The University of the Sunshine Coast will hold a free falls prevention workshop for elderly Gympie residents and their family and friends, carers and those working in the disability and aged care sectors.

The workshop at UniSC’s Gympie campus on Tuesday 12 July will cover practical steps to manage and reduce the risk of falls, and how to respond when someone has fallen.

“Anyone can have a fall, but the risk of falling, and fall-related problems increases with age,” said UniSC Senior Lecturer in Physiology Dr Mia Schaumberg, whose specialises in ageing research.

“Falls are one of the major factors of unintentional injury in the older population and can be the primary cause of serious injury or disability,” she said.

“Most can be prevented so understanding the simple changes that can be made around the home could minimise the likelihood of falls and fall-related hospitalisations.”

The workshop, from 10am to 1pm, is open to anyone interested in learning more about falls prevention, including elderly residents who want to reduce their own risk at home.

It will include talks by Dr Schaumberg and UniSC Senior Lecturer in Paramedicine Dr Nigel Barr, interactive workshops with UniSC Higher Degree by Research students, panel discussion and a networking lunch.

Registration is essential and can be made through Eventbrite. For more information email gympie@usc.edu.au or call 07 5456 5800.