"During Juvenile Arthritis Week - and every week - the Juvenile Arthritis Australia Foundation's story is one that deserves our attention.
And, as Patron, I am very proud to support you in your work to raise awareness for juvenile arthritis." One of the most common childhood diseases, yet one of the least well known, JAFA was founded in 2019 to provide a national voice to represent and address the needs of children and adolescents with arthritis and related rheumatic diseases and their families and carers. This year's theme of Juvenile Arthritis Week is 'Early diagnosis – early intervention'.
It was very special to meet the children and young adults who travelled from across the country to generously share their difficult stories, while displaying such optimism for the future, and their own school and community contributions. Also, in attendance was JAFA's first Youth Ambassador, Dayna Mattchewson who had written a moving song 'Butterfly', about growing up with the condition.
The Governor-General thanked Prof Ruth Colagiuri AM and Prof Stephen Colagiuri as co-founders of JAFA, motivated to create the organisation when they encountered the absence of science and support for children with juvenile arthritis through the experience of their grandchild. @jafa4kidsarthritis @daynamattchewson @aussiehonours
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