fbpx
The website is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance. All transactions are offline. We apologise for the inconvenience.

Supporting West Australians with Musculoskeletal Conditions

Since 1972, Arthritis & Osteoporosis WA have grown to become the leading organisation solely dedicated to reducing the disabling effects of musculoskeletal conditions in WA.

Through the tireless efforts of our founders, Drs Phyllis Goatcher and Evan Owens, the expertise of medical professionals, board members, financial supporters, and the vast number of volunteers have united us in confronting the challenges of rheumatism and transforming the landscape of arthritis care in Western Australia.

Of those affected by these debilitating conditions, the challenges they face are physical, emotional, financial, and social. The pain, restrictions, and uncertainties accompanying these conditions create a ripple effect that touches families, friends, and communities. Arthritis currently affects 2.2 million Australians, but projections estimate that by 2050, there will be 7 million Australians with arthritis – 23.9% of the projected population of 29.4 million. This understanding drives us to continue our mission to provide care, education, and research with the ultimate hope of finding a cure.

Commited to Research

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.

Connecting Together

AOWA’s commitment to children and young people with arthritis continues to provide service in this critical area of focus. We deliver hydrotherapy classes and recently introduced a new Teens Healthy Bones & Joints Land-Based exercise program for young people aged 11 – 17.

In addition, the Arthritis Getaway is an annual weekend getaway designed to educate and support young adults with chronic rheumatic conditions. The event is designed to enable young people aged 18 to 35 who are living with arthritis to meet and help one another and learn about managing arthritis as they advance through adulthood years. 

AOWA has organised an annual camp for children with musculoskeletal conditions since the early 1990s. Camps promote self-management, personal growth, independence, self-confidence, and physical capabilities. The camp is proudly sponsored by Lotterywest and is held during the October school holidays.

Supporting our Community

We also continued to provide a range of community-based programs, including support groups and community speakers, to bring people together with musculoskeletal conditions and share lived experiences. Our telephone advice and support service, operated by volunteers and staff, responded to 2,300 enquiries and requests for information about musculoskeletal conditions in 2022.

Our exercise programs have provided a diverse range of land-based and hydrotherapy-based exercise programs for consumers with musculoskeletal conditions. We deliver our exercise programs across the Perth metro area, regional areas, and online.

Our volunteers have been essential in helping AOWA to continue to deliver its high-quality services, and the Board and staff are grateful for all their support. Volunteers assist across various roles and activities, including AOWA Board positions, community speaking, support group leading, office work, camps for children and young adults, and telephone advice and support.

Our collective efforts and unwavering commitment to providing quality support and services have solidified the foundation’s position as a hub of excellence and a sanctuary of care for West Australians affected by bone and joint diseases.

A long history of support

The Western Australian Arthritis & Rheumatism Foundation (WAARF) was inaugurated in October 1972, as a non-government organisation, through the efforts of Drs Phyllis Goatcher, Evan Owen and Roger Dawkins. Its first home was an office freely offered by the ANZ Bank in Murray St. Its main aims were care, education and research.

Latest News

Cart

Placeholder
Arthritis KEYS Program for Osteoarthritis - ALBANY 
1 × $35.00
Placeholder
Arthritis KEYS Program for Osteoarthritis - ALBANY with support person 
1 × $40.00
Subtotal: $75.00
Skip to content