Arthritis Australia | 2024 year in review
In 2024, Arthritis Australia made significant strides in advocating for better care for the 7+ million Australians living with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions.
Parliamentary Summit on Better Care for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions
A highlight was our inaugural Parliamentary Summit on Better Care, held on August 22, which brought together over 90 consumers, clinicians, researchers, policymakers and industry representatives to address the pressing challenges faced by people affected by these conditions.
The summit focused on four key areas of consideration:
Workforce
Innovative models of care
Addressing out-of-pocket costs
Research investment
We were honoured to have key speakers, including Hon Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearney, Hon Senator Anne Ruston, and Senator Louise Pratt. The event was expertly facilitated by journalist Karen Middleton, who guided discussions among a panel of esteemed experts and individuals with lived experience.
Expert and lived experience contributors included Prof David Hunter, Prof Rachelle Buchbinder, Ms Jo Root, and Associate Professor Jane Desborough. Their insights were invaluable in exploring ways to improve patient outcomes and enhance quality of life while also generating savings for the health system.
Following the summit, Arthritis Australia and over 40 leading health stakeholders including over 20 peak bodies issued a formal communique calling for urgent action to provide more affordable evidence-based care.
Looking ahead, we will continue our efforts to drive meaningful change in the healthcare landscape, ensuring that the voices of those living with arthritis are heard and prioritised.
New Resources Launched in 2024
In our ongoing commitment to support Australians living with arthritis, we’re excited to highlight two significant resources launched in 2024
The Gout Hub
We introduced The Gout Hub, a comprehensive online resource dedicated to gout. This hub offers valuable information on the causes, symptoms, and management of gout, helping patients understand how to live well and prevent joint damage.
The Gout Hub provides crucial insights into gout flare symptoms and the role of diet, empowering individuals by, sharing stories of people living with gout to better manage their condition.
With downloadable resources including the fact sheets, the gout booklet and a video resource library, the gout hub has everything you need to understand and manage your gout effectively.
Moving with Arthritis
We also launched Moving with Arthritis, a dedicated website designed to encourage and support physical activity among people living with arthritis. Moving with arthritis acknowledges the challenges of staying active with arthritis and aims to help individuals enhance their mobility and overall well-being.
Moving with Arthritis includes a variety of resources, such as myth-busting information about exercise and arthritis, a quiz to help users find suitable programs, and a directory of arthritis-friendly exercise options. It also offers guidance on finding professional support and classes in your area for those seeking personalised information.
These new resources reflect our ongoing dedication to providing comprehensive, accessible information and support for the millions of Australians living with arthritis. We encourage everyone affected by arthritis to explore these platforms and take advantage of the wealth of information they offer.
That's a Wrap 2024: Packaging Accessibility in Focus
The results are in for our annual “That’s a Wrap” campaign, and 2024 has seen unprecedented engagement from our community. With record-breaking participation in nominations and votes, we’ve gained valuable insights into the packaging challenges faced by Australians living with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions.
Worst Offenders of 2024
5. Jars: Both plastic and glass jars continue to cause discomfort.
4. Cleaning Product Packaging: Spray bottles and squeeze-and-turn caps present significant hurdles.
3. Ring Pull Cans: Opening these remains painful and potentially dangerous.
2. Child-Resistant Medication Containers: The irony of inaccessible arthritis medication packaging isn’t lost on our community.
1. Meat Packaging: Vacuum-sealed packets and trays without pull tabs top our list, often forcing unsafe opening methods.
A Ray of Hope: Best Packaging of 2024
On a positive note, the humble egg carton claimed the top spot for accessibility. Other commendable mentions included screw-top wine bottles, easy-tear wrappers, and wide flip-top toothpaste lids.
Looking Ahead
This campaign continues to underscore the critical need for accessible packaging design. We’re committed to reaching out to the companies behind nominated products, sharing your experiences, and advocating for positive change.
Speaking up for arthritis in the halls of Parliament
In 2024 Arthritis Australia continued to build momentum in our engagement with government and parliament.
Highlights include:
• Meetings with Minister Butler, Shadow Minister Ruston and state and territory governments on reforms to elective surgery and wait times, alongside the Australian Orthopaedic Association and other consumer groups
• Parliamentary Friends of Arthritis launch of new projections on the impact of arthritis to 2040, the generations that will be hit hardest and the potential severe economic consequences.
