7NEWS heeds the call for fall prevention

Every day, 17 Australians die and 400 are hospitalised because of falls, costing the health system $3 billion a year. Despite decades of world-leading research, Australia still has no national plan to prevent these injuries and deaths.

7NEWS reported on the Falls Prevention Alliance Australia's call for action. Alliance supporters Michael Caton, Allegra Spender and Prof Anne Tiedemann were interviewed for the segment that aired Sunday 26 October 2025.

Watch the segment here. Read the article here.

A national call to action

We are calling on federal and state governments to:

• Develop a National Falls Action Plan, modelled on the 2024 Dementia National Action Plan, with measurable targets and coordinated delivery of evidence-based interventions.

• Increase funding for intervention programs, such as community exercise initiatives and rebates through Medicare and private health funds.

• Fund a national public health campaign, similar to those for smoking and skin cancer prevention, to provide Australians with practical information about how to prevent falls and where to find support.

It’s time for Australia to take falls prevention seriously. With leadership, awareness, and action, thousands of lives can be saved each year.