| On
this page: Our
Mission | What Arthritis
NSW Does | Who Supports
Arthritis NSW |
How to Become
a Member | How
You Can Help
Arthritis
NSW commenced providing education and services
to people with arthritis in NSW in the mid
sixties when the first office accommodation
was situated
in Wynyard House in Sydney with a staff of
one. Dr. Naomi Wing’s patient Bruce Williams
saw the need for a support organisation for
people who had arthritis and worked hard to
begin Arthritis
NSW which today has 7000 members and 50 branches
and support groups, and represents both people
with arthritis and the
health professionals involved with treating
them.
Arthritis NSW, like all state
and territory Arthritis Foundations, is a separate
legal entity, although we do work cooperatively
with the other Foundations as well as the national
peak body Arthritis Australia in areas such
as arthritis week, research, and literature for
people
with arthritis.
Arthritis NSW is a registered
charity, has a tax deductibility status and is
a public company limited by guarantee (S.383
licence), administered through a Board
of Directors.
Arthritis NSW works closely
with the Australian Rheumatology Association.
Important medical and health information
provided on this site has been reviewed by health
professionals.
The Osteoporosis
Society of NSW (Osteoporosis NSW) provides
support and information to those with osteoporosis
in
our State. It is an activity of Arthritis NSW.
Our Mission
The mission of Arthritis NSW
seeks to improve the quality of life of those
affected by Arthritis and Osteoporosis.
What Arthritis NSW does
- Informs the community about
arthritis
- Encourages early medical
intervention, particularly in Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Promotes the benefits of physical
activity and exercise
- Encourages people to self-manage
their arthritis through the provision of
information, seminars, community programs and
online education
- Coordinates and promotes branches
and support groups
- Encourages research into arthritis
through the provision of grants
- Implements the relevant actions from
the National Action Plan – click here
Who Supports Arthritis NSW
Arthritis NSW is an independent
organisation working in partnership with individual
service organisations. It is through members'
subscriptions, contributions from individuals,
service organisations,
companies and bequests that Arthritis NSW carries
on its work. Arthritis NSW works under the principles
of its Working Together document.
Sydney West Area Health Service
provides a $32,000 grant yearly to assist our
education services. This is supplemented by one-off
program grants by the Commonwealth and State
Governments' Departments of Health.
Membership is vital to Arthritis
NSW as it enables us to provide the various services
and resources you'll find outlined on this website.
Being a member will enable
you to receive the quarterly magazine Arthritis
News, participate in activities to assist your
arthritis (eg water exercise classes) and purchase
various publications and videos.
Our new online self-management
program Challenging
Arthritis is free to all members
who register through www.challengingarthritis.org You
do not need a computer! For
your printed copy of Challenging Arthritis program,
phone 1800 332 131.
Volunteers.
We value and say a special thank you for the
contribution of each and every volunteer member
of Arthritis NSW who give generously to help
with our efforts to educate and support people
who have arthritis in the community. To find
out more about being a volunteer click
here.
 How to become a Member
It's easy: contact the friendly
faces and voices of Arthritis NSW - Melissa and
Clarissa
can answer your questions and sign you up as
a member
over
the telephone. They, and the rest of our team,
are located at Van Peters Cottage, 13 Harold Street,
North Parramatta NSW 2151. Call our Freecall number
1800 332 131. More information on membership
can be
found in the Membership section
of this website.
Our 7,000
members include health professionals, people
with arthritis and business people.
How you can help:
- By becoming
a member of Arthritis NSW. Benefits include access to
our library, subscription to Arthritis NSW,
and a united voice in lobbying government
on important health-related issues.
- By providing
for the ongoing work of Arthritis NSW in
your will. Income
from bequests enables the Foundation to continue
its services at a much higher level.
- By making
a donation.
Individual donations provide approximately
35% of our funding. Your donation helps ensure
the continuation and expansion of research
and our self-management programs.
- By becoming
a volunteer. Please click
here to email us if
you would like to let us know you are interested
in
helping us. Volunteers can help by joining
a branch in their local area, being a water
exercise assistant or office helper or you
may have another idea about what can be done.
 Your
donation, gift or bequest will also help us
support our programs for
young people with arthritis, for example the
annual Camp
Footloose which provides children
and teenagers with arthritis with a holiday
full of fun activities and education about
their arthritis (see pic at right). In addition,
the Alison
Watson Memorial Awards provide educational
assistance
for young people whose study has been interrupted
by arthritis, and it aims to ensure that they
have the opportunity to continue with their
chosen couse of study and are given every chance
to display their full potential.
With your help, we can develop
new educational programs for people who have
arthritis, and increase our research into the
disease - click here to see our research section.
To find out more about making
a gift, donation or bequest, do visit our Gifts section in this site, or contact
us.
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