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Support the P.A.R.T.Y. Program

Help reduce trauma and injury among young people, and empower the next generation to make safer choices.
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Royal North Shore Hospital
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$125,000
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Project Overview

The Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) Program, offered at both Royal North Shore and Hornsby Ku-ring-gai hospitals, is a preventive education initiative designed to reduce alcohol and risk-related trauma among youth.

P.A.R.T.Y. employs highly effective learning activities that guide participants through the consequences of risky behaviours, particularly those involving alcohol and other risk factors.

On the day, high school students are involved in simulation-based activities showing the journey of a trauma patient as they are rushed through the emergency room doors, into surgery, intensive care, recovery and rehabilitation. This approach has been proven to reduce high-risk behaviours in youth by highlighting real-life impacts in a controlled, supportive environment.

Support the P.A.R.T.Y. Program and help us empower young people to make safer choices, save lives, and build a safer community. By contributing today, you ensure the continuation of this vital, life-saving education program and prevent future tragedies.

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Why Support the P.A.R.T.Y. Program?

The P.A.R.T.Y. Program is a not-for-profit education initiative powered by dedicated clinical staff, volunteers, and supporters. This program changes young people’s behaviour by empowering them with knowledge to reduce risks.

Your support is critical to sustaining this impactful program, which has been proven effective by our thorough evaluation processes. You can help equip young people with the knowledge and tools to navigate peer pressure, reduce risk-taking behaviours, and save lives.

Students who participate in the P.A.R.T.Y. Program leave knowing better and doing better. Join us in empowering youth to make informed, responsible choices, creating a safer community for all.

Donate to the P.A.R.T.Y. Program

Preventing injuries in young adults: key risks and statistics

Young drivers are 15 to 33 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash

due to inexperience, risk-taking behaviour, and distractions.

Poisoning is one of the leading causes of hospital admissions

for young people aged 15-24, largely due to alcohol and recreational drug use.

Accidental injuries, including falls, physical altercations, and self-harm

significantly impact young adults' health and well-being, highlighting the need for preventive education.

Each year, young adults are heavily impacted by road injuries in Australia. Young drivers, particularly those aged 16-24, are at a significantly higher risk of being involved in accidents. This age group represents a large proportion of road fatalities, with young drivers being 15 to 33 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash due to factors like inexperience, risk-taking behaviour, and distractions.

Accidental poisoning and other risk-related injuries are a significant concern for young adults in Australia, with young adults particularly vulnerable to alcohol and drug misuse.

In 2020, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reported that poisoning was one of the leading causes of hospital admissions for young people aged 15-24, particularly due to alcohol and recreational drug use. This demographic is also at high risk of other trauma-related injuries, including those resulting from falls, physical altercations, and self-harm. The risk is compounded by peer pressure, impulsive behaviours, and a lack of awareness of the long-term consequences of risky choices.

These injuries and their devastating effects on health, relationships, and wellbeing highlight the importance of initiatives like the P.A.R.T.Y. Program, which educates young people on the true impact of these behaviours, fostering healthier decision-making and reducing the incidence of preventable injuries.

The P.A.R.T.Y. Program : Educating youth globally

P.A.R.T.Y. Program classroom
Program and learning opportunities
The P.A.R.T.Y. Program is a one day program which allows students to see first-hand the consequences of risk-taking behaviours in ​everyday life. Participants hear engaging stories and facts, interacting with people including:

  • An injury survivor who shares their story about what it is like to have a severe life changing disability

  • ​Police who talk about the legal consequences of risky behaviours

  • Trauma staff who discuss how injuries truly affect the human body and the long-term impacts, highlighting how injuries can impact a person’s life and limit their ability to fulfil their potential

  • Other volunteers who explain the ripple effect on parents, friends and the broader community

Paramedics doing a simulation
Program implementation and reach
Royal North Shore and Hornsby Ku-ring-gai hospitals are the first hospitals to implement the program in New South Wales.

The P.A.R.T.Y. Program was first established in Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, Canada in 1986 and has been successfully implemented by staff at more than 100 sites around the world.

In Australia these hospitals are: The Royal Perth Hospital (WA), Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (QLD), The Alfred (VIC) and The Royal Melbourne Hospital (VIC).

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