A series of workshops on an “acutely important subject” – frailty – will be held around New South Wales and South Australia regional locations between May and October. The first workshop will be held in Wagga Wagga on Sunday 20 May. According to Professor Patrick Ball, from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Biomedical Sciences, who leads the multidisciplinary team developing the program, the aim is to optimise the care of frail elderly people in rural and remote communities. “A frail elderly person who falls ill can suddenly go from living independently to being in institutional care. But if you intervene appropriately and vigorously in the early stages, you can keep them at home for years longer. This is especially important in rural and remote areas so you don’t disrupt their life. Their social circle isn’t ruined and we do not finish up picking up the bill as a society.”