Welcome to the Victorian Falls Clinic Coalition section on the NARI website. This part of our website has been developed as a resource for members of the Victorian Falls Clinic Coalition as well as other health practitioners and people interested in research and activities relating to Falls Clinics in Victoria. Falls Clinics provide a framework for comprehensive multi-disciplinary assessment and management for people with multiple falls risks or experiencing multiple falls. The first Falls Clinic in Australia began operation in 1988 and since 1998 there has been a considerable increase in Falls Clinics in Victoria. Although the Department of Human Services has developed a set of guidelines and indicators for Falls Clinics, clinics have evolved using a range of models of staffing, service delivery and outcome measures.

The Victorian Falls Clinic Coalition has been developed to provide a support network and to foster sharing of knowledge and resources. It endeavours to promote best practice through sharing innovative practices, and upskilling staff in key areas of falls prevention.

Convened by Falls Clinic staff from Melbourne Extended Care and Rehabilitation Service and Bundoora Extended Care Centre, the Coalition had its inaugural meeting on November 30th 2001 and now meets on a biannual basis. Membership includes all Falls Clinics funded by the Department of Human Services as well as three privately funded Clinics.

This website facilitates sharing of resources and supports best practice in Falls Clinics. The website provides information about research activities involving Victorian Falls Clinics, a list of abstracts for useful research literature, a list of links to other useful websites as well as a contact list of Falls Clinic Coalition members.

Objectives of the Falls Clinic Coalition

1. Development of an 'evidence based' best practice model.

2. Identification of barriers to best practice.

3. Development of common assessment tools.

4. Development of a core 'minimum' data set (incorporating demographic, activity and outcome measures).

5. Development of uniform data collection and handling procedures

6. Identification of strategies that will help clients undertake recommendations.

7. Promote the development of specialist interventions.

8. Develop strategies for up-skilling training of staff i.e. professional development.

9. Develop strategies for dissemination of knowledge/expertise to both clients and to other health services   providers (within our organisations and at a regional level).

10. Explore multi-centre research opportunities.

11. Provide peer support.

12. To become an effective lobby group for issues relating to Falls Clinics.

If you have any queries about the Falls Clinic Coalition or would like to contribute information to the website please contact Kirsten Moore on (03)8387 2666 or via email.