurse)

• MissKarenVlok(ResearchNurse)

• MrsDebraJudd(DataOfficer)

• MrPaulRibas(DataOfficer)

Wethankthemgreatlyfortheirenormouslyimportantwork.

Regulation and In-depth Crash Investigation Unit | MUARC Annual Report 2017 37

ECIS crash reconstruction work Thereconstructionofthereal-worldECIScrashescontinued,withafocusonunderstandingcrashdynamicsandimpactspeed.TheteamhassignificanttechnicalcapacityintheuseofCADsoftware(Rhinoceros5andMicroStationV8i)andcrashreconstructionsoftware(PC-CrashandHVE),allowingrobustcrashreconstructionstobeperformedoneachcase.

Significantworkonensuringourmethodsarestate-of-the-artwasundertaken.Asignificantreportonthevalidationofourmethodsagainstdatacapturedfromvehicle‘blackboxes’,orEventDataRecorders(EDRs),wasfinalised.Thisensuresourcrashreconstructionmethodsarevalidatedagainstgoldstandardmeasures.

Anexampleofthepracticalapplicationofourworkisseenthroughexaminingalternativeintersectiontreatmentsatruralcross-roads.Thisworkfocusedonimprovingsafetyatintersectionsthroughdesignmodificationsandassessingtheimpactsofdifferentspeedlimits.

MUARC collaborations on published research papersDuringtheyear,ECISpartneredwithotherMUARCunits,aswellasinstitutionsandorganisationsoutsideMonashUniversity,toconductresearchandproduceresearchpapers:

Behavioural Science for Transport Safety team

DrStephensworkedincollaborationwiththeBehaviouralScienceteamandusedlongitudinaldatafromtheDriverBehaviourQuestionnairetoexamineolderdriversparticipatingintheOzcandrivestudy.TheresearchwaspublishedinAccident,AnalysisandPrevention.

Human Factors in Transport and Workplace Safety team

DrStephensworkedincollaborationwiththeHumanFactorsteamandpublisheddatafromtwoprojectswhichhavenowended.ThesewerethesimulatorcomponentoftheVicRoadsIntersectiondesignstudyaswellastheiOMroadsideadvertisingstudy.Theworkresultedintwopublishedpapers,oneinAccidentAnalysisandPreventionandanotherinAppliedErgonomics.

Interstate and international collaboration

DrStephensalsocontinuedtoworkinpartnershipwithresearchersfromoutsideMonashandoutsideAustralia.In2017twopaperswerepublishedrepresentingthesecollaborativeeffortswithpartnersfromCairnmillarInstitute,AustralianCatholicUniversity,MassyUniversity(NewZealand)andNottinghamTrentUniversity(UK).TheywerepublishedinErgonomicsandTrafficInjuryPreventionrespectively.

External engagement Ourteamwasengagedinanumberofotheractivities,throughoutAustraliaandtheworld:

• WeprovidedtechnicalinputsintotheMotorVehicleAccidentFundofNamibiathroughtheir2015MVAFundAnnualCrashReport.

• AssociateProfessorFitzharris:

WasaninvitedkeynotespeakerattheVictoriaPolice2017TowardsZeroconference,‘PolicingInnovationandFutureDirections’.

PresentedaninvitedworkshoponSafeSystemstotheQueenslandDepartmentofTransportandMainRoads,heldinBrisbane.

Presentedatthe2017RoadPolicingIntelligenceForumonthesubjectofbehaviouralissuesindrivingandcrashrisk.

WasaninvitedspeakeratMediaCom’sComX,aneventcoveringtechnology,innovationandcreativity.

ParticipatedintheWorldHealthOrganizationWesternPacificRegionEnforcementTrainingProgram,deliveredbyMUARC.Thesubjectwasalcoholinterlocks,drugdrivingcrashrisksandenforcement.

PresentedattheMUARCRoadSafetyManagementLeadershipPrograms(heldinMayandNovember),onthetopicofinsurancecompensationschemesandroadsafetyinvestment.

• WeengagedwithVictoriaPoliceonheavyvehiclesafetyandroadpolicingstrategyintheareasofheavyvehiclesafety,andonprojectssuchastheVictoriaPoliceCentre,WorldTradeCentre,OptimisationofVictoriaPoliceRoadPolicingServiceDeliveryModelandtheVictoriaPoliceComplex.

