Benalla SES volunteer, Graham Milner, also volunteers with Amber Community (previously Road Trauma Support Services Victoria).
Part of that role includes giving presentations regarding his experience of road trauma as an SES volunteer.
Amber Community is a not for profit organisation which hosts seminars where volunteers, including those who work in the emergency services, talk about their lived experiences of road trauma.
In the 2024-2025 financial year, 1684 participants attended a road trauma awareness seminar in various regions across 29 venues.
Participants are diverse and bring with them a vast range of driving experience or offending behaviour.
This is reflected in the road trauma awareness seminar program through contextualised facilitation and content, ensuring that every seminar is unique, focused and relevant to the diverse participant's learning needs.
Persons attending a road trauma awareness seminar are encouraged to reflect on their unsafe behaviours and the consequences that their choices have had directly and indirectly on themselves, their loved ones and the wider community.
These seminars are designed to provide a supportive environment for participants to gain an improved understanding of their responsibilities as road users, and an increased awareness of road safety and road trauma, as well as empowering subsequent safer choices.
A participant in a recent road trauma awareness seminar, who asked to remain anonymous, said the event had a profound effect.
“Attending this seminar has really opened my eyes to the real-life consequences of drink-driving,” the participant said.
“Not just in terms of legal penalties, but the emotional, physical, and social impact it can have on everyone involved.
“Before, I might have thought that having one or two drinks and then driving was fine as long as I felt okay.
“But I’ve come to understand that even small amounts of alcohol can impair judgment, slow reaction times and increase the risk of a crash.
“This seminar has also made me more confident in holding others accountable.
“If I see someone about to drive after drinking, I won’t hesitate to speak up or help them find them a safer way home”
Amber Community offers free information and counselling to people impacted by a road incident.
To find out more, call 1300 367 797 or visit www.ambercommunity.org.au/
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