JAFA Celebrates World Arthritis Day at Parliament House

Today, World Arthritis Day, 12 October, JAFA is hosting special guests including its patron, the Governor-General, Her Excellency Sam Mostyn AC and the Hon Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Ageing, along with families, representatives of peak health bodies, health professional associations, and health officials in a National Stakeholder Forum at Parliament House, Canberra. The Forum is focused on one clear priority: ensuring children and young people with juvenile arthritis are diagnosed early and receive the care they need, when they need it.

New AJAR Report Released

The AJAR 2026 Progress Report has been released on the first 1087 registrants.

The Report provides valuable Australian national information on juvenile arthritis and other childhood rheumatic diseases and confirms the 10 month delay in diagnosis.

AJAR collects de-identified information on 0-24yr olds with juvenile arthritis and other childhood rheumatic diseases.
AJAR is crucial for JAFA’s advocacy to improve health services and increase funding for better treatments and research.

Registration is easy and quick. Help change your child’s tomorrow

JAFA - Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia

1,184 registrants and counting

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JAFA Honoured in Patients Australia Awards

JAFA is honoured to receive the Outstanding Chronic Disease Organisation Award at the 2026 Patients Australia Awards August 27.

JAFA ambassadors Alice Hill and Cecilia Le, proudly accepted the award and spoke about their children’s challenges and JAFA’s mission to stop pain and disability from juvenile arthritis in young Australians. We sincerely thank Patients Australia and the JAFA community – the children, young people, parents, carers, health professionals, volunteers and supporters who are united in making a difference.

Prime Minister Announces Major Funding for Arthritis Research

JAFA warmly welcomes today’s announcement of an ‘Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Mission’ of $100 million over 10 years in government funding for much-needed research into these conditions. This historic funding will support vital research to reduce pain and disability and increase participation in life, learning, community and work for the over 4 million Australians suffering from one or more of the 100 forms of these diseases. We commend Arthritis Australia on its advocacy for this funding.

JAFA welcomes new policy on consumer engagement in research

This ‘Statement on consumer and community involvement in health and medical research’ from the National Health and Medical Research Council sets a high national standard and vision for embedding community and consumer involvement in all health and medical research activities.

JAFA was pleased to be involved in consultations and provided significant feedback throughout the development of this important national policy which firmly places consumers in their rightful place as partners in all aspects of the research process.

For Primary School Teachers

The JAFA is proud to present this short video to assist primary school teachers better understand the impact of juvenile arthritis and childhood rheumatic diseases on children’s learning and school life.

The video is designed to be held by parents/carers as a tool to help them introduce the topic or remind the teacher that the child with JIA/CRDs needs their teacher/s to watch out for and support them.

JAFA Launches Juvenile Arthritis Community Awareness Campaign

In another ‘first’, JAFA is delighted to announced its new Community Awareness Campaign for juvenile arthritis. Launched this week with a public message showing on TV screens in GP waiting rooms across Australia, this community focussed campaign complements JAFA’s ongoing program to support GPs and other health professionals to recognise and refer juvenile arthritis early.

We thank the Australian Government for funding this important program towards JAFA’s goal of reducing the harmful delay in diagnosising childhood arthritis from from an average of 10 months to 10 weeks.

JAFA 2025 Annual Report Out Now

JAFA is pleased and proud to present its 2025 Purpose and Impact Report which demonstrates the scope and extent of JAFA’s work and the significant progress that has been achieved in awareness and support for children and young people with arthritis and related rheumatic diseases. We are thrilled at the two awards JAFA has received in recognition of this and thank the JAFA Community, supporters, donors, pro bono advisors, staff and volunteers for making it all happen.

Expanded PBS Listing

JAFA welcomes the Jan 7 announcement by the federal Health Minister, the Hon Mark Butler, extending the PBS listing of Adalimumab (Humira) to include ankylosing spondylitis and enthesitis related juvenile arthritis. We welcome the easing of criteria for commencing treatment with Adalimumab (Humira) which will make it easier for children with arthritis to access this important medication early.

JAFA continues to work closely with the Australian Government and the PBAC to expand access to effective medications for all children and young people with arthritis.

Early Diagnosis Campaign

JAFA’s federally funded, national early diagnosis campaign is in full swing. The campaign is targeting GPs and other frontline health professionals to reduce critical delays in the diagnosis of juvenile arthritis and increase early access to effective treatment in order to reduce pain and avoid long-term joint and eye damage. You can help by giving your GP and pharmacist a hard copy of the pictured diagnosis ‘postcard’. To obtain postcards, please contact: edx@jafa.org.au and provide your postal address.

My JIA Booklet in Six New Languages

JAFA is proud to announce that My JIA, the essential handbook for older children and parents, is now available in six languages: Greek, Italian, Punjabi, Mandarin, Vietnamese and Arabic. These translations complement the original English edition.

My JIA is a user-friendly guide that explains what Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is, how it is diagnosed and how health professionals treat it, including information on blood tests and medications. It also offers practical tips for managing JIA at home and at school.

A Giant Step Forward

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.

22 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.

Why JAFA?

Because the Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia thinks kids with arthritis deserve better.

It was founded in 2019 in response to the urgent need for a national voice dedicated exclusively to representing and addressing the needs of children and adolescents with arthritis and childhood rheumatic diseases.