Our Rural Rheumatology Clinic Service has been providing rheumatology services to rural and remote areas of WA since 1974. These clinics offer a much-needed lifeline to support consumers with chronic musculoskeletal conditions living in rural areas. AOWA has been instrumental in coordinating clinics across the Goldfields, Great Southern, Mid-West, Kimberly, and Pilbara regions.

We provide up-to-date musculoskeletal education for health professionals to successfully transfer knowledge that can be applied in clinical interactions and managing arthritis and related conditions.

We are committed to enabling people with arthritis and related conditions to become informed about their condition, and our self-management programs have been delivering these services for over 20 years. These programs aim to empower consumers with the knowledge and skills to manage their arthritis in partnership with their health professional team. These programs are available in person throughout the Perth metro and regional areas and online. In addition, our public seminars and talks are educational events open to consumers and held in metro and rural areas.

In the medical field, continued education and service are critical in ensuring a healthy and informed population. AOWA’s commitment to vital research continues under the direction of Professor Hans Nossent as Chair of Rheumatology & Musculoskeletal Medicine at the University of Western Australia. Prof Nossent has increased training opportunities in Rheumatology to bridge the gap between service provision and requirements in the field. His contributions to the medical community through his research, service, and postgraduate supervision have significantly improved the health outcomes of patients with rheumatic diseases.