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.

Rationale and purpose:

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:

• Low health professional awareness
• Insufficient specialist paediatric rheumatology workforce

Scope:

The program aims to support health professionals with information, tools and resources to assist in recognising and assessing the signs and symptoms of JIA and refer appropriately to a paediatric rheumatologist for a definitive diagnosis.

JAFA will additionally continue to advocate strongly for the expansion of the paediatric rheumatology workforce through state and territory political campaigns.

The Early Diagnosis Program is national in scope, with targeted engagement across three years*:

• Year 1:  Frontline and community health professionals – notably GPs, eye health professionals, pharmacists and physiotherapists
• Year 2:  Expanded to include orthopaedic surgeons, general paediatricians,  sports and exercise physicians, and emergency medicine physicians
• Year 3:  Targeted community awareness program and disease self-management for consumers. 

*= including focused consultation and tailored messaging for health care providers and services supporting First Nations and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities.

Timeframe:

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.

Program Team:

• Associate Professor Ruth Colagiuri – Program Director
• Angela MacKay – Operations and Finance Lead
• Emma Richards – Program Manager
• Gail van Heerden – Program Officer
• Professor Stephen Colagiuri – General Medical Advice

Contact:

Emma Richards email: emma.richards@jafa.org.au

Specialist Medical Advice and Input:

Australian Paediatric Rheumatology Group (APRG)

Advisory Group

Organisation	Name
Australasian College of Emergency Medicine	Dr Michael Lovegrove
Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians	Prof Keiran Fallon
Australian Orthopaedic Association	A/Prof Nicole Williams
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)

References

1. Manners PJ. Delay in diagnosing juvenile arthritis. Med J Aust 1999; 171: 367-9.
2. Bond DM, Von Huben A, Lain S, Colagiuri R, Colagiuri S, Nassar N. The IMPACT Study:
   Investigating the Mental, Physical, Social And Financial CosTs (IMPACT) of
   Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Related Childhood Rheumatic Diseases.
   Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia, Sydney. November, 2023 www.jafa.org.au