newsletter - arthritis act · major joints and found the arthritis act wwx program the best thing i...

Highlights

From the CEO ....................... p2

Our people ............................... p3

Bones seminar ......................... p4

WWX report .......................... p5

Biosimilars ................................ p6

Bowen’s disease ...................... p7

Tai Chi program ...................... p8

Healthy Life schedule ............. p8

Honours awards & AGM ..... p9

Strength & Balance class ....... p9

JIA at Lollypops ....................... p10

Bequests .................................... p10

Mobility travel aids ................. p11

Calendar of events ................. p12

NEWSLETTER

Spring 2015 VOLUME 18, ISSUE 4

Including

Osteoporosis

ACT

Dietetic Clinic Opens

A new Dietetic Clinic is now operating at our Holder headquarters to

help members of the community maintain a healthy weight range.

Did you know that for every 1kg of extra weight you carry above your recommended healthy weight range, an extra 4kg of weight is placed on your lower joints? This adds both to the wear and tear of ankles, knees and hips, and if you are already suffering from arthritis,

this extra weight is leading to increased pain and damage.

Arthritis ACT is acutely aware of the difficulty of maintaining a healthy weight range, especially when living with chronic pain. Because of this, we have started the dietetic clinic to provide advice on weight. It will also help ensure we gain the necessary nutrients to ensure maximum bone health and the energy we need to keep mobilising and exercising

our joints to decrease the pain of arthritis.

The Dietitian will assist you with:

Evidence based nutrition education

Achieving healthy balanced diet and activity

Developing healthy cooking skills

Better management of some chronic disease managements

The Clinic will assist both members and non–members of the Foundation in the areas of: general nutrition; diabetes and insulin resistance, cholesterol management, osteoporosis, hypertension,

healthy weight management, malnutrition, and iron deficiency

Medicare rebates are available for clients with a Medicare Plus referral from their General Practitioner. Some private health insurers will provide a rebate. To find out more or to make an appointment please

call 1800 011 041.

What does it all mean for health

consumers? In this edition Arthritis

Australia have provided us with an

overview of this issue to keep us

informed.

4 Corners has recently undertaken an

investigation on the cost of routine

procedures on the health budget. In

particular, knee arthroscopy, knee

replacement and back pain were

discussed. It does make for interesting

viewing, and food for thought as we

discuss our health needs with our GPs.

The program will be available in ABC

iView for the next few weeks, and if you

haven't seen it, I encourage you to do so.

If you do not have access to the Internet

we are happy for you to come in to the

Arthritis ACT Offices to view the

program.

I look forward to seeing as many of you

as possible at our Honours Celebrations

and AGM.

Kind regards

Rebecca Davey

From the CEO

Welcome to our Spring edition of the

newsletter – I hope as the sun begins

to warm us all again that you are all

regaining that ‘spring’ in your step and

are out and about exercising those

joints again! For those who need

some assistance or even just a ‘date’ to

exercise – please think about our

Strength and Balance Classes. Next

term these will be occurring on

Monday and Thursday mornings. In

addition, we are commencing ‘Wii and

Tea’, Monday, 10-11am. This will run

in conjunction with the ‘Graduates

Strength and Balance’ session, and will

be overseen by our resident

physiotherapist (and if you’re lucky,

you might even be able to twist my

arm to come in to have a laugh at!).

As the weather warms up so does our

events calendar. We do hope as many

of you as possible can join us in our

World Arthritis Day celebrations at

the Arthritis ACT Honours Awards,

and then stay on afterwards for our

AGM. We also have our annual

World Osteoporosis Seminar

happening with a great line-up of

speakers. Please also put into your

diary 3-5pm 11 December for our

Christmas Party. This will be held at

the Arthritis ACT Offices and

afternoon tea will be complementary

to all our members. We’d love to see

as many of you as possible!

Over the past few months you may

have seen information in the media or

coming from us regarding the issue of

biosimilars. The advent of biosimilars

heralds a new era in biologic therapy

for auto-immune forms of arthritis.

But government moves to drive the

uptake of biosimilars to achieve budget

savings have raised concerns.

Arthritis ACT

Level 2B

Cameron Community Centre

27 Mulley Street

HOLDER ACT 2611

02 6288 4244

www.arthritisact.org.au

Arthritis ACT Board

2014-15 Ms Anna Hackett (President )

Dr David Graham (Vice President)

Ms Louise Carter( Secretary)

Mr Andrew Fleming (Treasurer)

Ms Leanne Bowen

Mr Garry Heald Ms Catherine Skippington Ms Helen Tyrell

Advertising policy

statement

Products and services advertised in

this newsletter are not necessarily

recommended by the Arthritis Foun-

dation of the ACT. Some readers

may assume that anything that is

advertised in these pages has been

cleared, vetted or in some way ap-

proved by the charity. This is not so.

