‘Move Your Body’ falls prevention project recognised for injury prevention initiatives
![Nine members of the SMHS Health Promotion team standing together smiling, with two holding the award certificate in the middle.](/~/media/HSPs/SMHS/Hospitals/RkPG/Images/News/2023/RGH-move-your-body-award-news.png)
Developed in partnership with City of Mandurah and South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) Health Promotion, a trailblazing project to prevent falls and injuries in the Peel community has been 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 recent 2023 Injury Matters, Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Awards.
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.
SMHS Health Promotion Manager Richard Crane said the award is in recognition of the commitment by the City of Mandurah in reducing preventable falls and falls-related injuries.
"It is great to have the project recognised as a high-quality injury prevention initiative," Richard said.
"Effective injury prevention and safety promotion initiatives are essential for improving the overall health and wellbeing of Western Australians."
Mandurah Mayor Rhys Williams said the City is proud to foster a positive partnership with SMHS to deliver this project to people in Mandurah.
"We want to see our community stay safe and healthy, and these types of programs go a long way towards achieving this by preventing falls," Mayor Williams said.
"We were pleased to see this program has had such a positive response among locals, and we're delighted it's been recognised in the 2023 Injury Matters Awards - thank you to all the staff that have helped deliver this."
The Mandurah 'Move Your Body' falls prevention project is part of the Stay On Your Feet (external link) program provided by Injury Matters and funded by the WA Department of Health.