Request for Statewide delivery of select injury prevention health promotion programs

Injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Western Australia. Its management and treatment impose a considerable burden on the health system and on the broader community.
The Chronic Disease Prevention Directorate of the Department of Health proposes to undertake a Community Services Request via open tender to purchase four injury prevention programs. Offers will be assessed and awarded independently for the following injury prevention priority areas:
o Water safety;
o Child safety;
o Falls prevention; and
o Partnership and sector development.
The programs purchased will contribute to whole-of-state efforts to reduce the incidence of avoidable chronic disease and injury.
The purchasing priorities for injury prevention programs have been informed by:
o The Department of Health’s Working Together: WA Health Strategic Intent 2010−2015 (which reaffirms the Department’s commitment to improve, promote and protect the health of Western Australians, the key pillars being ‘caring for individuals and the community’, ‘caring for those who need it most’ and ‘making the best use of funds and resources’) ;
o The Department of Health’s Western Australian Health Promotion Strategic Framework 2012−16 (which sets out the Department’s strategic directions and priorities for the prevention of avoidable chronic disease and injury) ;
o A review of state injury prevention data and trends drawn from the Department of Health’s, The Epidemiology of Injury in WA, 2000-2008 ;
o Important state and national injury prevention reports and policies ;
o A review of the Department of Health’s history of delivery and procurement of injury prevention services ;
o An inventory of current state activity in injury prevention ;
o Extensive consultation with external stakeholders culminating in the, ‘2012 Western Australian Injury Prevention Summit’ , ; and
o Discussions with internal Department of Health stakeholders, across the Chronic Disease Prevention, Epidemiology and Health Network’s Branch.
The procurement planning process clearly demonstrated ongoing need for action on injury, and that this needed to build upon previous program and policy investments as well as set new directions based on the best available evidence.
In developing this procurement, it is recognised that the Department of Health, whilst managing the consequences of all injuries, does not hold sole carriage for the prevention of those injuries. WA Health is able to play a lead role in some, but not all aspects of injury prevention and safety promotion. On issues led by other agencies – such as road safety, occupational health and safety, product safety and crime prevention – the Department is a partner and has much to offer in terms of skills, models of practice, data and its analysis.