Leading safety agency Kidsafe Victoria is calling for legislative changes to make booster seats mandatory for children until they are 10 years of age and/or pass the 5 step test, to ensure they do not graduate to using an adult seat belt until they are tall enough to safely do so.   CEO Melanie Courtney emphasised the need for legislators to adopt best practice guidelines to ensure parents and carers are provided with clear advice on the optimal use of child car restraints, and how to minimise the risk of injury for their children.   “Even though our children appear tall in our eye ..read more

Mealtime was always a happy occasion for us. Our little 11-month-old enjoys playing with balls and blocks but loves his food and is at his happiest when mealtime rolls around.   We had been using a highchair fitted with a three-point harness as our second feeding chair since bubs started solids. It was originally used as grandma’s highchair, however, we found he was much more settled in this one as it had an added footrest.   That day, bubs had been happy and playful when we sat down at the table for lunch. After recovering from RSV, he had been struggling with his cough, so it was ..read more

Low Speed Vehicle Run Over (LSVRO) Prevention Awareness Day – Sunday 16th April 2023 Kidsafe Victoria has issued a warning about the dangers that driveway can pose for children, in a bid to reduce the number of low-speed vehicle runover incidents. The warning comes as part of a campaign for National Low Speed Vehicle Run Over (LSVRO) Prevention Awareness Day on Sunday 16th April. The day – which was established by Emma and Peter Cockburn in memory of their daughter Georgina, who was fatally injured in a LSVRO incident on the 16th of April 2011 – is dedicated to raising awareness about the dan ..read more

Almost 90% of child car restraints are incorrectly fitted or used, dramatically increasing the risk of transport related injuries, according to figures released as part of the ‘Safe Seats, Safe Kids’ free child car restraint fitting and checking program. The figures have prompted Kidsafe Victoria to issue an urgent call for parents and carers to regularly check that their child car restraints are correctly installed and adjusted to fit their child, and book in for a free fitting or check. Of the more than 16,000 child car restraints recently inspected across Victoria, 86% were incorrectly ins ..read more

A shocking rise in childhood deaths from preventable injury has prompted leading safety advocates to demand a similar approach to the road toll campaign to halt the increase. New figures released in a white paper from Kidsafe Victoria show that childhood deaths from preventable injuries rose 75% in 2020/21 compared to the three previous years. “Between 2017-2019, an average of 17 children died each year in Victoria from preventable injuries,” said Kidsafe Victoria CEO Melanie Courtney. “In 2020, that number jumped to 29 and increased again in 2021 to 31 deaths.” “We also saw incr ..read more

“I still had his dinner plate in my hand when I heard a call from my daughter and looked out the window to see him in the pool. That’s how quickly it can happen” Kidsafe Victoria has joined forces with Olympic champion Matt Welsh to launch its annual ‘Safe Barriers Save Lives’ campaign, calling on home pool and spa owners to ‘help save a life’ by checking their barriers before the warmer months. The call comes as figures from the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia’s (RLSSA) National Drowning Report show that in 2021/22, 17 Australian toddlers drowned. S ..read more

“I love you, Mummy” Sarah said with a smile and a cuddle before she ran outside to play. “Sarah, why are you wearing those old clothes?!” her Mum, Michelle, shouted as she saw the back of her black leggings, black skirt and red and white spotty t-shirt with a big blue bow. “Because you know they are my favourites Mummy, please never throw them out! I love you!” Michelle recalls this moment with tears as she pictures these very clothes, now sitting in a memory box, cut from when the paramedics tried to revive her daughter. Michelle and Sarah’s story begins in November 2012. It was a warm and su ..read more

Meet Lincoln Lincoln was a sweet little 3 year old boy. He loved his TV and videos – Paw Patrol was his favourite. He loved Shrek and Toy Story and would watch these shows over and over, while enjoying his snacks on the couch. He called his Grandma ‘Ganma” and was a proud big brother to his baby sister, Luna. At just 3 years of age, his life was tragically cut short. This is his story. “I was such a proud “Ganma” as Lincoln used to call me. He would collect the “lellows” (lemons) from the garden in his little backpack – and I just loved every moment I got to spend with him.” Kerrie recalls of ..read more

Did you know that Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world? It’s estimated that almost two thirds of Australian households have a pet today, with dogs the most common choice.   There are many benefits of having children and pets together; they can teach children about caring for another living being and create a trusted, nurturing bond… so much so that it’s not uncommon for children to share their secrets and bedtime stories with their pets!   However, children 0-4 years of age are the highest risk age group for serious dog attack injuries requiring hospit ..read more

It was a normal day for Jess and her wife Amanda. They placed their precious 8-month-old daughter into her child car restraint and climbed in to do a journey they had done a thousand times before. “I remember chatting to Amanda as I pulled out of the intersection to turn right on the highway. Our baby girl was babbling in the back of the car. Then suddenly, Amanda screamed.” At that moment, another car went pummelling into the side of their vehicle, sending them hurtling across two lanes of the highway and slamming them into a tree. Amanda’s scream meant Jess was able to slam on the brakes so ..read more