On 21 October 2024, AHPA joined community representatives, researchers and clinicians at a roundtable on Falls Prevention in Older People.
Falls among older Australians are increasing due to an ageing population. It has been estimated that every day 364 Australians aged 65 years and older have a fall that puts them in hospital. Evidence also suggests that falls can be reduced by 30% in 12 months. View the Australia and New Zealand Falls Prevention Society for further details.
Australia has no national falls prevention strategy. At the Roundtable, more than 40 organisations endorsed the call for coordinated efforts to ramp up a national campaign to increase public awareness and secure policy commitment.
The roundtable was led by the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and supported by a coalition of public health and policy research organisations, including the Australia and New Zealand Fall Prevention Society, Neuroscience Research Australia, the University of Melbourne, Sydney Policy Lab and the Prevention Research Collaboration at the Charles Perkins Centre.
AHPA thanks AHPA NSW-ACT Branch Committee member Professor Philayrath Phongsavan for representing the Association at the roundtable.