After successfully delivering five years of Online Symposia (2020 – 2024), JAFA launched its in-person Consumer Conference Program in Adelaide in May 2025.
This new approach of in-person Consumer Conferences rotating around Australia will continue to bring clinical and research updates to families and individuals with JIA and related CRDs. Most importantly, it creates a supportive environment for raising and debating issues that matter to consumers.
JAFA’s Consumer Conference Program aims to ensure that parents, older children, young adults and extended families are able to:
- Hear credible and current medical and scientific information and learn about their condition, its management and relevant health/support systems and services from the experts in an environment that encourages questions and frank discussion
- Exchange information and experiences and learn from each other
- Grow and amplify their individual and collective (consumer) voice to define and express what matters to most to them and what is needed for all Australians with JIA/CRDs to live their best possible lives no matter who they are or where they live.
Adelaide Consumer Conference (3rd May 2025)
What’s New in JIA/CRDs
Head of Paediatric Rheumatology at the Adelaide Women’s and Children’s Hospital walks viewers through a broad overview of recent developments in paediatric rheumatology around the world.
Research and Registries
Dr Grainne Murray, Bethany Richmond and Prof Stephen Colagiuri outline their research and the Australian Juvenile Arthritis Registry – and why this is important to consumers. A fourth speaker, Dr Tim Beukelman, makes the case for consumers partnering in research.
It’s a Pain
Dr Sarah Wallwork defines pain and talks to the importance of validating pain alongside a panel comprising a psychologist, a physio and consumers and audience discussion on the mismatch between the experience of pain and its clinical interpretation.