Australia leads the way in fall prevention

18 November 2004

Australian and international experts on fall prevention will gather in Sydney next week for the inaugural Australian Falls Prevention Conference.

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, will open the conference on Monday.

"Australia is regarded as a world-leader in fall prevention," said Conference host, UNSW Associate Professor Stephen Lord, the Director of the Falls and Balance Research Group at the Prince of Wales Hospital. "It seems obvious that we should have our own conference where we can exchange ideas and learn about the latest research from here and overseas."

The conference will look at falls in older people and ensuring that research findings are put into practice.

"We have an ageing population, so falls are going to become an increasing problem in years to come," said Professor Lord. "This is something we need to look at now, to minimise injury and pain for those who are at risk and also to reduce the burden on the health care system.

"It also provides researchers and practitioners the ability to network and learn from each other, so people don't have to re-invent the wheel."

Professor Lord will also be presenting his work about targeted group exercise amongst an elderly at-risk group at the conference.

His research, Evidence-based overview of strategies to modify falls - a physiological perspective, found that those who took part in the program were 20 percent less likely to fall than those who did not.

What: Australian Falls Prevention Conference
Where: Manly Pacific Hotel, 55 North Steyne Rd, Manly
When: 8.30am, Monday 22 - Tuesday 23 November

For further information go to the website

For press accreditation or for further information, please contact: Susi Hamilton, UNSW Media unit, tel. 9385 1583.