PASSIONATE child safety advocate Anne Johnson has made a powerful mark on the health sector in South Australia, with her dedication over many years recognised with a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) award.
The health leader has not only wholeheartedly been involved with significant service to child injury prevention in community health, but also been a committed researcher and academic.
Dr Johnson was a senior academic at Flinders University as an Associate Professor of Public Health between 2000 and 2007.
She worked tirelessly at the Adelaide Women’s and Children’s Hospital in trying circumstances.
“While working in the unit was rewarding, it was also traumatic as I would see families lose their children in devastating ways,” Dr Johnson said.
Her passion and determination to improve the children’s intensive care unit drove her to act on the problems she saw.
Dr Johnson decided to coordinate the non-profit charitable organisation Kidsafe SA with the Adelaide Women’s and Children’s hospital to assist in preventing childhood injuries.
Dr Johnson loved her work, but her true passion lied with Kidsafe SA and ensuring a positive difference was made.
She became president of the organisation from 2001 to 2016 and in total was involved for 24 years, receiving the Kidsafe SA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Due to her initiative, the collaboration between Kidsafe SA and the hospital developed life-changing education for families through injury prevention programs.
“The hospital had room to improve on their health promotion and prevention and I wanted to see a better world for children and make a positive contribution to the work I was involved in,” Dr Johnson said.
Legislation in regard to children’s burns was introduced, along with reformed regulations for sleep wear for children.
Adaptions to hot water plumbing and pool fencing were also put in place to prevent the number of children dying in drowning accidents as a result of the work of Kidsafe SA.
“Looking back, it was a special part of my life due to creating many injury prevention programs,” Dr Johnson said.
She has also been a prominent figure on various health committees and was a founding member of the vital Health Consumers Alliance of South Australia in 2001 and part of its management committee until 2005.
“Things don’t happen without people going out and making them happen, you need to be the change you want to see,” she said.
After many rewarding years dedicated to positively impacting the lives of children and their families, Dr Johnson stepped down from president of Kidsafe SA and now dedicates her time to another of her passions – art.
Her selflessness is still shown through art as Dr Johnson paints portraits of noble war dogs to highlight and remember their time in war and to honour their service.
She said she had found much joy in painting all varieties of dogs as it made people happy and also makes people think and view wars from a different perspective.
“I feel honoured to be recognised for the award and that the work I have done has been appreciated,” Dr Johnson said.
