In October, 50 legends will step out of their comfort zones and take the PLUNGE for us—a thrilling 130-metre abseil from the top of the Central Park Building on St George’s Terrace in Perth.
Not only will they experience this bucket-list event, but their incredible fundraising efforts will directly support our priority projects. Initially, we aimed to raise funds for our data platform; however, we have shifted our focus this year to support two critical initiatives that will make an immediate impact on burn survivors and their families:
Carer’s Resource Guide: This invaluable guide, authored by the wife of one of our major burn survivors, offers practical advice and emotional support from someone with lived experience. Available in both print and e-book formats, it will be an essential tool for carers, helping them navigate the challenging journey of burn recovery alongside their loved ones. This resource will provide guidance and reassurance to those who find themselves in a similar situation, offering insights from a carer’s perspective.
Portable Devices with Patient Information:
You live in a very small, remote part of the North-East Kimberley; a ‘blink-and-you’ll-miss-it’ community of 6 houses and a big shed which contains the community’s’ generators. The nearest town is a 30km drive along unsealed road with no buses or public transport. You sustain a burn injury but its three days before you can get a ride to town to get treatment. When you’re seen at the local hospital, you’re told that you have to come to Perth for surgery. You’ve never heard of Fiona Stanley before and you get onto the RFDS plane with only the clothes on your back. The very small aircraft makes 5 stops at other regional centres along the way, so the journey takes ages. Finally, you get to Fiona Stanley, but by now you’re missing home, your phone has run out of charge and you have no idea what comes next.
Stories such as this one, were told to me and Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer, Karen Waigana, during our research with Aboriginal women who travelled off Country to the Burns Unit. We thank the women who shared their stories of fear and uncertainty, so together we can make tangible change.
In conjunction with Indigenous digital medica company, Crawlin Crocodile, and with funding provided by FWF, we developed a Welcome to Country and orientation to the State Adult Burns Unit video.
We have made our video available on a new, accessible platform, which I recently delivered to the Derby Aboriginal Health Service. The feedback received was entirely positive: “The video is fantastic, so easy for our clients to understand and follow. The wording and picture work really well with the video and these should be in all of our ACCHOs. I have shown a few of our clients who have been really impressed with it.”(Joanne Moore, Senior Manager, DAHS). Karen and I look forward to working with FWF as we drive culturally appropriate Burns care, by providing the video players to Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, statewide.
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our Plungers for their incredible fundraising efforts and to everyone who has made a kind donation. While we continue to seek matched funding for the data platform, we are excited to be able to provide essential support and resources for burn survivors and their families when they need it most. Your generosity makes a real difference, and together, we are helping to provide holistic burn care in mind and body.