NSW Fall Prevention & Healthy Ageing Network

30/03/2026

Are you ready for April Falls? The 2026 campaign focuses on recognising and acting on the early signs that someone may be at risk of falling.

Campaign resources include posters, presentations and live webinars - link to resources: https://buff.ly/1UoIOzS

15/03/2026

Closing tomorrow! Last chance to get your abstracts and rural travel grant applications in to attend the annual forum on May 1.

For more information: https://buff.ly/GI5AcBF

12/03/2026

🚨 Upcoming April Falls Day Webinar - Caring for people with changed behaviours
📅 Tuesday 21 April
⌛ 13:30 - 14:30 AEST

Register here: https://buff.ly/02lTrHV

09/03/2026

⏰️ One week left for abstract and rural travel grant submissions!

Present your initiatives or research projects on falls and/or healthy ageing or submit a travel grant application to attend our annual forum on May 1.

Submission deadline: Tuesday 17 March 5pm
Submission forms: https://buff.ly/GI5AcBF

Register to attend here: https://buff.ly/ij8iXfM

08/03/2026

Introducing our Annual Forum Plenary speaker: A/Prof Daina Sturnieks

Associate Professor Daina Sturnieks has a PhD in human biomechanics from The University of Western Australia. She is Deputy Head of Department of Anatomy at UNSW and Conjoint Senior Research Scientist at NeuRA. Her research focuses on understanding biomechanical, sensorimotor and neurocognitive contributions to balance and falls in older people and clinical groups, and randomised controlled trials of novel interventions to prevent falls involving balance, stepping and cognitive training. Daina is active in translating research findings into community, aged care and hospital settings. She is an Executive Board Member of the NSW Fall Prevention and Healthy Ageing Network.

Presentation: Research Update

This presentation will provide an update of the current evidence on falls and fall prevention, with a focus on how research findings can be implemented into clinical practice.

Take part in our annual forum on May 1 or submit abstracts/travel grant applications here: https://buff.ly/g7xo3oq

05/03/2026

🚨 Upcoming April Falls Day Webinar - Communication is a key strategy for hospital falls prevention – how, when and where?
📅 Wednesday 22 April
⌛ 13:30 - 14:30 AEST
Register here: https://buff.ly/cTPLoyW

Providing falls prevention education in hospitals can assist to keep patients safe during their stay and aligns with World and Australian Guidelines for Falls Prevention. Professor Hill’s presentation will provide a brief overview of evidence for hospitals falls prevention. The presentation will discuss strategies for systematic and clear communication between staff and patients about patient falls risk factors and how falls education needs to be tailored for patient diversity and ward culture. Older patients’ perspectives about communication on wards around falls prevention and practical strategies to enhance patient-staff communication about falls will be presented.

Professor Anne-Marie Hill is Senior Principal Research Fellow in the School of Health and Clinical Sciences and WA Centre for Health & Ageing at The University of Western Australia.

Her research interests are in improving older people’s health and well-being. Professor Hill has held two NHMRC Investigator grants (2020-25 and 2012-15) focusing on fall prevention. She has obtained over $15.5 M in research funding and has over 185 publications, with over 110 articles on falls prevention. She is a Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists, awarded by the Australian Physiotherapy Association, and has over 30 years clinical experience working with older people. Professor Hill has led large clinical trials in hospital, community and residential care settings and collaborates with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and communities, focusing on healthy ageing for older Aboriginal people in Western Australia.

03/03/2026

Our February falls research update is out now!

Featuring research on balance and mobility tests to stratify fall risk in the World Falls Guidelines, a nation-wide fall prevention intervention in the Netherlands and a review of exercise snacking on fall-related functional outcomes.

Read the abstracts here: https://buff.ly/Att2zuY

01/03/2026

Introducing our Annual Forum Plenary speaker: Roisin Sweeney

Roisin manages community focused injury prevention programs designed to contribute to a population level reduction in injury rates in Western Australia. She has a Bachelor of Preventive Health, a Masters of Business Administration and over 10 years of injury prevention experience. Roisin’s key interests include supporting the adoption of evidence-based practice within the community setting and improving injury outcomes within priority population groups.

Presentation: What's happening out West? Insight into WA's Stay On Your Feet® program.

Injury Matters has been delivering the Stay On Your Feet® program on behalf of the WA Department of Health for 25 years. The program delivers a range of activities to raise awareness amongst older adults living independently in the community that falls are preventable, including the Move Improve Remove mass media campaign, peer-led presentations, community events and resources. Also working to increase the capacity of the diverse falls prevention sector, the program offers training events, networking opportunities and a community grants program.

Take part in our annual forum on May 1 or submit abstracts/travel grant applications here: https://buff.ly/g7xo3oq

22/02/2026

Introducing our Annual Forum Plenary speaker: Dr Mae Lim

Dr Mei Ling (Mae) Lim is a Research Fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia and The George Institute for Global Health, and a Conjoint Lecturer at UNSW. Her current research focuses on concerns about falling and the development of digital and community-based interventions to support confidence, mobility, and independence in older adults. She leads projects creating innovative digital tools to help older people manage fall-related concerns, and contributes to intergenerational research aimed at reducing frailty and improving wellbeing in later life.

Presentation: Concerns about Falling in Older Adults: Current Evidence and Insights

Concerns about falling are common among older adults and can lead to reduced daily activity, lower quality of life, and increased risk of future falls. This talk will outline key World Falls Guidelines recommendations on recognising and addressing fall-related concerns. It will highlight practical behavioural, psychological, and technology-based approaches now being explored in community settings, and discuss how these developments can inform future research and better support older adults in feeling safer and more confident.

Take part in our annual forum on May 1 or submit abstracts/travel grant applications here: https://buff.ly/XgOiwK7

18/02/2026

One month left to submit abstracts to present / rural travel grant applications to attend our Annual Forum on May 1.

Submission forms here: https://buff.ly/4Geh9Rs

The NSW Fall Prevention & Healthy Ageing Network Annual Forum provides a fantastic opportunity to come together and learn about the latest on fall prevention and healthy ageing. Listen to experts in their field provide an overview of the latest research, advocacy, quality improvement and fall preven...

15/02/2026

Introducing our Annual Forum Plenary speaker: Dr Anita Nitchingham

Anita Nitchingham is a Academic Geriatrician at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, and Vice-President of the Australasian Delirium Association. She submitted her PhD thesis in 2025, which focused on cerebral glucose metabolism and intranasal insulin for the treatment of delirium.

Presentation: Not Just Confusion: Delirium as a Falls Prevention Target

Delirium is common in older adults and significantly increases the risk of falling during hospitalisation and recovery. Acute changes in attention, judgement, and mobility heighten vulnerability, often continuing after delirium resolves. This presentation explores the links between delirium and falls and highlights strategies to integrate delirium prevention and management into falls prevention care.

Take part in our annual forum on May 1 or submit abstracts/travel grant applications here: https://buff.ly/g7xo3oq

12/02/2026

Let's Talk About Falls - Staying Safe Starts with a Chat

Resources for our April Falls campaign are now available, including posters, social media tiles, backgrounds and more! Start a conversation about falls today, because falls don't just happen.

Resources here: https://buff.ly/TKG9uML