• Motions in parliament recognising the impacts of arthritis and fibromyalgia from multiple MPs and Senators, including Senator Louise Pratt and Senator Tammy Tyrrell
• Ongoing meetings with MPs and Senators representing communities across Australia.
Lowering the cost of medicines and vaccines for consumers
In a significant development for healthcare affordability, 2024 saw the full rollout of 60-day scripts for Australians, a change that has benefited those living with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions.
Arthritis Australia CEO Jonathan Smithers and Consumer Advisory Panel member Sharyce Helyar stood alongside Health Minister Mark Butler at the press conference announcing the changes, following strong advocacy from Consumer Health Forum, Arthritis Australia and other consumer groups. This new policy allows eligible patients to receive a two-month supply of certain medications with a single prescription, instead of the previous one-month limit.
Key benefits of 60-day scripts include:
– Lower out-of-pocket costs: With fewer dispensing fees, eligible patients are experiencing reduced overall medication expenses.
– Reduced pharmacy visits: Eligible patients now only need to visit the pharmacy every two months for refills, saving time and reducing travel burdens.
– Decreased GP appointments: Fewer visits are required solely for prescription renewals, easing the burden on both patients and the healthcare system.
The rate of Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme consumer co-payments has also been frozen in further measures to manage the out of pocket cost of medicines.
In other positive news, Shingrix® was added to the National Immunisation Schedule so that it can be accessed for free by eligible individuals aged 18 years and over who are at increased risk of shingles due to underlying conditions or immunosuppressive treatments. Previously consumers had to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket.
We at Arthritis Australia applaud these initiatives and will continue to advocate for policies that make healthcare more affordable for Australians living with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions.
National research program - recipients
We welcomed our latest cohort of brilliant researchers who will be driving innovation in arthritis and musculoskeletal research. These dedicated individuals are set to make significant strides in improving the lives of millions of Australians living with arthritis.
Our National Research Program continues to support ground-breaking projects that promise to enhance care, management, and quality of life for those affected by arthritis. We’re excited to see the outcomes of their hard work and dedication.
To our 2025 grant recipients: Your commitment to advancing arthritis research is truly inspiring. We can’t wait to see how your projects will shape the future of arthritis care and treatment.
Empowering Healthcare Professionals through ATLAS
In our ongoing commitment to improve arthritis care, we’re thrilled to highlight a major milestone from 2024 – the launch of ATLAS (Arthritis Training, Learning and Up-Skilling for health professionals) eLearning program. This innovative online learning platform marks a significant step forward in arthritis education for healthcare professionals, developed by a consortium including the University of Sydney, Arthritis and Osteoporosis Western Australia, the University of Melbourne, Curtin University and the Australian Rheumatology Association.
The ATLAS eLearning program empowers you with the evidence-based tools and resources you need to provide best-practice arthritis care.
ATLAS features:
– Evidence-based and peer-reviewed training content
– A multi-disciplinary, holistic perspective
– Modular design with customisable learning pathways
– Practical, actionable guidance
– An accessible online platform
Arthritis is one of the most common causes of disability in Australia. In 2019, the National Strategic Action Plan for Arthritis identified a need for consistent delivery of high value arthritis care across disciplines—ATLAS was one of the key implementation strategies. A team of cross-discipline arthritis experts came together to develop the program, and it launched in 2024.
Arthritis projections make national news
Our research collaboration with Monash University projecting the impact of arthritis in Australia to 2040 made national news, following a publication in the Lancet Rheumatology. According to the study, an estimated 5.39 million Australians will be living with arthritis – that’s a 31% increase from 2025.
Breakdown of projections for 2040:
• Osteoarthritis: 3.11 million
• Rheumatoid arthritis: 749,000
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: 8,500 children and adolescents
The budget impact is significant too. Annual health system expenditure for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is expected to exceed AU$11.92 billion by 2040.
This research study by Professor Ilana Ackerman, Alexandra Gorelik, Danielle Berkovic and Professor Rachelle Buchbinder, highlights the urgent need for well-resourced health services that can capably deliver timely, high-value care to a growing number of people with arthritis.
Arthritis Australia is calling on the federal government to:
– Fund affordable access to allied health
– Provide $11m in funding to support people with OA to improve their health and avoid surgery
– Establish a Medical Research Future Fund Arthritis and MSK Mission.
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