Falls prevention access and funding is a key policy and government relations priority for the APA. 

Physiotherapy-led prevention reduces falls and fractures. It improves strength, balance, confidence and mobility, while enhancing a person’s participation and quality of life. 

It also reduces system costs through avoided hospitalisations and surgery. 

Advocating for appropriate preventive health funding is therefore a central ask in our engagement with stakeholders across the political spectrum. 

In meetings with federal and state policymakers, health departments and crossbench representatives, we consistently emphasise that prevention must be funded, not simply referenced in strategy documents. 

Sustainable investment in physiotherapy-led falls prevention is a practical, evidencebased reform that delivers measurable returns for governments, communities and the health system. 

The case to improve access to falls prevention is unquestionably strong. Injuries from falls cost the Australian health system approximately $5.4 billion each year and result in 248,000 hospitalisations (43 per cent of all injuries). 

The impact of falls on those over the age of 65 is dire, with 40 per cent of injury deaths among this cohort in Australia resulting from falls. 

Despite ample evidence that physiotherapyled falls prevention interventions can significantly reduce health system costs, injuries and mortality, policy reform has failed to systematically address this area of need. 

While the impacts are clear, we are conscious that for advocacy to be successful, we must present solutions and positive examples of where physiotherapyled falls prevention is well implemented. 

We are taking a multi-pronged approach to this work, focused on maximising every opportunity to advocate for a nationally consistent falls prevention program across a variety of settings – beginning with community settings, where blended funding models such as primary health networks offer a practical entry point. 

We are calling for the establishment of a priority multidisciplinary model that embeds a physiotherapy-led frailty-to-independence pathway; reduces preventable hospitalisations, injury and death; and safeguards the health and mobility of older Australians. 

Our federal pre-Budget submission 2026– 27 outlines the current systemic deficiencies in maintaining mobility, balance, strength and independence in older Australians and offers a strong solution to addressing this neglected area. 

The APA position statement Statement from the Australian Physiotherapy Association on falls prevention, developed with our national Gerontology committee, outlines the need, evidence and solutions in depth and is a key asset in our advocacy toolkit. 

We are also highlighting cases where falls prevention has been successfully rolled out by aged care providers and the positive impact that these types of programs have on reducing risk, incidences of falls and associated injuries and delivery of multidisciplinary care. 

Read our story on Twilight Aged Care for more. 

April Falls Month is an important annual event that raises awareness of this often overlooked concern and that we use to get our message out. 

It’s a good time for physiotherapists to have conversations about the benefits of physiotherapy with employers, clients and carers. 

The APA’s How physiotherapists help meet the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards is designed to assist members working in aged care to advocate for the profession. 

Meanwhile, the Policy and Government Relations team will continue engaging with politicians; the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing; and other key stakeholders to ensure our message is heard. 

If Australia is serious about aging well, reducing hospital demand and improving equity in rural and remote communities, physiotherapy must be embedded within preventive funding frameworks. 

Sustainable investment in physiotherapy is an investment in independence, dignity and health system resilience. 

To read more about how we are advocating for falls prevention, check out APA National President Rik Dawson’s column, Fall prevention is not optional.