The Prepared Bystanders

I am a couple of weeks late, but I just discovered these 12 minutes of gold on 774 ABC Radio Victoria. On Sunday June 21st, Lisa Leong had a guest who had taken listeners contributions about behaviours on the road that is annoying and created two jingles. The first is 'Indicate - don't procrastinate' and the second is 'Drive like your mumma's watching'. They are fantastic and reminiscent of 'Dumb Ways To Die' is you remember that jingle. Michael Burrows, the Director of Sound at Brand Music, is the guy Lisa is interviewing and put this all together. Enjoy!

'Indicate, don't procrastinate' - ABC listen For Road Safety week, Lisa asked the audience to think about the dangerous decisions that irk you on the road. She was so impressed with the response that she recruited a real life jingle producer to transform the audience's slogans into safety campaign. Click play to hear your road safety jingles a...

Well, here we are in the middle of June, and I just want to sprook the fact that I have now completed all requirements of the Diploma in Emergency Health Care. I have been studying this degree for the last two years (on the back of the 2.5 years in a Master of Creative Industries) and tonight completed my 160th hour of clinical placement! The reason I enrolled in the course was twofold - firstly I wanted to upgrade my first aid qualifications as I found the reduction in course content over the last 20 years is no longer meeting my needs; and secondly, I wanted to ensure I had the knowledge required to make educational films to empower you, the bystander, at a road crash. I am pleased to say that both of these goals have been met! So, what there is to do next is get The Prepared Bystanders moving forward again. In case you have not noticed, it is the end of the financial year so if you or someone you know is in a position to make a tax-deductible donation to the project, here is the link: ​https://documentaryaustralia.com.au/project/the-prepared-bystanders

Thanks for your support and if you are not on the mailing list for updates, pop back to the website www.thepreparedbystanders.au and add your details. There is a free information blog about road crashes when you sign up. Cheers.

The Prepared Bystanders Have you ever been in a situation where you just needed someone to ask if you are OK? ​Probably because you were not OK! This is who we are as a Prepared Bystander - the first person who stops to...

I have just come across this blog written by a first aid organisation. I am not promoting their courses as I did participate in one last year and thus am on their email list. I do advise you update your first aid qualification but by posting their blog, I do not want you to take them as my recommendation (they are not!).

Having attempted to clear myself, here is the blog: https://blog.firstaidkitsaustralia.com.au/how-to-provide-first-aid-in-a-road-accident/

Although it is dated 12 months ago, I think their statistics are low as my memory recalls 1,300+ people per year for the last few years are the number of people who have died on the roads Australia-wide. To their credit they do write 1200 and that might be inclusive of 1,299.

If you can ignore the few grammatical errors and the couple of sentences that need reading twice to understand, it is a rather good article. I am not keen on referring to the injured person as a 'victim' and although across my nearly completed two-year Diploma in Emergency Health Care I had to adjust to the word 'patient', my preferred description is casualty. It seems less patronising, I think.

For those of you with up-to-date qualifications, you may be reminded of the key practices. But I am specifically interested if you feel "... this gives you the necessary information so you can provide assistance at a road accident if the situation arises" (direct quote from last line of article). I am not sure reading it is enough to empower you and so the design of The Prepared Bystanders to be an online ongoing learning platform. Please comment below how you feel about these options and if my goal to make short educational films about what to do is simply too much when you could read a blog and be confident??

How to provide First Aid in a Road Accident The first couple of minutes after a car accident are critical for determining the long-term outcomes. Learn to provide first aid to road accident victims.

I am just revising my notes for the Diploma of Emergency Health Care I am near to completing, and I came across this highlighted piece of information and felt it relevant to road crashes.

I am about to upload the latest film to the website and You Tube Channel, so I'll let you know when that is ready. I am also about to create the first newsletter so if you are not on the mailing list yet, click across to www.thepreparedbystanders.au and get your free Pdf on the "Top 5 Reasons people don't stop and a road crash and what to do about it!" You will automatically go on the mailing list. Talk later, Sophia

The Prepared Bystanders ​ UPDATE Friday 20 June 2025 Only 10 days left in the financial year if you want to benefit from a contribution to this project! Alternatively, you can donate directly to the project and if you...

Our fourth film (Episode 2 Are You Good to Go?) is up on the website, ready for your spare 3 minutes. This one was made during a 72-hour Filmmaking Event called Kabaret, over the last weekend of March and screened on the 31st. It's just a bit of serious entertainment so feel free to watch and come back here to tell me your thoughts! Cheers,

Films To Get You Started This is an introduction to the project I have been working on since 2022. We are now at the stage of releasing films to give you a sense of the project and how you can become involved. We are still...

Have you heard of the Split-Second Film Competition by TAC? It is in its 7th year, and it challenges 18- to 30-year-olds to make a short film (aka advertisement) about road safety. The two winners of 2026 approach road safety from different angles - one in tempo and one in underpants! Watch both and enjoy ... and spread the message.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RqBPUyyAoU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzQJJJ-zeno&t=6s

Keep The Tempo | Split Second Competition 2025 - Winner Keep the Tempo, uses the precision and rhythm of Korean drumming as a powerful metaphor for road safety, creatively illustrating how even a slight increase i...

As I complete the last few sections of my Diploma in Emergency Health Care, The Prepared Bystanders project is coming out of the woodwork. I have just completed the updated version of the Business/Marketing/Financial Plan and am ready to contact some businesses who are keen to sponsor us. In the process I have calculated that between the Masters of Creative Industries degree I undertook to create the framework for the project, and this Diploma to upgrade my first aid qualifications and improve my credibility in the eyes of Paramedics, I have easily spent $55,000. That blew my mind. It does explain my current financial challenges though!!

It is also a great time for making a tax-deductible donation if you felt you have not spent enough money this current financial year! Every cent is greatly appreciated, thanks. Next update soon.

The Prepared Bystanders | Documentary Australia Activating Community and “Saving Lives” – physically, mentally and emotionally

The You Tube Channel for The Prepared Bystanders launches today. Here is the introductory film. It is a work in progress as I upload the developmental films for a bit of historical reference. Feel free to subscribe and be notified when the next film is ready!

Introduction to The Prepared Bystanders Pre-Episode 1 This is an introduction to the project I have been working on since 2022. We are now at the stage of releasing films to give you a sense of the project and h...