The Victorian Falls Prevention Alliance

Reducing the incidence and impact of falls in hospital settings
Falls are a leading cause of preventable harm and suffering across community, hospital and residential aged-care settings.
As part of our collaboration with Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (MACH) and Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre, Western Alliance has been involved in establishing the Victorian Falls Prevention Alliance.
The purpose of the Falls Prevention Alliance is to work collaboratively to reduce falls and falls injuries in hospitals. This work is overseen by a committee made up of researchers, clinicians and consumers.
Falls are a leading cause of harm across the continuum of care. Falls are particularly challenging in the hospital setting where they are the most frequent clinical risk in patient care. To date, there is a variable evidence base supporting commonly used strategies to prevent falls. There is also variability between health services as to what strategies are utilised for the prevention of falls.
The World guidelines for falls prevention and management for older adults (see publication) were released in September 2022. The Falls Prevention Alliance will play an instrumental role working with Victorian health services on the implementation of these guidelines.
Moving from research and evidence into implementation
Alliance Allied Health representative and Associate Director of Allied Health at Northern Health Uyen Phan (pictured below) says the Alliance is playing a crucial role in helping health services implement evidence-based guidelines.
“There’s lots of research out there about what works and what doesn’t. As a clinician, my concern is that this knowledge isn’t easily accessible for health services. That is, what do I need to do as a health service to minimise falls? What strategies should I implement?
“The Alliance is really building up to be the peak falls body in Victoria: a central point for sharing information and resources to help prevent falls across different health services.”
This includes the World guidelines for falls prevention and management for older adults – published in 2022 to help ensure a more standardised and evidence-based approach.
“At our May Workshop, we came together to discuss and analyse the guidelines. In October, we’re having a community of practice session to discuss how the strategies can be implemented across the various health services,” Mr Phan says.
“We’re certainly moving from research and evidence into implementation, which is ultimately what’s going to help prevent patient falls in hospitals.”
Drawing from lived experience
As the Alliance’s consumer representative, Stephen Peterson (pictured below) is also keen to implement change.

“I commend the Alliance for bringing me on board, because the role of a consumer is very important, and I’m delighted I’ve got the chance to contribute to such a worthwhile organisation.”
Mr Peterson was driven to become a consumer representative after witnessing the impact of falls first-hand.
“In the last 18 months of his life, my father had a few falls. Unfortunately, the third broke his hip, and he died a month later,” he says. “Looking back, these experiences really helped me understand and appreciate the risk of elderly people having a fall, wherever they might be.”
Since retiring 10 years ago, Mr Peterson says he has volunteered in aged care and other organisations focussed on the elderly, where the issue of falls is “never far away”.
“I like to see ideas and research implemented, being utilised and giving benefit to the elderly.
“There’s a lot of learning to be done out in the broader community. And that’s where I believe the Alliance has an essential role to play, now and into the future.”
To find out more about this initiative please contact Drew Aras: drew.aras@westernalliance.org.au
To sign up for the Victorian Falls Prevention Alliance newsletter, email info@monashpartners.org.au