38 MUARC Annual Report 2017 | Road Safety Management Leadership Program

R O A D S A F E T Y M A N A G E M E N T L E A D E R S H I P P R O G R A MSinceitsinceptionin2012,MUARC’sRoadSafetyManagementLeadershipProgramhashelpedtodevelopandnurturethenextgenerationofroadsafetyleaders.Programparticipantsincludeseniormanagersfromnationalandinternationalroadagencies,aswellasgovernmentandpoliceorganisationswhosechallengewillbetoachieveimprovementsinroadsafetyperformanceoverthecomingdecades.

Overthelastsixyears,MUARChastrainedmorethan176programparticipantsfromalloverAustraliaandtheworld.

In2017,theProgramwasofferedinbothMayandNovemberatMonashfacilitiesinMelbourne’sCBD.MUARChostedseniorprofessionalsfromroadsafetyagenciesinIndonesiaandSouthAfrica,alongsidemembersoftheVictoriaandWesternAustralianPolice,theCommonwealthDepartmentofInfrastructureandRegionalDevelopment,theQueenslandDepartmentofTransportandMainRoads,VicRoadsandtheTransportAccidentCommission.

TheProgramdrawsontheexpertiseoftheMonashresearchteamaswellasitsstrongpartnerships.ParticipantsgainfromtheinsightsofleadingglobalspecialistsinvariousfieldsfromtheUniversityofAdelaide’sCentreforAutomotiveResearchandAustralianRoadResearchBoard,andtheMelbourneBusinessSchool.

Contentofthisyear’sProgramsaddressedtheroadsafetychallengesfacedbyleadersacrosstheglobe.Presenterswithextensiveinternationalexperienceofferedformalpresentationsandinteractivecasestudies,andparticipantsengagedinworkandpaneldiscussionsconductedoverfivedays.

AmongthemanytopicscoveredbytheProgramwere:

• saferoadsandroadsides• safespeeds• safevehicles• deterrenceandenforcement• roaduserbehaviour• leadershipchallengesinroadsafetymanagement.

Participantswereaskedtoconsiderquestionsrelatedtoeachtopic,amongthem:

• “Whatprogressisyourorganisationmakinginthisarea?”• “Whatarethebestopportunitiesthatexistnow,

orthatyoucouldworktowards?”• “Whatdoyouneedinordertotaketheseopportunities?”• “Whatarethebiggestbarrierstosuccess?”• “Howcanthesebarriersbeovercome?”

TheProgramchallengedparticipantstoconsidernotonlythesciencethatunderpinsroadsafetysolutionsbutalsotheleadershipimplicationsforimplementingstrategies.

“ It’s been really great. The diversity, different cultures and different people who have come together from the different agencies – and how we all face similar problems and how it’s so essential that we are co-dependent on each other to get the outcomes that we need – it’s been really highlighted. That’s just been the single greatest take away for me.”

“ The latest research and the contemporary issues in relation to enforcement, and the safe systems and how we can directly influence a lot of our partners, from a policing perspective has been really, really important. It also enables me to provide that evidence-based research to back-up that influence. I think that’s the biggest thing I’ll take away and share with a lot of my partners.”

“ I would suggest and recommend that anybody in this field in a leadership role should definitely attend. They will take back information that will help them save people’s lives.”

NARELLE BEER — VICTORIA POLICE SUPERINTENDENT

“ It’s really good to see a broad, cross-section of different organisations with road safety at the forefront of their minds not just learning about the safe system approach, but learning how to spread that knowledge amongst our own workplaces and influence others.”

“ For me personally, the adaptive leadership process was quite enlightening and something that I think I’ll be able to take back and use in my workplace in a number of different aspects.”

“ For people that haven’t had exposure to safe systems, how it works and what the benefits of it are, I would highly recommend that they come and do this program.”

RYAN IRWIN — VICTORIA POLICE INSPECTOR

Road Safety Management Leadership Program | MUARC Annual Report 2017 39

“It’s been great so far. Lots of information… just eye-opening.”

