Falls Prevention, Making a Move ‘Train the Trainer’ Session

On 5 August 2010, the Vision Initiative coordinated and delivered a ‘train the trainer’ education session for Making a Move program coordinators.

The two hour session was held at the Optometrist Association Australia, Victoria, office in Drummond Street, Carlton. Seven allied health workers, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and nurses attended the session where they learnt how to use the online training resources, available on the Vision Initiative website, for vision and falls prevention.

The participants practiced asking the questions on the vision assessment tool and discussed when and how to refer a client to an eye health practitioner. A vision loss simulation activity enabled the health workers to understand, to some extent, the difficulties experienced with different eye conditions and this interactive session was well received with feedback from the training morning very positive.

The Vision Initiative anticipates coordinating more of these sessions later in 2010 and would like to acknowledge Margaret Thomas from the Victorian Department of Health, Aged Care Branch, Falls Prevention Unit for her support in promoting this event to members of the Victorian Falls Prevention Network.