Other Joint Initiatives
Falls Prevention

The Central West Gippsland Falls Prevention Group was established to act as a steering committee for funded falls prevention projects. All CWGPCP Working Groups also work to progress strategic directions and other special business for defined activities of the CWGPCP.  The CWG Falls Prevention Group is responsible for the management of processes and activities necessary for achieving goals and outcomes as determined by the CWGPCP, including:
 
*  To develop strategies to reduce both the frequencies and impact of falls locally.
*  Act as a steering committee for funded falls prevention projects.
*  Implementation and evaluation of relevant objectives as listed in the CWGPCP Partnership Plan for Community Health and Wellbeing.
*  Development of project proposals and submissions.
*  Steering and evaluation of relevant projects.
*  Oversight of funds allocated to relevant PCP projects.
*  Provision of reports to PCP business meetings.
*  Encouragement of increased participation in PCP activities.
*  Support of member agencies in relation to the relevant PCP strategy.
*  CWGPCP is committed to working in partnership to strengthen falls prevention strategies across the community and reduce the frequency and impact of falls.
 
To achieve this, the CWG Falls Prevention Group will:
 
*  Facilitate and strengthen a partnership approach to falls prevention.
*  Identify needs and gaps and set strategic directions in relation to falls prevention.
*  Develop short, medium and long term strategies to reduce both the frequency and impacts of falls across the catchment area.
*  Ensure falls prevention strategies and plans are implemented in collaboration with the Department of Human Services and Department of Health and Aging.
*  Provide strategic direction to the project coordinator and project workers on the implementation of falls project work plans.
*  Provide advice and assistance as appropriate on wider service delivery and implementation issues.
*  Facilitate feedback between service providers on the appropriate structures and processes necessary to ensure effective collaboration in service planning and delivery to shared target  groups.
*  Inform and be informed by collaborated evidence that is based on best practice.
*  Provide support and participate in the evaluation of Falls Prevention projects.
*  Ensure that falls projects positively build on existing infrastructure and relationships.
*  Build the capacity of organisations, communities and individuals to improve falls prevention in the community.

The CWGPCP Falls Prevention Group Terms of Reference can be found on this website under 'PCP Documents and Resources'

Falls Prevention Tit Bits
 
 
Falls Prevention Resource Kit
 
Home Medicines Review - Side 1    Side 2 
Companion Card - Side 1    Side 2 

Other Falls Prevention Links 
 
HACC Slips and Falls Downloadable Educational Resources
The National Home and Community Care Slips and Falls Learning Resource is developed for trainers to enable training for Home and Community Care (HACC) Workers (also known as Home Care Workers or Community Care Workers). It has a suite of accredited and non-accredited learning resources that provides information, education and preventive interventions aimed at minimising the risk of injury and premature admission to residential care through falls in the home. This accredited learning and assessment resource is the outcome of a joint project between the Home and Community Care Branch- Department of Health and Ageing (DOHA) and the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (ISC). These resources are available as free downloads at https://www.cshisc.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=158&Itemid=342. Alternatively, you can request a free copy of the HACC Slips and Falls CD ROM which includes the 20-minute "Stepping Out" video (not available as a download from this website due to large file constraints).
 
  

Victorian Department of Human Services Falls Prevention website 

New e-learning package for Health Professionals

This is now available. You can access the content through the South Australian government website http://www.fallssa.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=189&Itemid=201. This might be of interest in respect to training packages and considerations for capacity building in the area of Falls Prevention or other public health issues - as it could be adapted. For other resources look at www.fallssa.com.au and follow the prompts.
 
Victoria's response to Preventing Falls among Older People – August 2009 News Bulletin - Department of Human Services Aged Care branch  
 
Victoria's response to Preventing Falls among Older People - April 2009 News Bulletin - Department of Human Services Aged Care branch
 
Victoria's response to Preventing Falls among Older People - December 2009 News Bulletin - Department of Human Services Aged Care branch

Victoria's response to Preventing Falls among Older People - February 2010 News Bulletin - Department of Human Services Aged Care branch 
 
Victoria's response to Preventing Falls among Older People - April 2010 News Bulletin - Department of Human Services Aged Care branch
 
Victoria's response to Preventing Falls among Older People - June 2010 News Bulletin - Department of Human Services Aged Care branch
 
Victoria's response to Preventing Falls among Older People - August 2010 News Bulletin - Department of Human Services Aged Care branch
 
Problem Gambling

CWGPCP is the Problem Gambling priority PCP in Gippsland, with the particular emphasis for this project being on Latrobe City.  CWGPCP is committed to ensuring that health promotion is an integral part of all health service provision, and to building the capacity of organisations, communities and individuals to improve health and wellbeing in the community, working in a collaborative manner and using a mix of interventions and capacity building strategies. Rather than focus on gambling as a stand alone issue, CWGPCP is looking to address community resilience through the three priority areas of mental wellbeing, active communities and accessible and nutritious food.

The PCP gambling portfolio is supported and monitored via a Strategic Working Group and Community Reference Group, with interventions rolled out by member agencies, including LCHS Gambler’s Help Services and Health Promotion teams, drawing on PCP resources as required. The service coordination aspect of the project is overseen by the Gippsland Service Coordination and Integrated Chronic Disease Management Task Group.
 
 
Kids-Life!

CWGPCP is one of three pilot sites for Kids-Life!, an initiative of the Life! Lifestyle Change Programs announced in the 2006-07 Victorian State Budget. Kids-Life! is designed to support and resource families to make healthy lifestyle changes, targeting families of primary school aged children who are already overweight or obese. There are three main components: assessment, group intervention and individual intervention. Community health services have been identified as the ideal setting to provide this initiative and West Gippsland Healthcare Group and Latrobe Community Health Service, supported by the PCP, will both be providing the program in Baw Baw and Latrobe.

The MEND (Mind Exercise Nutrition…Do it!) program is the group intervention that has been chosen here. It is a free family-based weight management intervention for children aged 7-13, suitable for delivery in community settings. The program consists of 20 x 2-hour sessions over 10 weeks and encompasses mind and nutrition and physical activity sessions.

For further information contact the Kids-Life! Coordinators at West Gippsland Healthcare Group (5624 3500) or Latrobe Community Health Service (1800 242 696).  
 
Rural Support

In 2007/08 CWGPCP was funded to provide a Drought Support Project. The key deliverables of the project were to:

 

  • Build a Drought Focus
  • Support and Identify Health Promotion
  • Promote and Identify Service Coordination
  • Enhance Knowledge of Drought Programs Across Catchments
  • Convene local Training activities
  • Link with General Practice.

Connections were made with a large range of stakeholders, within both the primary care and rural sectors.  PCP, WGHG and CWGDGP drought support staff worked closely on a number of activities along with staff from Relationships Australia.

 

In the rural sector, the key groups were the Gippsland Dairy Drought Teleconference and Service Provider Forums, established by GippsDairy and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI). These links are now maintained through a CWGDoGP project.