“ My goodness, every day I take something new away. There’s a lot, there’s really a lot. We deal mainly with changing road-user behaviour in my specific area of business, so it’s just a different approach to thinking about road-user behaviour and the techniques one can use in changing road-user behaviour. It’s a lot broader than what we’ve been looking at up to now. So that’s definitely something I’ll take back with me. In general, the thinking about the whole safe systems concept and road safety…it’s just a different way of thinking.”

MS PALESA MOALUSI — ROAD TRAFFIC INFRINGEMENT AGENCY, SOUTH AFRICA

“ The program was very good. It’s good to learn about the concerns of delegates from other countries. The safe system approach is an eye-opener for them. We in VicRoads have already started taking the safe system approach on board, however, the program has provided a lot of additional valuable information to us.”

AURA DIMACALI — SENIOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, METROPOLITAN NORTH WEST REGION, VICROADS

T R A F F I C E N G I N E E R I N G A N D V E H I C L E S A F E T Y

The Traffic Engineering and Vehicle Safety (TEVS) Consortium is made up primarily of research engineers with industry and academic experience in civil and mechanical engineering, as well as safe behaviour. The group comprises Professor Brian Fildes, Dr David Logan and a number of PhD engineers, namely Nimmi Candappa, Brendan Lawrence, Steve O’Hern, Mohammad Nabil Ibrahim, Inam Ahmad, Nebojsa Tomasevic, Mohammed Aburumman and Jianrong (Jocelyn) Qiu.

Supervisors are also key observers within the group, and include Professor Tim Horberry, Associate Professor Jennie Oxley, Dr Sharon Newnam and Dr Sjaan Koppel. The group’s work focuses on the development and evaluation of safe road infrastructure, vehicle design and maintenance, transport modal choice, workplace safety, autonomous vehicles and child restraint.

Industry collaboration TEVShasbeenactiveinprojectworkandincollaboratingwithindustrythroughout2017.DrDavidLogancontinuedhisworkonroadsafetystrategymodellingforVicRoadsandtheTransportAccidentCommission(TAC)aspartoftheTowardsZEROactionplan.TEVSresearchersalsoassistedtheTAConitssafetypromotionandcompletedAdvancedDriverAssistanceSystemevaluationsforAustroads,VicRoadsandEuroNCAP(NewCarAssessmentProgramme).

ThegroupcompletedtheirworkonthefeasibilityofthefutureofprivatetransportinAustralia.TheprojectwasaMonashInfrastructurecollaborationledbyTEVSwithotherMonashpartnersfromMUARC,theMonashInstituteofTransportStudies,MonashArtDesign&Architecture,MonashSustainabilityInstitute(ClimateWorks),SensiLab,andtheMonashFacultyofLaw.Thereportfromthisresearchoutlinesaseriesofpriorityresearchissuesinfuturevehicletechnology.

International researchPreviousresearchinvehiclesafetyintheUAEconductedbymembersofTEVSexaminedtheextentofseverecrashesbymini-busesinthatregionandwhatcouldbedonetoimprovesafety.Asaconsequence,anewsetofvehiclestandardsweredevelopedfornewmini-busesandintroducedintheUAEandassociatedregionsearlyin2017.Whileafullevaluationoftheimpactofthesestandardsisstillrequired,earlylocalreportssuggestsignificantimprovementsinthesafetyofthesevehicleshavebeenachievedalreadyasaconsequenceoftheresearch.

Student Research ProgramsCyclistareinvolvedinagrowingnumberofsevereinjurycrashes.StudentsSteveO’HernandBrendanLawrencefinalisedtheirresearchprogramsinbicyclesafetyundertheguidanceofJennieOxleyandothersduring2017.Thisworkincludedanon-roadstudyofcyclistbehaviouraswellasthedevelopmentofsimulationcapabilitiesforcyclists.

Wire rope barriersResearchonWireRopeBarriersin2017bytheTEVSteamshowedthatwireropebarrierscouldprevent87%reductionsintheriskofbothseriousinjuriesanddeath.Subsequently,theTACandVicRoads’SafeSystemRoadInfrastructureProgramarenowrollingoutwireropebarriersalongVictoria’shigh-riskruralroads.Anin-depthstudyofinjuriesfrommotoristsinvolvedinrunofftheroadcollisionswithWRBisthefocusofresearchbyNimmiCandappainherPhDstudiesprogram.

