In January 2021, the NSW Minister for Health & Medical Research, Brad Hazzard, announced an additional 0.5FTE paediatric rheumatologist position for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network. This resulted from a year-long campaign by JAFA, and parents in the JAFA community, consisting of:

• Briefings and submissions
• Questions in the NSW Parliament
• Letters to local Members of Parliament.

Despite this 100% increase, the paediatric rheumatology workforce is inadequate to look after the children and young people in NSW with Arthritis. The next step will be a campaign for an additional paediatric rheumatology nurse.