A new video on managing uveitis, presented by Dr Sophia Zagora, is now available under Clinician Resources
Initially a one-year federally funded JAFA program (2023-2024), this program received an additional two-year extension, now continuing through to 2027. The funding is administered via the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care.
Current delays in the diagnosis of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) are unacceptable. The average time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis is currently 10 -11 months¹,² and has remained unchanged for the past 25 years. In some children it takes considerably longer, thus risking irreversible joint and eye damage being present by the time of diagnosis and lost opportunity for early intervention and early remission. Delays in diagnosis are thought to be a function of:
The National Early Diagnosis Program targets health professionals and consumers, including children and families living with JIA, through a phased three-year engagement model. Each year of the program builds upon the previous year’s activities, with ongoing engagement maintained throughout the life of the program.
The program aims to:
• Equip health professionals to with information, tools and resources to recognise and assess the signs and symptoms of JIA and to refer appropriately and promptly to a paediatric rheumatologist for a definitive diagnosis.
• Support consumers to understand symptoms, seek appropriate care, and navigate pathways to a definitive diagnosis.
Alongside this, JAFA continues to advocate for expansion of the paediatric rheumatology workforce through targeted state and territory political campaigns.
The Early Diagnosis Program is national in scope, with progressive expansion across three years*:
• Year 1: Focused on frontline and community health professionals, notably GPs, eye health professionals, pharmacists and physiotherapists
• Year 2: Continued engagement with Year 1 audiences, while expanding to include orthopaedic surgeons, general paediatricians, sports and exercise physicians, and emergency medicine physicians
• Year 3: Continued engagement across healthcare professional groups, alongside the introduction of a targeted consumer awareness and disease self-management stream for children, young people and families living with JIA
The Early Diagnosis Program was launched by the federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon Mark Butler MP in March 2024. The program is scheduled for completion in March 2027.
Emma Richards email: emma.richards@jafa.org.au
Australian Paediatric Rheumatology Group (APRG)
| Organisation | Name |
| Australasian College of Emergency Medicine | Dr Michael Lovegrove |
| Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians | Prof Keiran Fallon |
| Australian Orthopaedic Association | Dr Sarah Murgatroyd |
| Australian Paediatric Rheumatology Group | Dr Jonathan Akikusa |
| Australian Physiotherapy Association | Nicole Pates |
| Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association | Karen Booth |
| Consumer representative | Julie Brahe |
| Optometry Australia | Kerryn Hart |
| Paediatric Rheumatology Nurse | Julie Jones |
| Paediatric Rheumatology Nurse | Deborah Tunbridge |
| Pharmaceutical Society of Australia | Chris Campbell |
| Pharmacy Guild of Australia | Monique Mackrill |
| Royal Australian College of General Practitioners | A/Prof Paresh Dawda |
| Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Dr Neil Archer |
| Uveitis Special Interest Group | Prof Peter McCluskey |
| Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia | A/Prof Ruth Colagiuri Prof Stephen Colagiuri Emma Richards (Ex officio) Gail van Heerden (Secretariat) |