External engagementProfessorFildescontinuedhisworkasacommitteememberoftheCameraCommissioner’sReferencegroup,theAustralianAutomotiveResearchCentretesttrackdevelopmentCommittee,andasaVisitingProfessoratLoughboroughUniversityintheUK.

40 MUARC Annual Report 2017 | Traffic Engineering and Vehicle Safety

Traffic Engineering and Vehicle Safety | MUARC Annual Report 2017 41

42 MUARC Annual Report 2017 | Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit

V I C T O R I A N I N J U R Y S U R V E I L L A N C E U N I T

Members of the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit (VISU) analyse, interpret and disseminate data relating to the state’s injury-related deaths, hospital admissions and emergency department presentations. These data, which are critical in the prevention of injuries and promotion of safety, are used by government to underpin injury prevention policies and stimulate research. They also prove vital when it comes to developing and evaluating prevention strategies and measures.

The unit also releases data and separate reports for professional and community audiences, including other government departments and agencies of all levels, health and injury prevention organisations, media, business and industry, education institutions, as well as research groups. VISU is supported by the Victorian Government. The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services receives quarterly reports from VISU.

Welcome to Himalaya SinghIn2017,theunitwasjoinedbyHimalayaSingh,aPhDcandidatestudyingwithProfessorCarolineFinchatFederationUniversity.AtVISU,hecommencedaprojecttodeveloponlinemapsofhospital-treatedinjuryincidenceinVictoria,andanonlinetablegeneratorforVictorianhospital-treatedinjurystatistics.

Oncetheprojectiscompletedinearlytomid2019,theseresourceswillbepubliclyavailablethroughtheMUARCwebsite.

15th VISU E-bulletin – Victorian hospital-treated injury, 2015/16Inearly2017,VISUpublishedthe15the-bulletininaseriesthatprovidesanoverviewofVictoria’sinjuryprofile.Thepublicationlookedatdatafromthestatein2015/16,duringwhichtimetherewere103,651hospitaladmissionsand320,150emergencydepartment(ED)presentationsforunintentionalinjuryinVictoria.

Amongthesignificantfindingswere:

• In2015/16maleswereoverrepresentedinhospital-treatedinjurycases,accountingfor55%ofadmissionsand58%ofEDpresentations.

• FallsweretheleadingcauseofinjuryamongadmissionsandEDpresentations,accountingfor46%ofadmissionsand37%ofEDpresentations.

• ThehomewasthemostcommonsettingforinjuryamongadmissionsandEDpresentations:26%ofhospitaladmissionsand40%ofEDpresentations.

• Afracturetoanupperlimbwasthemostcommoninjuryforbothadmissions(18%)andEDpresentations(12%).

16th VISU E-bulletin – Victorian injury deaths, 2013 to 2015Laterin2016,VISUpublishedthe16theditionofthee-bulletin,whichfocusedoninjurydeathsinVictoriabetween2013and2015.Inthisthree-yearperiod7,092Victoriansdiedasaresultofinjury.Themajorityofthesedeathswereunintentional(justunder70%,n=4,949),justunder28%wereintentional(1,962suicidedeathsand143homicidedeaths)andtheremaining2.6%wereclassifiedasundeterminedintent(n=181).

Listedbelowisasummaryofthecentralfindingsfromthereport:

• Theoverallaverageannualinjurydeathratewas40.5per100,000population.

• Maleswereoverrepresented,accountingfor56%ofunintentionalinjurydeaths,75%ofintentionalinjurydeathsand70%ofinjurydeathswithundeterminedintent.

• Threecausescombined–falls(35%),suicide(26%)andtransport(13%)–accountedforapproximatelythreequarters(74%)ofinjurydeaths.

Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit | MUARC Annual Report 2017 43

Hazard – Issues in injury and injury preventionForalmostaslongasMUARChasexisted,VISUhasbeenpublishingHazard,apublicationofferinganalysisofmajororemergingissuesinthefieldofinjuryandinjuryprevention.

