supportLink

Motor Vehicle Fatality Support Program

Description

The ACT Motor Vehicle Fatality Service, managed by supportLink IT, delivers immediate and ongoing social support to witnesses and family members affected by a motor vehicle fatality.

Background

ACT Policing Collision Investigation and Reconstruction Team investigate all motor vehicle fatalities within the ACT.
Though Police are alert to the support needs of witnesses and families of the deceased, their role is primarily to investigate the collision, they can offer only limited care. Police welfare structures are limited to supporting Police members and their families.
A motor vehicle fatality may be the largest single event to impact on the life of witnesses and families involved.
supportLink is contracted by ACT Policing to coordinate assistance for persons referred by Police.
supportLink has been assisting the ACT Policing Collision Investigation and Reconstruction Team for 3 years at various incidents in order to support witnesses and family members. This is supported by an MOU developed in 2008 and has been progressing to a more reliable model.
supportLink funds its activities out of general income sourced through its commercial contracts with Police Services and Corporate sponsorships.

The Model

The new wraparound support model sees ACT Policing engage supportLink to deliver both immediate and follow up support services to people affected by a motor vehicle fatality.

The model aims to:

Support Police to focus on the investigation.
Mitigate the physiological, emotional and social impact of the event for all affected persons.
Enhance the public perception of ACT Policing.

Key Strategies

24/7 on call response by qualified support workers.
At the scene trauma support and follow up.

Immediate intervention promotes the likelihood of ongoing engagement with support options.

Assistance and delivering death messages.
Assistance with body identification and family support.
Follow up support of families and witnesses.
Liaison between families, witnesses and Police.
Assistance with Coronial processes.
Debriefing with Police to ensure support is delivered/offered to all known parties.

Contact the Motor Vehicle Fatality Support Program

Phone: 1300 656 200

Fax: 1300 656 200

Postal: PO Box 508, Erindale Centre ACT 2903

Email:

Links
*Journey Beyond Road Trauma* A website that allows you to create tributes, connect with people affected by road trauma, tell your story & campaign for road safety. By sharing your story you can help others understand the impact of road trauma and educate them about safe driving practises.
*Centre for Road Trauma Recovery* This website's purpose is to provide information & resources to help survivors of road trauma know what to expect after the immediate physical injuries have been treated; the long road of rehabilitation & what that really means; and then learning to recognise & cope with the psychological impact that surviving can have.
*Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement* Here you will find details on a range of resources available - including the peer reviewed journal Grief Matters: The Australian Journal of Grief and Bereavement, resources for children, young people and adults. You will also find links to a wide range of internet resources..
*Lifeline* Lifeline provides 24 hour telephone counselling for a range of issues. The Lifeline Information Service website provides access to a variety of self-help tool kits with information about issues such as mental illness, depression and suicide prevention. The self-help toolkits are available to download.