Counsellor: Therese Bryant.
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
“EVERYONE knows someone impacted by road trauma.”
Road trauma counsellor Therese Bryant paused as the thoughts of some of those people flickered across her face.
“It’s like a disease; there aren’t many of us who are untouched by the road toll or the hidden toll.”
Therese knows the impact of road accidents more than most, even in her own family.
“I had a minor accident 30 years ago when a motorcycle hit the back of a car when I was a passenger.
“I suffered whiplash and I still feel the effects today.”
Therese is the Geelong coordinator for Road Trauma Support Services Victoria, a community organisation offering counselling, education and support services to accident victims.
Therese’s accident three decades ago was just the start. A car later struck her as a pedestrian and her brother suffered a broken pelvis in a collision as a 19-year-old.
More recently her youngest daughter was in a car that rolled three times, causing spinal damage. She recovered but now suffers osteoid arthritis.
“I fell into this role through personal experience after working in loss and grief counselling for 20 years,” Therese said.
“We’ve all done stupid things on the road. I cringe sometimes when I see what people do on the road.
“All of those experiences led me to believe that education was the only way to do something about it.”
Therese admitted that few people would be aware of her organisation.
“We provide free, professional, face-to-face and telephone counselling services to people who have been affected by motor vehicle crashes.
“That could be bereaved family members, witnesses, drivers, first-on-scene, emergency service personnel, families and friends of people injured in the crash.
“We also run a number of education programs on the personal impact of road trauma, early intervention programs and after the offence programs for culpable drivers and repeat traffic offenders.
“A few of our volunteers share their personal stories when they talk with offenders.
“My experiences are nothing compared to theirs. It’s an example of what can happen on the roads.
“It’s very sobering.”
Therese said she and her volunteers also visited groups, clubs and associations to spread their road safety messages.
She said more information about the organisaiton was available by phoning her on 0412 183 635 or 1300 367 797.
• Shattered Lives is an Independent community campaign to raise awareness of the region’s hidden road toll: the injured survivors, their families and others who deal with the aftermath of vehicle accidents.