Issue 83 – Intentional injuryHazard83,releasedinDecember2017,concentratedonallintentionalinjuries,includingsuicidedeaths,hospitaltreatedintentionalself-harminjury,assaultdeathsandhospitaltreatedassaultinjury.Thepublication,whichfocusedonpersonsaged15yearsandover,reportedthat:

• Therewere348assault-relateddeathsinthisagegroupinVictoria,2006/7to2013/14,anaverageof44peryear.

• In2013/14to2015/16,therewere3,294assault-relatedinjuryadmissionsperyear;74%weremales.

• Maleassaultinjurieswerecommonlycausebyanunspecifiedperson(51%ofcases)whereasfemaleassaultinjurieswerecommonlycausedbyacurrentorformerspouseorpartner(43%ofcases).

• Therewere4,371suicidesamongpersonsaged15yearsandoverinVictoriabetween2006/7and2013/14,anaverageof546peryear.

• Between2013/14and2015/16,therewere15,921self-harmrelatedinjuryadmissionsperyear;67%werefemales.

• Themostcommonmechanismofself-harmwaspoisoningbypharmaceuticals,whichaccountedfor76%ofcases.

Acquired brain injury and family violenceVISUcontributedtoquantitativeanalysisofpopulationhealthdatasetsforaprojectledbyBrainInjuryAustraliaandfundedbytheVictorianDepartmentofHealthandHumanServices.‘PrevalenceofAcquiredBrainInjuryasaResultofFamilyViolence’willbefinalisedinearly2018;during2017,ProfessorBelindaGabbeofMonashUniversitydirectedandcoordinatedtheanalysissideoftheresearch.VISUprovideddataonhospital-treated,familyviolence-relatedinjuryinVictoriafrom2006/07to2015/16,thisanalysiswasbasedonhospitaladmissionsandemergencydepartmentpresentations.

An analysis of transport injuriesIn2017,VISUworkedwithTransportSafetyVictoria(TSV)onaprojectcalled‘Transport-relatednon-fatalhospitalisationdataanalysis’.Thestudyinvolvedanalysisofbus,tramandmarineinjuriesbasedonemergencydepartmentinjurypresentationsdata,hospitaladmissionsdataandinformationfromtheMaritimeIncidentDatabaseheldbyTSV.

ThereportsareavailableontheTSVwebsite(transportsafety.vic.gov.au).

Better understanding building failuresOnbehalfoftheVictorianBuildingAuthority(VBA),theunitcarriedoutresearchintohospital-treatedinjuryresultingfromstructuralfailuresinbuildings.TheresearchalsoencompassedaliteraturereviewandanalysisoftheVCATbuildinglistledbyDrGenevieveGrantfromMonashUniversity’sFacultyofLaw.

Theprojectculminatedinareport,whichwasdeliveredinFebruary2017;theVISUsectionofthereportwasauthoredbyVoulaStathakis(VISU).

ThepurposeoftheprojectwastoallowVBAtobetterunderstandhowbuildingfailuresaffectedsafetyandinjury;thiswillhelpthemtogainanin-depthunderstandingofcausesofbuildingfailuresandrelatedfactorsinthedesignandconstructionprocess.

The Injury Comorbidity Index Study – a PhD projectInSeptember2016,Tharanga(Tara)FernandocommencedherPhDworkonthedatalinkageprojecttitledTheInjuryComorbidityIndexStudy.Thestudyinvolvesbringingtogetherhospitaltreatedinjuryanddeathdata.Thestudyprogressedwellin2017;theVictorianandNewSouthWaleslinkeddatasetswerebothobtained.ThedatalinkageapplicationtoWesternAustraliawassuccessfulandanethicsapplicationhasbeensubmitted.

Theresearchisimportantformanyreasons,chiefamongthembecausechronicdiseasecandelayrecoveryfrominjuryandincreasetheriskofcomplicationsanddeath.Theresultsfromtheprojectwillhelpclinicianstobetterunderstandtheinfluenceofcomorbidityoninjuryoutcomes.Itwillmakeiteasiertogiveinjuryprognosesandestimaterecoverytime,andtodevelopstrategiestopreventinjurycomplicationsamongthoseatrisk.

