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.

Tasmania is the only Australian state that does not have a specialist paediatric rheumatology team leaving families to travel to Melbourne or elsewhere for their child’s care.

JAFA Thanks ABC Tasmania and lead journalist, Liz Gwynne, for this important story about the lack of services for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) which is one of the most common chronic childhood conditions affecting Australian children. 

The story supports JAFA’s 2023 proposal to the Tasmanian Government to establish a statewide paediatric rheumatology service. JAFA encourages affected families to contact their state MP to advocate for this much-needed service. 

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.

Something you can do today to change your own or your child’s tomorrow! Launched in Parliament House in March 2023, AJAR is now open for 0-24yr olds with juvenile arthritis or other childhood rheumatic diseases. Registering with AJAR will help build a bank of information about how many children and young people have these diseases and if this changes over time. Knowing this will support planning for better services and research for better treatments.

When we recently had afternoon tea with the Prime Minister at the lodge in Canberra, we presented him with messages from some kids and young people with arthritis. They provided insights into living with these diseases, and they shared their thoughts on
What it’s like to have arthritis and What they would do for juvenile arthritis if they were Prime Minister.