As we get older, keeping our bones strong becomes more important than ever. Yet new research shows that two in five (40 per cent) Australians who experience a fracture from a minor fall have never had a bone density test—missing a crucial chance to detect and treat osteoporosis early.
To help turn the tide, Healthy Bones Australia and the Albanese Government have joined forces to raise awareness, boost prevention, and encourage early testing—particularly among women most at risk.
On Monday, October 27, the Albanese Government announced a $700,000 investment in Healthy Bones Australia’s national awareness and education campaign as part of Osteoporosis Awareness Month.
The expanded initiative will help bring mobile bone density testing to regional communities and drive a nationwide campaign urging Australians aged 50 and over—especially women—to complete the Know Your Bones online self-assessment.
The announcement coincided with the launch of Healthy Bones Australia’s Know Your Bones Community Risk Report (Fourth Edition) at a Parliamentary Friends of Bone Health event in Canberra.
Drawing on data from more than 126,500 Australians, the report revealed that nearly half of all minimal trauma fractures occur in adults aged 50 to 69—a critical window where early detection and treatment can make a real difference.
However, it also found that only 14 per cent of people receive osteoporosis medication after a fracture, highlighting a major gap in fracture care.
Women remain especially vulnerable to osteoporosis, as hormonal changes after menopause accelerate bone loss and increase the risk of serious fractures that can limit mobility and independence.
Despite this, testing and treatment rates remain low. The latest report calls for unified national action, urging that every fracture should trigger a bone health assessment—to make sure Australians get the care they need before minor injuries lead to life-altering events.
By extending its investment, the Albanese Government aims to close this gap—expanding access to testing, improving community awareness, and helping GPs identify and manage at-risk patients sooner.
This new funding will ensure that women, particularly those in regional areas, can access the testing and information they need to protect their bones.
Assistant Minister for Health, Ageing and Women, the Hon Rebecca White MP, joined Olympic Gold Medallist and Know Your Bones Ambassador Sally Pearson OAM, along with leading doctors and advocates, at Parliament House to call for earlier testing and stronger prevention efforts.
“As an athlete, I’ve seen how serious and disruptive these injuries can be. As an ambassador, I often speak with people who share their stories of difficult recoveries from unexpected fractures,” she said.
“Fractures can happen to anyone and can change your life in an instant. Completing the Know Your Bones self-assessment is a simple first step to understanding your risk and starting a conversation with your doctor.”
White said, “this investment is about prevention and empowerment.”
“Too many Australians – particularly women over 50 – are living with undiagnosed osteoporosis and facing fractures that could have been prevented,” she added.
“Osteoporosis hits women hardest, especially in regional communities where access to testing is limited. This funding makes it easier for women to get checked early and stay strong, mobile and independent.
“Every fracture should trigger a [bone density] test, and every Australian should have the chance to prevent the next one. The Albanese Government is backing practical solutions to improve early detection, strengthen women’s health, and stop avoidable fractures before they happen.”
As the government’s new funding aims to bridge the gap in access to regular bone density testing, there are still plenty of simple things older Australians can do to maintain strong bones and reduce their risk of fractures.
One of the best ways to build bone strength is through regular exercise — particularly weight-bearing movements that keep bones, muscles and joints healthy as we age.
Andrew Wynd, APA Sports Physiotherapist at Balwyn Sports and Physiotherapy Centre, recently shared with Starts at 60 five easy exercises you can do in the comfort of your own home to help protect your bone health.
Start this exercise on your stomach with your hands flat on the ground underneath your shoulders. Keeping the palms of your hands on the floor, push yourself up and ensure your body forms a straight line from your head to your knees. Bend the arms back down to lower your chest towards the ground and repeat.
For an easier version, keep your knees on the ground while you push yourself up.
Wynd suggests resting for one minute between sets.
For people who find it difficult to get down on the floor for regular push-ups, wall push-ups are also a great form of weight-bearing exercise. Face a wall and stand about 45 centimetres away from it. Next, place your hands on the wall at shoulder level and keeping your shoulders down, slowly bend the elbows to bring your face and forearms to the wall.
If you want to increase the intensity, try using one arm at a time.
There are a number of useful weight-bearing exercises that can be completed with an exercise ball and a wall. The first is a wall squat, with the aim of bending the knees to 90 degrees and pushing yourself back up again.
Simply place the ball between your lower back and the wall with your feet hip-width apart about 40cm in front of the wall. Gradually bend your knees to 90 degrees, making sure your knees stay in line with the top of your toes. Then return to the standing position.
Wall lunges with a ball are another great exercise. Begin by placing the ball between your back and the wall and stand with one leg in front of another in a split stance. Lower down to create a 90-degree angle at the knee. Just like you did with the squats, make sure your knee stays in line with the top of your toes. Press through the heel of the front foot and return to the original position.
Exercise balls are particularly good for building core strength and improving balance. One of the simplest ways to do this is sitting on a ball with your feet on the floor and your back straight. Ensure abdominal breathing remains steady and slowly bounce on the ball with your back remaining straight.
Similarly, stabilisation bouncing is another option and works by maintaining steady abdominal breathing while bouncing on the ball and lifting one arm and the opposite leg. Repeat, but alternate the routine with the other arms and legs.
“The ball adds an impulse that turns on the core muscles, which is critical for spinal health,” Wynd says.
Another simple weight-bearing exercise for beginners is to hold onto a railing and raise onto your tippy-toes and back down again.
Come back down fast and allow the heels to contact the ground with a little force. This simple exercise actually stimulates the bones and tendons right up the legs and into the back. Of course, if you have a foot injury it’s best to lower your back down slowly and gently.
Together, these small movements can help make a big difference to your strength, balance, and bone density — helping reduce your risk of falls and fractures as you age. Combined with regular check-ups and early testing, they’re a simple way to stay strong, mobile, and independent for years to come.
IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.