New national alliance calls for urgent action on falls prevention

Experts at UNSW Sydney, Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and the University of Sydney have joined forces with more than 30 community organisations, health professionals and researchers, to launch Australia’s first national falls prevention alliance.

Falls are a leading cause of death and injury among older Australians, with 17 people dying and 400 hospitalised every day, and cost the Australian health care system $3 billion annually.

Despite decades of research and proven prevention strategies, Australia has no national plan to prevent falls in older adults, one of the country’s most preventable causes of injury and death.

The Falls Prevention Alliance Australia, which is backed by prominent Australians including former NSW Premier Bob Carr and actor Michael Caton, is calling on the government to invest more into fall prevention and to show leadership by creating a National Action Plan with measurable strategies and targets to reduce falls.

“Australia is a world leader in falls prevention research,” said Professor Kim Delbaere, a co-founder of the Alliance, Discipline Lead of Physiotherapy at UNSW’s School of Health Sciences and Senior Principal Research Scientist at NeuRA. “But we are lacking a strong coordinated approach which could help to reduce falls across the country rapidly.”  

Prof. Delbaere, who is also President of the Australia and New Zealand Falls Prevention Society, added: “The current inaction not only neglects the health and wellbeing of older Australians but also highlights systemic ageism in health policy priorities.” 

Professor Cathie Sherrington, a co-founder of the Alliance who works at the Sydney School of Public Health and the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health said: “The government invests millions in preventing skin cancer and smoking-related diseases, yet despite a third of falls being preventable, there’s little comparable investment to stop these avoidable injuries and deaths.” 

“We have an ageing population in Australia. Without investment in prevention programs, the problem of fall-related injuries and deaths will continue to rise. We need action now and strategies for people living in their own homes as well as aged care,” Prof. Sherrington said.

Evidence-based strategies to prevent falls include balance and strength training, medication reviews, and home modifications such as handrails and ramps.

The Falls Prevention Alliance Australia is calling for Federal and State governments to:

• Develop a National Falls Action Plan – modelled on the 2024 Dementia National Action Plan, a falls action plan would set measurable reduction targets and coordinate the delivery of evidence-based interventions across states and territories;
• Increase funding for intervention programs – for example to support community exercise programs, and provide additional Medicare and health fund rebates for care;
• Fund a national public health campaign, similar to those for smoking prevention and skin cancer, to provide Australians with practical information about how to prevent falls and where to go for advice.

Prof. Delbaere said: “The Federal Government released its National Dementia Action Plan at the end of 2024 and we need the same commitment for falls prevention.”

The Alliance includes UNSW, NeuRA, the University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, Rotary South Pacific Falls Prevention Committee, Australian and New Zealand Falls Prevention Society, Australian Physiotherapy Association, Injury Matters WA, and Council on the Ageing NSW.