Portland Aluminium supports the KIDS Foundation’s Camp Phoenix through the Safety 4 KIDS program, where for every week the smelter is recordable injury free, $1000 is donated to the annual event.
The smelter has been a supporter of the camp for the past four years donating around $100,000 to the KIDS Foundation’s recovery programs and the camp has been attended by around 12 employees.
148 people attended the camp which included burns survivors, their families, KIDS Foundation staff and a group of dedicated volunteers. This was Gary's second time attending the camp as a volunteer.
Chris Doulis, who was hospitalised for four months after playing with a tennis ball doused in methylated spirits when he was 14, now works for the KIDS Foundation delivering key safety messages at all Alcoa sites, including Portland Aluminium.
Chris has been a regular survivor at camp for since it's inception in 2005 and said Camp Phoenix was invaluable in his emotional recovery and was an opportunity for people to meet other survivors recovering from injury, build new friendships and share personal stories.
“It’s important that while burns survivors receive treatment in hospital that they also receive support when they leave hospital to assist with the rehabilitation process and Camp Phoenix assists those to recover and adjust emotionally and physically in order to move forward in life,” Chris said.
Gary and Hugh were selected to attend the camp in recognition of the positive contribution they have made to health and safety in their work areas and their dedication to Portland Aluminium's Health and Safety Advisory Group.
Portland Aluminium's Gary Cox said "That being able to assist with activities and mentoring burns survivors was a great learning experience; it is something I will have with me for the rest of my life. It is a very powerful and emotional experience and I am extremely grateful to have been a part of it”
Hugh Samson added he believed that by attending the camp it had changed his attitude to the way he looked at things; “what you thought were problems really aren’t. The burns survivors are such inspiring people and it's a shame everyone of our employees can't attend because it really makes you value what you have."
Anna Impey | Community Relations Officer
Portland Aluminium
T: 03 5521 5463 | M: 0404 800 193 | F: 03 5521 5485
Further information
Camp Phoenix
Established in 2005 Camp Phoenix is the signature event of the KIDS Foundation Burn Survivor Network – the largest in Australia. Camp Phoenix is a national four-day family camp held 1-4 August 2008 for Australian burn survivors and their families that aims to provide a safe, fun and supportive environment to develop friendships and connect with individuals facing similar challenges.
Through experiences that encourage family participation the Camp provides opportunities to facilitate communication, understanding, emotional support, the sharing of information and skill development.
For more information about the KIDS Foundation visit www.kidsfoundation.org.au or phone 1300 734 733.
Together Safety 1st
“Together Safety 1st” is the partnership focus for KIDS Foundation and Portland Aluminium where securing a safe environment and working towards injury prevention are shared core values. These principles are the enduring basis for a genuine partnership which has shaped the success of both Portland Aluminium's internal safety drive and KIDS Foundation’s community safety outreach programs initiated in 2005.
The partnership is dedicated to helping childhood injury prevention, supporting burns survivors and improving safety education through three core programs:
- Primary School Safety Clubs, a safety education and leadership program for upper primary students.
- Camp Phoenix, a camp providing inspiration and support to burns survivors.
- National Injury Free Day, with involvement focused around Primary School Safety Clubs. Other programs include Safety4Kids in Victoria and Alcoa support of the KIDS Foundation Annual Ball.
