Aims. To collaboratively advocacy for greater awareness and action on falls in older Australians among the community, health professionals and policy makers. Falls in older adults cost our health systems over $2.8 billion each year and can have devastating personal consequences, with 400 older Australians hospitalised after a fall each day and 6000 dying from a fall each year. Yet Australia has no national policy or co-ordination of fall prevention initiatives.
Methods. Over the past three years we have brought together researchers, clinicians and consumers to co-ordinate efforts. The work has been led by the NHMRC-funded Centre for Research Excellence in the Prevention of Falls Injuries and the Australia and New Zealand Fall Prevention Society with support from multiple organisations.
Results So far we have created evidence reports, infographics and videos[1], gained media attention with an estimated reach of over 1 million people, supported the NSW Clinical Excellence Commission to launch a White Paper, worked with the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care on new Australian Guidelines for Falls Prevention to be launched in 2025, hosted a roundtable attended by representatives from 38 different organisations (including the ANZ Society for Geriatric Medicine) [2], and are making plans for an alliance to formalise these relationships and create a central resource hub.
Conclusions. We have a long way to go but have collectively learnt a great deal about systems thinking, health policy, collaboration, consumer engagement, media engagement, building on relationships and communication of evidence.