Arthritis Australia

About Arthritis Australia

Nearly one in five Australians - that's 3.85 million people - has arthritis. Arthritis Australia is Not-for-profit, and is the peak arthritis organisation in Australia. It is supported by affiliate offices in every state and territory. Arthritis Australia endeavours to ensure the accuracy and relevance of information on its website. Consumer information materials are reviewed and updated on an annual basis, with the process including a full literature review to ensure scientific accuracy. News pages are reviewed on a daily basis, other amendments uploaded as they occur and, overall, a six monthly review of the full website is undertaken to maintain accuracy and relevancy.

Arthritis Australia:

• provides support and information to people with arthritis as well as their families and friends
• promotes awareness of the challenges facing people with arthritis across the community, and to leaders in business, industry, and government
• funds research into potential causes and possible cures as well as better ways to live with arthritis, and
• aims to keep health professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and community nurses informed.

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Arthritis facts

• nearly one in five Australians has arthritis
• today arthritis impacts directly on 3.85 million people, or 18.5 per cent of the population and indirectly on their businesses, colleagues, friends and family
• by 2050, it is projected there will be 7 million Australians with arthritis
• it costs the economy about $23.9 billion a year. Emotionally and socially, the hidden costs of arthritis are immeasurable
• arthritis is Australia's major cause of disability and pain
• it's wrong to think arthritis is just an inevitable part of getting older; it isn't!
• most people diagnosed with arthritis are of working age
• children get arthritis too
• arthritis was declared a National Health Priority in 2002
• there are more than 100 different types of arthritis
• most forms of arthritis are thought to be a reaction of the body against its own joint tissues
• osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and lupus are some of the most common forms of arthritis
• we do know you've got to move it or lose it; rest can make pain and other symptoms much worse
• there's no cure... yet
• but there's a lot that can be done
• and with your help we can make life for people with arthritis a whole lot better!

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Funding

Arthritis Australia relies on the generosity of community groups, individuals, and corporate sponsors for most of its funding. For more information on how you can support people with arthritis please call 1800 111 101.

Arthritis Australia wishes to acknowledge funding support from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing* for the following projects: National Arthritis Awareness Project (Mainstream Awareness Campaign, Multicultural Awareness Campaign, Pharmacies Awareness Campaign), Development of a National Bone & Joint Minimum Data Set, National Arthritis Multicultural Initiative, Resource Development Project, Awareness Program NT Rural/Remote Seminars and Juvenile Arthritis Childrens Camps and Adolescent/Young Adults Program.

* for funding period 2006-2010.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The board of directors of Arthritis Australia is made up of corporate, health and community representatives who are committed to:

• developing further initiatives for assisting Australians with arthritis
• restricting the rate of growth of arthritis in Australia
• ensuring arthritis is on the national agenda, and
• advocating world class research into the disease

The Board

Mona Marabani MBBS (Hons) FRACP - President

A practising rheumatologist, Dr Marabani was appointed President in June 2006. She was formerly Acting President (from February 2006) and Vice-President (from June 2003). She is also a member of the Arthritis Australia Executive, Finance Advisory and Scientific Advisory Committees, and has served the Australian Rheumatology Association as a councillor, the NSW branch as Honorary Secretary, and the NSW Advanced Trainee Selection Committee as Chair. Dr Marabani maintains an active interest in health education.

 David Motteram - Vice-President

Mr Motteram is a retired business manager and current President of Arthritis SA. He became Vice-President of Arthritis Australia in November 2009 and currently serves on the Executive and Finance Advisory Committees.

Bruce Wallis BComm FCA FAICD - Treasurer

Mr Wallis became a Director of Arthritis Australia in July 2005 and was appointed Treasurer in June 2006. He serves on the Executive and Finance Advisory Committees and is also President of Arthritis Queensland, having been their Treasurer for several years and a Director since 1999. Mr Wallis is a chartered accountant who has worked in audit with Price Waterhouse for 13 years; managed Cooper Grace & Ward, a Brisbane legal practice, for two years; and been the Operations Director for ABN AMRO Morgans for 18 years, where he is now Chairman of Finance and Remuneration.

Kristine Riethmiller BA CMC MIMC MAICD - Secretary

Ms Riethmiller became Secretary of Arthritis Australia in November 2009. She is a practising management consultant who has spent the past 10 years advising government and private organisations on governance, strategy and people management. She is Secretary of Arthritis ACT and a Director of the Canberra Business Council.

Graeme Jones MBBS (Hons) FRACP FAFPHM

MMedSc MD - Medical Director Prof Jones was appointed Medical Director of Arthritis Australia in May 2003 and chairs the Grants Assessment Committee. He is Director of Rheumatology at Royal Hobart Hospital, and Head of the Musculoskeletal Unit at the Menzies Research Institute, University of Tasmania.

 Dr Irene Froyland

Dr Froyland was appointed to the Board in November 2009 and is Vice-President of Arthritis WA. She retired as Foundation Director of Corruption Prevention, Education and Research (CPER) in the Corruption and Crime Commission but remain an Adjunct Assoc Prof in the School of Justice and Law at Edith Cowan University. 
 
Russell Green BHA (NSW) ASA AFCHSE

Mr Green was appointed to the Board in March 2008. He has had a long-term career in senior positions in public hospital administration in Victoria, local government community services and business unit administrations, and a number of years in the aged care industry. He is currently the Treasurer of the Board of Arthritis Victoria.

