Dr Alan Parsons Injury Prevention Scholarship goes to DHB health promoter

19 November 2012

Taranaki DHB Health Promoter Rebecca Thacker has recently received the 2012 Dr Alan Parsons Foundation Certificate in Injury Prevention (FCIP) Scholarship Award.

Five inaugural scholarships were announced last week in Wellington at the AGM of the Injury Prevention Network of Aotearoa New Zealand (IPNANZ) by Alan’s wife Dr Pat Boulton.

IPNANZ director, Joyce Anne Reihana said “Dr Alan Parsons’ commitment to safety and particularly child safety was evident throughout his life. This life commitment by Dr Parsons has inspired the FCIP Scholarships to provide new practitioners with the best possible start to understanding the injury prevention field.”

Taranaki DHB Supporting Communities Manager Brenda Archer said it was particularly special that Rebecca received the award after all the work Alan had done in Taranaki.

“We are very proud that Rebecca has received the scholarship as she will be working to support the great work that Alan began with the Kidsafe Taranaki Trust” said Ms Archer.

Dr Pat Boulton (Alan’s wife) and Rebecca will be available for a photo opportunity at the DHB Child and Adolescent Centre, 10.30am on Wednesday 21 November, please call if you can attend.


For more information please call
Sue Carrington
Media Adviser
Ph 021 367 789

Background information

Dr Alan Parsons – Injury Prevention Network Aoteroa New Zealand (IPNANZ): Te Manaia Leadership Award recipient 2007
At the May 2010 IPNANZ Committee meeting, following the passing of Dr Alan Parsons in February of that year, a resolution was accepted that IPNANZ would one day establish a number of FCIP Scholarships in memory of Alan, injury prevention expert, colleague and good friend.

Alan is remembered fondly as a member on the working party that recommended the establishment of IPNANZ in 1999 and then becoming an inaugural member to the IPNANZ Committee in 2001–2003. His humour is also recalled as one of wittiness and cleverness.

Alan trained and worked in the UK where he was involved in the early 1980s, in the first national Play it Safe campaign, to which he set up a Child Accident Prevention Group, in Birmingham, before emigrating to New Zealand in 1983.

Once here, Alan established a Child Accident Prevention Group in New Plymouth in 1990, that metamorphosed into the Kidsafe Taranaki Trust in 1994, to which he chaired unopposed for 14 Years. The Taranaki Kidsafe coalitions chose Alan as their Kidsafe Hero, during Kidsafe Week 1999.

He was also instrumental in forming New Plymouth InjurySafe, a coalition group in response to an opportunity to gain funding from ACC, to conduct a comprehensive community injury needs assessment for the New Plymouth District.

Dr Alan Parsons commitment to safety, particularly child safety was evident throughout his life within his professional career, and continuing through to his own personal obligation.

For many IPNANZ members who have had the privilege to work with Alan over the years, we know we must continue to build on his legacy of injury prevention practice which he looked to disseminate or as he would say ‘let’s infect everyone to be safe or is it effect!’.

Last updated: Monday, November 19, 2012