|
December E-letter 2011 Highlights
Dear subscriber,
It has been yet another productive and busy year for Arthritis Australia.
Our office will close for Christmas from Friday 23 December and will re-open Tuesday 3 January 2012.
From the team, we hope you enjoy reading some of the projects that we have been working on during the year and we wish you a very happy and safe festive season.
Our Home page www.arthritisaustralia.com.au
|
|
|
|
|
Arthritis Australia - Advocacy
Arthritis Australia has been working with NSW Health and the Ministry of Health Victoria to help define measurable packaging accessibility standards for their food suppliers. According to a study commissioned by the NSW Government, it has been estimated that 51 per cent of patients leave hospitals with some form of malnutrition, one of the primary reasons being hard-to-open packaging. Arthritis Australia signed a contract with NSW Health to evaluate their existing suppliers packaging and to help NSW Health select packaging that is easy-to-open for all patients in the health system.
Other areas of national advocacy for Australians with arthritis
- Harmonisation of Disability Parking
- Improving advertising arrangements for therapeutic goods
- Personally controlled electronic health records
- National Carer Strategy Consultation
- The Government’s administration of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
- Consumer access to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
- Therapeutic Goods Administration transparency review
|
|
|
|
|
Arthritis Australia website accredited with providing world-class health information
Arthritis Australia’s website has received the Australian Government's Health Insite accreditation as well as Health on the Net Foundation certification, which is the international benchmark. These acknowledgements verify that the online health information we provide is trustworthy.
 
|
|
|
|
|
Research
In 2011 Arthritis Australia’s Grants Assessment Committee allocated more than $650,000 to musculoskeletal research. As usual, we received a large number of high quality applications but, regrettably, had only sufficient funds to support 25% of them. In the past five years oversubscription to our National Research Grant Program has grown, further demonstrating the quality of Australian researchers and an urgent need for arthritis research to be recognised more widely.
Arthritis Australia National Research Program 2012
To view successful applicants for the 2012 Arthritis Australia National Research Program click here.
Arthritis Australia/Zimmer Orthopaedic Fellowship Program
The Arthritis Australia/Zimmer Orthopaedic Fellowship Program was initiated in late 2009 to promote best-practice orthopaedic treatment for Australians living with arthritis. The fellowship has already committed more than $450,000 to orthopaedic surgeons to improve their instructional skills and assist with the international exchange of knowledge in the field. Arthritis Australia would like to acknowledge the generous support of Zimmer Australia. For more information click here.
Arthritis Australia Research - Why invest in research?
Research holds the key to more effective treatments of arthritis
The total cost of arthritis to the Australian economy was estimated to be $23.9 billion by Access Economics in 2007. The average cost of arthritis per person per year is $6200; 61% of arthritis costs are borne by the individuals themselves.
Health research and you
Research Australia's Public Opinion Poll (2008) conducted by Crosby Textor, showed that Australians are more worried about developing arthritis than any other disease. Arthritis is seen as a very significant risk, with 43% of Australians rating their lifetime risk as 1 in 10 or more, and only 2% seeing themselves as having no risk.
Arthritis is not yet curable but with early and proper diagnosis as well as a customised management plan, it can be controlled.
Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis has improved markedly as understanding of the disease process improves. With early aggressive therapy using the new designer agents, remission can be achieved in over 50% of patients.
If you would like to read the full information sheet about health research and you, please click here.
|
|
|
|
|
Australian packaging
Ease of Use program - design services, advocacy and Ease of Use certification logo
In 2009, Arthritis Australia and Arthritis New Zealand established the Ease of Use (EOU) Program to recognise Trans-Tasman companies that design user-friendly products and packaging. Arthritis Australia sees this not only as an issue for the 6.4 million Australians living with arthritis or disability, but for the one in three Australians aged 50-plus who often do not regard themselves as ‘old’ and struggle with packaging that is difficult to read and open. The program has established a notable number of new developments over the past year.
Nestlé
With the development of the Accessibility Benchmarking Scale late last year, Nestlé has begun to design and evaluate many of its major products, starting with their iconic Nescafé coffee jars. The world's first accessibility Scale was designed in collaboration with the Georgia Tech Research Institute in the United States, which is well known for solving some of the toughest problems facing government and industry around the world. The Scale helps Nestlé understand the needs of people living with arthritis and to design packaging that is easy to open.
|
|
|
|
|
Resources
Resource development
|
|
|
|
|
100 FREE BOOKS - Women's Insights into Rheumatoid Arthritis
Back by popular demand!
Rheumatoid Arthritis champions refuse to let their disease get the better of them.
Since the launch of the Women's Insights into Rheumatoid Arthritis campaign on March 15, 2010, the publication continues to be popular.
The book features the stories of 12 inspiring Australian women with rheumatoid arthritis - as shared with their local female Federal MP and rheumatologist.
Click here to view Women's Insights into Rheumatoid Arthritis
100 FREE COPIES TO GIVEAWAY
Due to its popularity, we have 100 free copies of Women’s Insights into Rheumatoid Arthritis to give away. For your free copy, send your contact details, including postal address to info@arthritisaustralia.com.au
Closing date is 23 January 2012 or until stock runs out. Please allow up to 21 days for processing and delivery.
Please note: free booklets only available to Australian residents
|
|
|
|
|
|
