Preventing Slips, Trips & Falls in Disability Support

Course Overview

This course provides a proactive safety framework for maintaining a hazard-free environment within disability service settings. It focuses on the customization of prevention strategies to account for the specific mobility challenges, sensory processing needs, and environmental factors that increase fall risks for NDIS participants.

Aligned with the NDIS Practice Standards for “Risk Management” and “Environment Safety,” this training equips staff with the skills to identify “invisible” hazards before they lead to injury. Participants will learn how to balance the participant’s “Dignity of Risk” with the provider’s duty of care, ensuring a safe yet empowering living or community space.

What You’ll Learn

• Recognize the physical, psychological, and financial impact of falls on participants and the support workforce.

• Clarify the roles and responsibilities of support workers, employers, and allied health professionals (such as OTs) in a comprehensive falls prevention plan.

• Identify intrinsic risk factors (e.g., medication side effects, vision impairment, muscle weakness) and extrinsic hazards (e.g., poor lighting, cluttered walkways, improper footwear).

• Implement practical prevention strategies, including the “3-Point Contact” rule, the use of non-slip aids, and environmental modifications.

• Execute immediate incident response protocols following a fall, including primary first aid and medical escalation.

• Master “Audit-Ready” documentation, including hazard reports, post-fall clinical observations, and updates to the participant’s risk profile.

• Analyze real-world case studies to identify the root causes of falls in shared living (SIL) and community access environments.

• Understand the legal requirements for reporting serious falls to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

Course Modules

• Understand the Importance of Falls Prevention

• Understand Roles and Responsibilities in Preventing Falls

• Identify Risk Factors and Common Hazards

• Implement Practical Prevention Strategies

• Execute Incident Response and Documentation

• Analyse Real-World Case Studies

Designed For

• Frontline disability support workers and SIL practitioners.

• NDIS house leads and operations managers.

• Community health workers and residential care assistants.

• Quality and compliance officers responsible for WHS and incident oversight.

• Family carers and nominees looking to improve home safety for participants.