A major national falls prevention clinical trial, led by world-renowned Hospital Falls researcher Professor Anne-Marie Hill from The University of Western Australia, continues to gain momentum at Northern Health.

On Monday 16 March, the evidence-based falls prevention program was officially launched in Ward 4, marking the implementation of the program on the second of four wards participating in the study.

The project, funded through a $1.4 million grant from the Medical Research Future Fund, aims to reduce hospital falls and fall-related injuries in older adults by implementing and evaluating an evidence-based patient education program.

Professor Hill is collaborating with local investigators from Northern Health and La Trobe University, including Dr Adam Semciw, Professor of Allied Health and Dr Hazel Heng, together with Prof Don Campbell, Divisional Director, Design and Discovery and Uyen Phan, Associate Director of Allied Health.

The research addresses the significant clinical and economic burden of hospital falls. Patients who fall while in hospital experience nearly double the length of stay compared with those who do not fall, with hospital-related costs also almost doubling. Each injurious hospital fall is estimated to incur approximately $38,991 in additional costs.

A key component of the program is the appointment of clinical staff as Falls Champions at Northern Health, supporting the translation and implementation of evidence into practice across participating wards.

Lauren Trim, Clinical Nurse Lead, and Narelle Frazer, Allied Health Lead and Physiotherapist, will play central roles in delivering and embedding the program across the wards.

Lauren said being part of the project provides a unique opportunity to contribute to world-leading research while remaining grounded in clinical care.

“I love being part of a patient-focused, nationwide trial that allows me not only to deliver education directly to patients, but also to be involved in shaping and evaluating the evidence that guides it.”

Narelle said the collaboration offers an opportunity to see research translated directly into patient care.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to be working with world-leading researchers to put evidence into practice and to observe the difference this is making to falls rates at Northern Health.”

Through strong collaboration between academic partners and frontline clinicians, the project will directly translate evidence into everyday care. By empowering patients, families and staff with practical, evidence-based education, the initiative aims to sustainably reduce falls, improve recovery outcomes and strengthen research capability within the health service—delivering safer, higher-quality care for older Australians.

Pictured in featured image (L-R): Narelle Frazer, Dr Hazel Heng, Prof Anne-Marie Hill, Elyse Brushfield, Renee O’Rourke, Alicia Brooks, Lauren Trim, Jack Tullio, Uyen Phan and Prof Adam Semciw.