Stay On Your Feet WA Developing Falls Prevention Resources for the Aboriginal Population in Western Australia

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Stay On Your Feet WA Developing Falls Prevention Resources for the Aboriginal Population in Western Australia"

Dorthy Carpenter
5 years ago
Views:

1 Stay On Your Feet WA Developing Falls Prevention Resources for the Aboriginal Population in Western Australia Shelley Harwood Education Coordinator Injury Control Council of WA (Inc)

2 Injury Control Council of WA Peak not for profit organisation involved in injury prevention and community safety in Western Australia Mission: Reduce incidence of injuries and their effects Encourage, promote and engage in research into injuries Program areas: Falls Prevention, Alcohol, Community Safety, Capacity Building, Suicide Prevention

3 What is Stay On Your Feet WA Targets people 60+ and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 45+ Funded by Department of Health WA Aims to improving the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs among seniors that falls are preventable reduce the incidence of falls reduce the severity of fall-related injuries

4 Falls Prevention in Aboriginal People Identifying the need for falls prevention resources for the Aboriginal population in WA Currently no state wide resources available WA Falls Prevention Health Network identified this as a target area for resource development Current community based falls prevention resources are inappropriate

Project aim To develop evidence based, population specific and culturally appropriate falls prevention resources that inform the Aboriginal population

5 Project aim To develop evidence based, population specific and culturally appropriate falls prevention resources that inform the Aboriginal population of the contributing risk factors to a fall and some of the strategies to assist in the prevention of a fall. Target groups Noongar people Kimberley region

6 Formation of working parties Guide development of resources Sourced predominantly through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Allied Health professionals and Aboriginal Health Workers Identification of resources Development and dissemination of a needs assessment Content and format of resources

7 Noongar Resource Needs Assessment 59 responses received Issues relating to falls prevention Substance abuse, housing conditions, foot care and footwear, visual impairments, disease conditions. Format of resources Posters and pamphlets, video education, speakers kit Use of pictures to convey message Educating health professionals Other issues?

8 Kimberley Resource Needs Assessment 35 responses received Issues relating to falls prevention: Medication and polypharmacy, housing conditions, substance abuse, lower limb problems, visual impairments, disease conditions Format of resources Video education, posters and pamphlets, speakers kit. Resources need to stimulate discussion amongst community members Incorporation of family as well as carers, HACC workers, Aboriginal Health Workers Falls prevention training package already in use

9 Incorporation of Aboriginal community members Aboriginal Elders from the Noongar community Aboriginal Community members and health workers from the Kimberley Issues raised by community members: Would not tell someone if they had a fall Issue of falls is not completely understood Overcrowding/housing conditions Access to health services Paper based resources not beneficial Story telling Need for resources to be meaningful/personalised

10 Kimberley Resource Visual resource was not possible Budget constraints Images unable to be used if the person passes away Access to facilities Audio resource Easy to edit out sections Portable equipment Can be utilised in a wider range of settings

Challenges Engagement of Aboriginal community members and health workers in the development process Engagement of people in the Kimberley region Support to disseminate and promote already existing

11 Challenges Engagement of Aboriginal community members and health workers in the development process Engagement of people in the Kimberley region Support to disseminate and promote already existing resource Who falls? A falls education project for remote Kimberley Aboriginal communities Solange Rousset Kimberley Aged and Community Services 2008 Modified from HACC Falls Prevention for Older Western Australians Orientation Manual 2004 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this publication contains images of deceased persons

12 Noongar Resource Speakers Kit delivered to community members by health professionals Overcome the issue of paper based resources Personalised Currently testing content of resource

13 Where to from here? Finalise content of resource Resource available July 2010 Promote and disseminate Kimberley resource Increase awareness of availability of resource Investigate other avenues of promotion

14 Contact Details Shelley Harwood Education Coordinator Injury Control Council of WA (Inc) Ph: (08)

strategic plan strong teeth strong body strong mind Developed in partnership with Rotary Clubs of Perth and Heirisson

strategic plan strong teeth strong body strong mind Developed in partnership with Rotary Clubs of Perth and Heirisson strategic plan 2012-2016 strong teeth strong body strong mind CONTENTS Introduction 2 Key Result Area 1 Dental Health Education 5 Key Result Area 2 Dental Treatment 7 Key Result Area 3 Advocacy 9 Key