Beth Harvey

Mrs Harvey, a Director of Arthritis Australia since June 2007, is also President of Arthritis NT. A retired registered nurse, she has a special interest in health and education and works voluntarily for a range of community groups.

Wayne Jarman Grad Dip Fin AMP (Harvard)

Mr Jarman was appointed to the Board in November 2007. Wayne heads the State Government's Asset Management Task force which is leading the Electricity Reforms and privatising Lotteries, Pillar and WSN Environmental Services. Prior to this, he was Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of RBC Capitol Markets and CEO of TCorp, the New South Wales Governments Central Borrowing Authority for a period of nine years.

 Rhys Jones

Mr Jones was appointed to the Board in November 2009. His professional activities have included representation on a number of trials and working parties such as the Needle Availability Program Working Party; the Careworks Coordinated Care Trial; and the HealthConnect Trial startup working party. Rhys has been a sitting member on the Pharmacy Board of Tasmania since 2002 and is currently President of Arthritis Tasmania. He owns and manages the Rhys Jones Pharmacy in Bellerive.  
 
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EXECUTIVE

Ainslie Cahill

Ms Cahill was appointed CEO of Arthritis Australia in December 2005, having served as its Marketing and Business Development Manager from August 2003. She has more than 25 years' experience in a variety of industries, including senior management/board positions in vocational education (TAFE NSW), public relations (Write Communications Group), publishing (Capricorn Publishing Pty Ltd) and film, television and theatre production (Melaleuka Productions Pty Ltd).

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SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE

This committee provides the Arthritis Australia Board with medical expertise.

Peter Youssef MBBS (Hons) FRACP PhD - Chair

Assoc Prof Youssef is a staff specialist in rheumatology at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. He is the Co-Chair of the Australian Rheumatology Association Scientific Programs Committee and rheumatology sub-editor of the IMJ. His research interests are in the mechanisms of joint damage in inflammatory arthritis, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, and the effects of therapy on the synovium.

Peter Brooks MD FRACP FRCP (Edin) FAFRM FAFPHM MD Lund (Hons Causa)

Prof Brooks is Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Interim Director, Australian health workforce Institute - University of Melbourne and the University of Queensland. He is the author of more than 300 publications in the areas of rheumatic diseases, drug therapy and psychological aspects of chronic disease.

Simon Burnet MBBS FRACP

Dr Burnet is Arthritis South Australia's Alternate Director. An Adelaide-based rheumatologist, he is a consultant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and also Medical Director of Arthritis SA.

Julien de Jager MB BCh FRACGP FRACP

Dr de Jager is Senior Visiting Rheumatologist at the Gold Coast Hospital and a visiting consultant rheumatologist at Allamanda and Pindara private hospitals in Queensland. He is an international fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and a past President of the Australian Rheumatology Association.

Anna Dorai Raj MRCP (UK) FRACP Grad Certin Higher Education

Dr Dorai Raj is a rheumatologist in private practice in Canberra, a visiting medical officer at the Canberra Hospital and Unit Head of Rheumatology. She is a clinical lecturer at the Australian National University Medical School.

John Edmonds MBBS MA FRACP

Prof Edmonds is a Conjoint Professor at the University of NSW and the former Director of Rheumatology at St George Hospital in Sydney. He is currently Chair of the St George Medical Research Foundation and a past President of the Australian Rheumatology Association.

Graeme Jones MBBS (Hons) FRACP FAFPHM MMedSc MD - Medical Director

Medical Director Prof Jones was appointed Medical Director of Arthritis Australia in May 2003 and chairs the Grants Assessment Committee. He is Director of Rheumatology at Royal Hobart Hospital, and Head of the Musculoskeletal Unit at the Menzies Research Institute, University of Tasmania.

John Hart MBBS FRACS FAOrthA FASMF FACSP

Assoc Prof Hart is an orthopaedic surgeon based in Melbourne. He was Head of the Orthopaedic Unit at the Alfred Hospital from 1980 until 2003 and is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Surgery at Monash University.

Mona Marabani MBBS (Hons) FRACP

A practising rheumatologist, Dr Marabani was appointed President in June 2006. She was formerly Acting President (from February 2006) and Vice-President (from June 2003). She is also a member of the Arthritis Australia Executive, Finance Advisory and Scientific Advisory Committees, and has served the Australian Rheumatology Association as a councillor, the NSW branch as Honorary Secretary, and the NSW Advanced Trainee Selection Committee as Chair. Dr Marabani maintains an active interest in health education.

Philip Sambrook OAM MBBS MD FRACP LLB

Philip Sambrook is Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Sydney, holding the Florance and Cope Chair which is supported by Arthritis Australia. Prof Sambrook completed his postdoctoral work at the MRC Clinical Research Centre in London before returning to Australia to work at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, where he was part of the team that identified the first gene associated with osteoporosis. He was awarded an OAM in 2008 for his services to Rheumatology and Osteoporosis.

Andrew Taylor MBBS FRACP

Dr Taylor is a Consultant Rheumatologist at Royal Perth Hospital and is engaged in private practice at St John of God Healthcare, Murdoch. He is currently Director of the Goatcher Clinical Research Unit of the Rheumatology Department at Royal Perth Hospital.

A register disclosing relationships between members of the Scientific Advisory Committee and pharmaceutical companies is available upon request. Please call Ainslie Cahill on 02 9552 6085.

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Updated 16 Aug 2010