Juvenile Arthritis Week (JAW) is March 16-23, 2025
In March 2023, JAFA initiated Australia’s first-ever Juvenile Arthritis Week (JAW). Two years on, we are building on the momentum to make JAW 2025 better than ever.Join us to celebrate the courage and resilience of the thousands of children, young people and families who deal with the challenges of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and other childhood rheumatic diseases (CRDs) every single day. We salute them!
The theme for JAW 2025 is Early Diagnosis - Early Intervention
Get Involved in Juvenile Arthritis Week (JAW)
Together we can change lives through early diagnosis and early intervention of this painful and debilitating chronic condition. Join with us to grow awareness, recognition and bring attention to JIA and CRD’s by participating in JAW activities including family hangouts; “Step Together with JAFA” our virtual fundraiser and spreading the word.
Spread the word
Downloadables
Let everyone you know about Juvenile Arthritis Week – share JAFA posts; tell family and friends – see downloadable resources below:
Postcards
The first phase of JAFA’s national health professional awareness campaign implementation is well underway with the messaging on postcards being rolled out to health professionals. You can help by passing on a postcard to family, friends and colleagues asking them to give one to their GP, pharmacist or physio and say “did you know about this?” To order a pack of 12, 24 or 48 click on the button below (or email edx@jafa.org.au).
Step Together with JAFA - for kids with JIA's and CRD's
Virtual Fundraiser
“Step Together with JAFA” is our first virtual fundraiser. Join together with family, friends, school, work and local communities – walking, jogging or running over the month of March to raise much needed funds for JAFA. Please join with us and Step together with JAFA to change lives one step at a time.
Family Hangouts
9 Hangouts across Australia
Family Hangout dates and venues are being held in March as part of Juvenile Arthritis Week (JAW). We now have 9 fabulous JAFA families hosting the hangouts around Australia. The hangouts are a great way for both parents, carers and children to meet with others with JIA/CRDs.
Teens and young adults are super welcome too. Just bring yourself, family and a picnic along and join in – it’s a BYO event for all food and drinks!
Our hosts (and JAFA) would love to know if you plan to come along – you can quickly register here to let us know. It’s free!
Write to a politician
Start with...
- Write your local member – tell them your story
- Write to the Health Minister in your State or Territory if you want better access to paediatric rheumatology services
- Write to your local Federal MP to ask them to support JAFA’s budget submission
Australian Juvenile Arthritis Registry (AJAR)
Sign up today
It’s two years since the Australian Juvenile Arthritis Registry was launched, which already has over 500 registrants nationally. This register is essential for providing critical information on the number of people affected, the number of new cases per year and trends over time.
We’re looking to grow the number of registrants – so if you have child aged 0-25 years with juvenile arthritis or a related rheumatic disease please register them. Registering is quick, it’s easy, it’s ethics approved and it could change yours/your child’s life. All information collected is de-identified. Please click here to register your child.
