The Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit was one of the first hospital injury surveillance sites in Australia and is located in Mater Children's Hospital. Injury is recognised as a leading cause of both premature death and hospitalisation in Australia. Its impact in terms of human and financial cost is immense. QISU obtains injury-related data from hospital emergency departments and stores before collating and distributing that information. QISU's database of over 300 000 records provides invaluable information as to the how, where, when, what and to whom injuries occur. It provides an insight into why they happen and how they can be prevented. QISU data has been instrumental in advocating for swimming pool fencing and bicycle helmet legislation within Queensland.

Health, education and consumer organisations; researchers, students and practitioners; the media, and other members of the community use QISU data for:

• awareness raising
• advocacy
• research and study
• providing a basis for prevention strategies, trend studies and evaluation.