Jessica McCracken (SMHS), Delys Griffin (City of Mandurah), Kellie Wilson (City of Mandurah), Karen Carey (Injury Matters), Sam Menzes (Injury Matters) and Catherine Dumont (Foodbank WA).
More than 50 Mandurah locals recently joined a series of free workshops aimed towards preventing falls in the local community and helping older adults improve their health.
The collaborative initiative between South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) Health Promotion and the City of Mandurah received a grant from Injury Matters as part of the Stay on Your Feet ‘Improve Your Health’ grants program.
The workshops were held at the Mandurah Seniors and Community Centre in April, with 56 people attending, plus 19 staff and volunteers.
Mandurah Mayor Rhys Williams said the City of Mandurah is committed to providing opportunities for older adults in the community to improve their health and wellbeing.
“We’re proud to have partnered with SMHS to offer these workshops to help our community be safe and healthy,” Mayor Williams said.
“The City’s Public Health and Wellbeing Plan for 2020 – 2023 promotes active lifestyles and social connection for healthy ageing. We hope to host further falls prevention workshops in the future to reach more of our community’s seniors.”
SMHS Health Promotion Manager Richard Crane explained falls are a significant risk for older adults, but are thankfully preventable.
“Falls and falls-related injuries are the leading cause of injury hospitalisation for older adults in the Mandurah community,” Mr Crane said.
“Keeping on top of your health is a key part of staying independent and preventing falls as you age. Eating a nutritious diet, knowing your medications and their side effects, and keeping your mind alert are all important to stay healthy.”
Workshop attendees had the opportunity to hear from a local pharmacist, Foodbank WA nutritionist and a local artist, who spoke about a range of topics on staying strong and healthy.
In another win for the City’s partnership with SMHS, a trailblazing project to prevent falls and injuries in the Peel community was recently recognised at a state level.
The Mandurah 'Move Your Body' falls prevention project was highly commended in the Outstanding Achievement by a Local Government in Injury Prevention or Recovery Support category at the 2023 Injury Matters, Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Awards held in May.
The awards recognise individuals and organisations who have made a positive impact on the community through activities aimed at preventing and reducing the impact of injury, and this joint project was acknowledged for its injury prevention and safety promotion initiatives.
The Mandurah 'Move Your Body' falls prevention project is part of the Stay on Your Feet program provided by Injury Matters and funded by the WA Department of Health.