TarawassuccessfullyconfirmedforherPhDcandidatureinAugust2017.

Journal articles and conference presentationsThreejournalarticlesincorporatingVISUdatawerepublishedin2017:

• Trendsintheleadingcausesofinjurymortality,Australia,Canada,andtheUnitedStates,2000-2014.MackK,ClappertonA,MacphersonA,SleetD,NewtonD,MurdochJ,MackayJM,Berecki-GisolfJ,WilkinsN,MarrA,BallesterosM,McClureR.CanJPublicHealth.2017;108(2):e185-e191.

• IncreasingtrendinthefrequencyofsportsinjuriestreatedatanAustralianregionalhospital.WongSheeA,ClappertonA,FinchCF.AustJRuralHealth.2017Apr;25(2):125-127

• Prescriptionopioiddispensingandprescriptionopioidpoisoning:PopulationdatafromVictoria,Australia2006to2013.Berecki-GisolfJ,Hassani-MahmooeiB,ClappertonA,McClureR.AustNZJPublicHealth.2017Feb;41(1):85-91.

TheAustralianInjuryPreventionNetworkConferencewasheldinBallarattowardstheendof2017.MembersoftheVISUteammadesixpresentationsattheevent:

• TharangaFernandopresented‘SportsinjuryinVictoria,Australia2012/13to2014/15:evidencefromEmergencyDepartmentrecords’.

• AngelaClappertonpresented‘Hospital-treatedself-harmamongadultsinVictoria:Patternsandincreasingtrends2006/07to2015/16’.

• JannekeBerecki-Gisolfpresented‘Trendsininjury-relatedhospitaladmissions2006/07to2015/16inVictoria,Australia:Administrativedataartefactorinjuryepidemic?’.

• VoulaStathakispresented‘Hospitaltreatedinjuriesresultingfromstructuralfailuresinbuildings:EmergencyDepartmentdataanalysis’aswellas‘ChronicdiseaseprevalenceinacohortofinjuredworkersinVictoria,Australia:usinghospitaldatalinkagetodeterminepre-injuryhealth’.

• AdrianLaughlinpresented‘Acomparisonofratesandpatternsofnon-fatalassault-relatedhospitaladmissionsamongresidentsofmetropolitanMelbourneandregional/ruralVictoria’.

Voula’spresentationonstructuralfailuresinbuildingswontheBestRapidOralPresentationawardattheconference.

MS ANGELA CLAPPERTON Research Fellow

MR ADRIAN LAUGHLIN Research Assistant

DR JANNEKE BERECKI-GISOLF Director

DR JANE HAYMAN Data Analyst

MS VOULA STATHAKIS Research Fellow

MS THARANGA (TARA) FERNANDO Data Analyst

MR ANGELO D’ELIA Research Fellow

STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

Notes $000's $000’s

OPENING BALANCE AT 1 JANUARY 2017 4,166

INCOME

Research

Australian Research Council 151

National Health and Medical Research Council 110

Commonwealth Government - Others 43

State and Local Government 2,502

Co-operative Research Centres 204

Industry Australia 577

Industry International 156

Total Research 3,743

Commonwealth Government Research Support Program 2,232

Commercial 674

Other income 388

Monash contribution 1 4,178

Total Income 11,215

EXPENDITURE

Salaries and Related Expenditure 5,526

Financial and Administration 2 242

Student Related 185

Infrastructure Related 246

Central Support Services – Overhead Costs 1 3,181

Other Operating Expenditure 1,140

Total Expenditure 10,520

NET BALANCE FOR THE YEAR 695

CLOSING BALANCE AT 31 DECEMBER 2017 4,861

Notes:

1. The University has provided a transfer of funds to cover the Central Support Services – Overhead Costs

2. Includes payments to consultants

The lnstitute’s Statement of Income and Expenditure has been certified to be in accordance with the University’s Accounting and Financial Reporting System by the Office of the Senior Vice-President and CFO. Where required as a condition of funding grants, accounts will be audited by independent external auditors. The lnstitute’s accounts have been subjected to Government audit as part of the University’s annual accounts for the calendar year 2017.

Connie Mogg Acting Director, Research and Revenue Accounting Services Office of the Senior Vice-President and CFO