JAFA is proud to present My JIA, the ‘must have’ handbook for older children and parents, in three new languages: Mandarin, Vietnamese and Arabic.

These three new booklets complement the original English version which released in Australia by JAFA on World Arthritis Day 2023.

My JIA is a user-friendly guide to understanding what JIA is, how it is diagnosed and treated by health professionals including blood tests and medications. It also provides handy tips on managing JIA at home and at school

JAFA is Celebrating our Young People, it’s 5th Birthday and the Year 2024 in its Online Symposium at 7pm (AEDT) Thursday November 28. Don’t miss this opportunity meet talented young people and hear how they handle their JIA while following their dreams. You will also hear Dr Damien McKay talk about managing JIA and intense physical activity. And chat with the JAFA team about raising health professional awareness of JIA. Registration is free but essential. Scan the QR code or click below to register.

JAFA welcomes the support of frontline peak bodies and allied health organisations in its campaign to reduce delays in the diagnosis of juvenile arthritis from 10 months to 10 weeks which is set to change the lives of thousands of Australian children who have undiagnosed juvenile arthritis now – or who will develop it in the future.

15 organisations including the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Pharmacy Guild, the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association and Medicines Australia have committed to the Consensus Statement which is a product of JAFA’s federally funded national early diagnosis program and a joint goal of JAFA and the Australian Paediatric Rheumatology Group.

In an historic pre-budget announcement on Sydney’s Radio 2GB yesterday, June 17, Health Minister, the Hon Ryan Park, revealed that the NSW Government will invest $6.9million over the coming 4 yrs to deliver a comprehensive, multidisciplinary statewide service for children and young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and related childhood rheumatic diseases (CRDs). This means additional paediatric rheumatologists, nurses and physios. JAFA thanks Minister Park and the NSW Government for listening to its advocacy and acting to address the historic underfunding of these diseases in NSW. JAFA also thanks 2GB journalist, Chris O’Keefe who had JIA himself, for his advocacy.

JAFA is delighted to present this report on the results from the first 300 registrants in the Australian Juvenile Arthritis Registry (AJAR). AJAR is three-way partnership between JAFA, the Australian Paediatric Rheumatology Group and the Australian Arthritis Autoimmune BioBank Collaborative. AJAR was established in 2023 to support research and health policy, planning and funding. Since the March 2024 cut-off for the report, 80 more 0-24yrs old with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) or a related childhood rheumatic disease (CRD) have joined the registry and we are aiming for 500 by the end of June and 1,000 by the end of 2024.  

Click on the button below to read the Report and, if you are eligible but haven’t yet registered, you can find out more and by clicking Register.  It’s easy, it’s quick, it’s anonymous and it’s already making a difference. 

• Establishing the Australian Juvenile Arthritis Registry (AJAR)

• Australia’s first Juvenile Arthritis Week

• JAFA’s IMPACT Study on the physical, mental, social and financial toll of       JIA and CRDs

• Government funding for health professional awareness and earlier             diagnosis. 

A landmark day in Parliament House, Canberra as the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler announced the first major federal government investment in a nationwide program to shorten unacceptable delays in diagnosing juvenile arthritis.

The program will support GPs and other health professionals to promptly identify the disease when children first present with symptoms, helping to prevent progression to serious lifelong disabilities.

JAFA has worked hard to secure this investment and we sincerely thank Minister Butler, Dr Mike Freelander MP and the Hon Ged Kearney MP for their recognition and for joining families to launch this important program.

JAFA is proud to present the results of its landmark ‘IMPACT Study’ which detail the previously hidden physical, mental, emotional and financial burden of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and childhood rheumatic diseases (CRDs) on affected 0-25yr olds and their families and carers.

The IMPACT Study was conducted in 2023 via a national survey and provides the first comprehensive analysis of the personal and financial costs of these diseases. This study represents another milestone in the history of JIA and related CRDs in Australia.