The Peter Jones Memorial Prize was awarded to Dr Rachel Cockburn in recognition of her outstanding contribution to paediatric surgical research through her presentation, Heads Up: A Retrospective Review of Paediatric Trauma Secondary to Electric Scooters at a Tertiary Paediatric Trauma Centre in Queensland.

The Peter Jones Memorial Prize honours excellence in paediatric surgical research, recognising innovation, academic achievement, and work with the potential to improve outcomes for children. Dr Cockburn’s research exemplifies these principles, addressing an emerging public health issue with increasing relevance both in Australia and internationally.

Conducted through the Queensland Children's Hospital Trauma Service and in collaboration with colleagues Tona Gillen, Lauren Harvey and Professor Roy Kimble, the study examined paediatric admissions associated with e‑scooter trauma over a 15‑year period.

As electric scooters have become increasingly popular, concerns regarding associated injuries have also grown. While substantial research exists in adults, Australian paediatric data remain limited. Dr Cockburn’s work provides one of the first Australian studies focusing specifically on children requiring hospital admission and surgical management.

The findings paint a sobering picture. The study identified 64 paediatric admissions related to e‑scooter injuries, with presentations increasing markedly following the growing uptake of e‑scooters. Boys represented most injuries and the median patient age was 13 years.

Head injuries emerged as a major concern, representing the most commonly injured body region. Fractures were frequent and almost two‑thirds of patients required operative intervention. Nearly two‑thirds of riders with documented helmet status were not wearing helmets at the time of injury.

The research also identified two deaths resulting from severe traumatic brain injury in children who were not wearing helmets. Beyond acute injury, the study highlighted longer‑term consequences, with some children experiencing persistent cognitive and functional deficits following head trauma.

Importantly, the study extends beyond clinical observation and contributes to broader discussions around injury prevention, legislation and public health policy. Findings support ongoing efforts aimed at education, safer infrastructure and stronger public awareness measures.

Dr Cockburn’s work demonstrates how clinically grounded research can inform both surgical practice and wider health policy. Through identifying trends in injury severity and highlighting preventable risk factors, the study provides evidence that may help shape future approaches to paediatric safety.
The award of the ANZAPS Peter Jones Memorial Prize recognises not only a high‑quality research project, but research with the potential to influence real‑world outcomes for children and families.