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June e-letter 2010 Highlights
Dear subscriber,
June e-alert letter, proudly sponsored by PeopleLogic.
Following on from our December e-alert letter, we have built on our new website features to make it easier for you to read and navigate. These features include:
- Search Engine Friendly (Search link with refined word search options)
- Download Adobe reader feature
- More informative - more information sheets including 39 new multicultural sheets
- Easy and simple to navigate
- Font size modify feature
- Adhering to the Australian Government Department publishing standards for HealthInsite
Our Home page www.arthritisaustralia.com.au
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ADVOCACY - Removal of items 50124 & 50125 (joint injections and aspirations) from the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)
Arthritis Australia contributed extensive information to an Australian Rheumatology Association application for new items to be considered in place of the removed MBS items 50124 & 50125. Encouraging news is that, at a Senate Estimates Committee meeting on June 3 2010, it was confirmed the application is being reviewed under the Medicare Benefits Quality Framework Initiative but the outcomes of this review will not be forwarded to the Minister before September – or possibly later.
If you are currently disadvantaged by the removal of these items, we encourage you to write to your local Federal member and the Minister for Health and Ageing, outlining your concerns and how the decision to remove these items affects you (The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Health and Ageing, Parliament House, Canberra NSW 2600).
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RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT
Arthritis Australia National Research Program 2011
Arthritis Australia/Zimmer Orthopaedic Fellowship Program
Arthritis Australia is pleased to announce the inaugural Arthritis Australia/Zimmer Orthopaedic Fellowship Program. Australian Orthopaedic Association accredited institutions and supervisors are invited to participate in the second round of grants, commencing July 1, 2010 for a six or 12 month period. For more information click here http://www.arthritisaustralia.com.au/index.php/research-grants.html
Arthritis Australia and Research Australia
Arthritis Australia and Research Australia have jointly developed a new fact sheet on Arthritis Research. The fact sheet explains how arthritis research has helped improve the quality of life for people living with the condition. It gives examples of the significant gains that have been achieved for consumers in terms of treatment and medications as a result of in research. It draws attention to a worrying trend, the falling share of research funding that arthritis receives from government and calls for the need reverse this trend. You can help make a difference by making a donation to arthritis research via Arthritis Australia.
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AUSTRALIAN PACKAGING COVENANT
Arthritis Australia has successfully lobbied the packaging industry and government to help ensure that packaging is easy to open for people living with arthritis. On July 1, 2010, the Australian Packaging Covenant (Covenant) comes into effect. Few consumers would have heard of the Covenant but the companies who are its signatories represent 90% of all packaged goods in Australia. This is a significant change because every product you buy from food to electrical goods to household items is packaged. The new Covenant requires companies that manufacture packaging to consider the needs of people living with arthritis. Arthritis Australia helped write the new sections in the Covenant in consultation with consumers and government.
Many companies still believe that consumers do not care about hard-to-open packaging because very few consumers ever complain. Arthritis Australia disagrees, but requires your support, because companies will still be slow to change unless you speak out. If you encounter hard to open packaging, then please call, email or phone the company in question and tell them ‘it is not good enough’. The most powerful message companies can hear is, you will ‘no longer buy their product because packaging it is difficult to open or to use'.
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RESOURCES
Resource development
New publications :
At home with arthritis, simple steps for managing in the home
If arthritis restricts your lifestyle at home or work ,then this booklet can help. It has practical advice on how to overcome obstacles and ensure that you lead an active lifestyle. The booklet covers ways to reduce joint stress and pain and balance activity with rest. Its focus is on making daily activities easier including cleaning, cooking, shopping and gardening. It even has a section on car access and the office.
Stepping Out, a guide for young adults with arthritis
It can be difficult to find information about how arthritis affects your life when you are a young adult. That is why Arthritis Australia has produced this booklet. It has been specifically designed to contain input from young people with arthritis who have overcome many of the same challenges you may be facing today.
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NEWS - WOMEN'S INSIGHTS INTO RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Women's Insights into Rheumatoid Arthritis Book - Launched 15 Mar 2010 - Rheumatoid Arthritis champions refuse to let their disease get the better of them
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most serious form of arthritis. It is not a rare disease, affecting around half a million Australians. Of these cases almost 60% are women.
As part of Arthritis Awareness Week, Arthritis Australia and the Australian Rheumatology Association began a campaign to give a voice to the almost 300,000 Australian women with rheumatoid arthritis.
The campaign was launched at Parliament House, Canberra March 15, and had the support of 12 female Federal MPs, including the Hon Julia Gillard MP, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, the Hon Justine Elliot MP, the Hon Kate Ellis MP, Senator Carol Brown, the Hon Bronwyn Bishop MP, Senator Sue Boyce, Senator Rachel Siewert, and Mrs Kay Hull MP.
The Women's Insights into Rheumatoid Arthritis book features the stories of 12 inspiring Australian women with this condition -as shared with their local female Federal MP and their rheumatologist.
GIVEAWAY
We have 50 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 15 July 2010 or until stock runs out.
Please allow up to 21 days for processing and delivery.
Please note: free booklets only available to Australian residents
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MAKE A DONATION |
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Your donation will assist Arthritis Australia in continuing to raise awareness, deliver education and support services and provide annual research grants for enabling better understanding of the disease as well as more effective treatments.
Donations over $2 are tax deductible. An Arthritis Australia receipt will be sent to you. If you would like to make a donation on line, please click here. |
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MULTICULTURAL INFORMATION |
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Arthritis Awareness, Multicultural
Building on the success of the inaugural Multicultural Awareness Campaign in 2009, we continue to focus on consumers and bilingual health professionals within the Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian and Vietnamese communities. In-language information is currently available on our website homepage and to meet demand, additional translated resources were developed in 2010. To view the multicultural information sheet click here.
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SUPPORTERS |
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Health World
Health World, manufacturers of Ethical Nutrients high strength liquid fish oil and Arthritis Australia’s profile among pharmacies, health professionals and consumers has been growing. Companies in this sector are increasingly willing to make changes to meet our standards, which is a great outcome for consumers.
Medical Media
A poster campaign was managed in 2010 throughout Australia by a professional media placement organisation, Medical Media National. This enabled posters to be distributed in 229 medical centres during the campaign period in all capital cities around Australia, representing an increase of 30% over last year.
Medical Media have really assisted the doctors, nurses and allied health professionals in practices throughout Australia in prompting lunch time discussion and debate, and keep professionals tuned into current public awareness campaigns.
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