Researchers at Neuroscience Research Australia support the recommendations put forward in the Clinical Excellence Commission’s Fall Prevention in NSW White Paper 2023.
The white paper, released on the Monday November 20, outlined the significant cost of falls to older Australians and the healthcare sector.
“Falls are a leading cause of injury-related deaths in Australia and older people are particularly susceptible,” says Professor Kim Delbaere, Senior Principal Research Scientist at NeuRA and Director of Innovation & Translation at the Falls, Balance & Injury Research Centre. “The good news is that falls can be prevented.”
“The team here at NeuRA are proud to have co-authored this white paper and are looking forward to seeing its recommendations implemented across NSW and nationwide.”
About the white paper
The CEC’s White Paper on Fall Prevention in NSW was developed in collaboration with experts, researchers, policymakers, consumers and other stakeholders, presents actionable strategies to address this issue. It provides evidence-based practices and best-in-class approaches to guide healthcare providers, organisations, and policymakers in our shared mission to reduce falls and their associated harms.
The nine recommendations for NSW include:
- Develop a Falls Action Plan for NSW that outlines a five-year strategy
- Establish a mechanism to better co-ordinate and link fall prevention actions
- Deliver fall prevention actions that reflect the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care National Guidelines for Fall Prevention
- Provide education and training for NSW Health staff and others to deliver and implement evidence-based fall prevention interventions
- Provide a “one stop shop” for access to resources and program information for consumers and health professionals
- Collate and track data on the numbers of people being admitted to hospital and presenting to NSW emergency departments after a fall
- Seek opportunities for collaborative implementation research to deliver effective fall prevention programs in NSW Health settings
- Advocate and collaborate for national action on falls
- Collaborate with government departments, agencies and community and aged care organisations.
The full white paper and list of recommendations can be found here.
About NeuRA’s falls prevention research
Neuroscience Research Australia is proud to manage the NSW Fall Prevention and Healthy Ageing Network.
Our mission is to support practitioners to improve the lives of older Australians through healthy ageing initiatives with a focus on preventing falls and fall-related injuries.
Find out more here.
