New Australian guidelines: Preventing falls in community care – what you need to know
Falls remain one of the leading causes of harm and loss of independence for older Australians living at home. With our ageing population, preventing falls has never been more important — not just to reduce hospital visits, but to keep people active, confident, and enjoying life.
That’s why the newly updated 2025 Australian Fall Prevention Guidelines for Community Care are so significant. These guidelines, developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, draw on the latest international research to give clear, evidence-based advice for keeping older people on their feet.
As physiotherapists working every day with older adults, we want to share what these new guidelines mean — and how Outreach Physiotherapy can help.
What’s changed in the new guidelines?
The new 2025 guidelines move away from using simple “fall risk scores,” instead recommending that we focus on the person’s level and type of risk, alongside tailored, practical prevention strategies.
This means more emphasis on:
✅ Individualised exercise programs
✅ Home safety interventions
✅ Medication reviews
✅ Vision, foot care, and osteoporosis management
✅ Supporting mental health, confidence, and cognitive function
It’s about treating the whole person — not just ticking boxes on a risk tool.
Key recommendations you should know
The guidelines lay out clear recommendations for best practice in preventing falls:
🏋️♂️ Exercise is essential
2-3 hours a week of ongoing exercise that targets balance, strength, and mobility.
Even people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia can safely exercise with support.
Tailored programs are especially important for those who’ve had a fall or have mobility issues.
Physiotherapists and exercise physiologists are highlighted as key professionals to design and supervise these programs.
🏠 Make homes safer
For older people at increased risk (including those who’ve fallen in the past year, use walking aids, have vision issues, or recently left hospital), an occupational therapist should do a home safety assessment and provide practical modifications.
⚖️ Combine strategies for best results
For those who’ve had one or more falls in a year, the guidelines recommend exercise PLUS education about staying safe at home and in the community.
If someone has two or more falls a year, they should have a full falls assessment that covers everything from medications to eyesight, footwear, mental health, and bone health.
👀 Manage specific risks
Encourage cataract surgery for vision problems, podiatry for painful feet, vitamin D for those not getting enough sun, and osteoporosis medicines where needed.
Also review medications that might increase the risk of falls (like sedatives), ideally with a GP and pharmacist.
How Outreach Physiotherapy can help
At Outreach Physiotherapy, we’re already aligned with these best practice guidelines. Our physios and allied health team:
✅ Run tailored balance and strength programs for older adults — both one-on-one and in small groups.
✅ Provide home visits to set up safe exercise routines and check environments.
✅ We can work closely with occupational therapists, GPs, pharmacists, podiatrists and optometrists to make sure every aspect of falls risk is covered.
✅ Support mental health and confidence, helping clients overcome fear of falling so they stay active and connected.
Why does this matter?
Because falls aren’t just slips or stumbles — they can take away the freedom to enjoy life on your own terms. By following these new guidelines, we can help older people keep doing what they love: gardening, meeting friends, travelling, and spending precious time with family.
Worried about falls? We’re here to help.
If you or someone you care about has had a fall, or you’d just like to reduce your risk, reach out to our friendly team. We’ll develop a plan that’s right for you — so you can keep living confidently and safely at home.
👉 Contact us at Outreach Physiotherapy
Darwin, NT
📍 Address: Unit 5, 396 Stuart Highway, Winnellie
📞 Phone: (08) 7918 0879
📧 Email: reception@outreachphysiotherapy.com
Adelaide, South Australia
📍 Address: Mobile Service in Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula and remote SA
📞 Phone: 0475 921 397
📧 Email: reception@outreachphysiotherapysa.com
✅ For more on the updated Australian Fall Prevention Guidelines, visit safetyandquality.gov.au.
Sources:
Falls Guidelines for Community Care | Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
Guidelines for health service providers: Preventing falls in community care
Preventing falls and harm from falls in Older People Best Practice Guidelines for Community Care in Australia
Fact sheet for health service providers: Preventing falls in community care
Preventing falls in community care - Fact sheet | Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care