The Foundation is not equipped to

test and approve products and

services that are available to the

general public. Please exercise your

own judgment about whether the

item or service advertised is likely to

help you personally and, where

appropriate, take professional ad-

vice from your doctor, specialist or

other specific expert before pur-

chasing.

NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2015

Christmas Party

Put the date in

your diary now!

Arthritis ACT invites all its members and friends to join us in some festive afternoon tea cheer on Friday, 11 December, between 3-5pm at Arthritis ACT,

Level 2A 27 Mulley Street, Holder.

There will be our annual Christmas raffle, Christmas cake, chatter and laughter in abundance. There might even be some holly hanging in a

corner….

RSVP to [email protected] or

6288 4244 by Monday, 7 Decem-

ber.

http://www.arthritisact.org.au

mailto:[email protected]

VOLUME 18 , ISSUE 4

It’s a girl!

Our wonderful Health Promotion Co-ordinator Erica Roughton to-gether with husband Graeme are pleased to announce the safe arrival

of Ashleigh Frances on Saturday, 29 August.

Best wishes from all at Arthritis ACT to Erica and Graeme, and we

look forward to baby cuddles in the coming months!

Jacqui Couldrick — Physiotherapist

Jacqui commenced working at Arthritis ACT in July 2015. She is working

three days per week, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

She is an experienced physiotherapist who still works in private practice treating musculoskeletal conditions including those with arthritis, particular-

ly osteoarthritis.

She has a keen interest in public health issues and particularly with regards

to getting people moving and exercising to improve their health.

Jacqui is currently running the Strength and Balance classes at Arthritis ACT

for those who are interested in improving their strength and balance.

Manmeet Kaur — Dietitian Manmeet believes in good wholesome nutrition and is passionate about helping her clients achieve their health goals through individually tailored nutrition counselling. She is committed to provide ongoing education, mo-tivation and support to optimise their success with nutrition goals. She enjoys helping her clients to improve their relationship with food and ex-

ercise.

Manmeet has achieved Bachelors of Health Science (2009), Master of Nu-trition (2011) and Master of Nutrition and Dietetics (2014) from the Uni-versity of Canberra. She is an Accredited Practice Dietitian with expertise in delivering various nutrition programs and conducting one to one consul-tation for general nutrition, weight management, malnutrition, insulin re-sistance, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, cholesterol and blood pressure

management. Manmeet can fluently speak English, Hindi and Punjabi.

Our People

NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2015

Kim Edwards Ya Tawatja, Mina Palawa’ – Hi everyone, I am a Palawa Aboriginal woman from Tasmania and I have been living here in the ACT for over 25 years. Thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself. I have recently joined the Arthritis ACT team part time as a Health Promotion Officer filling in for Erica whilst she is on Parenting Leave. I had recently retired from CIT where I taught community work and health promotion for many years and more recently, from the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre (AILC) where I have developed their new courses and programs in Indigenous Leadership and Governance. I welcome the opportunity to work with the Arthritis ACT team including our lovely volunteers and clients in managing and promoting our

services and programs across the ACT community.

I have had extensive experience working in health promotion and trained as a WWX Supervisor earlier this year after joining Arthritis ACT last year as a member. I do have Osteoarthritis in my major joints and found the Arthritis ACT WWX Program the best thing I have participated in as part of my rehabilitation program after a knee replacement. I cannot recommend the WWX Program highly enough to

our community as it is fantastic for arthritis sufferers for their physical and emotional and social wellbeing.

I have a number of qualifications in teaching, adult and community education, Indigenous leadership and

governance plus experience working in the community sector.

I am a married mum of 4 adult girls and grandmother of an active 4 year old grandson and a very understanding husband who is very supportive in my activities outside of home. I look forward to working with you all in the future and please do not hesitate contact me via email ([email protected]) or phone

02 6288 4244.

My days in the Arthritis ACT Office are generally on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays 9.00am – 4.00pm.

Our People (continued)

VOLUME 18 , ISSUE 4

WWX Report

School Pool provide a good alternative option for those who may have missed out on Club MMM. Please consider attending these pools instead and let the WWX Supervisor know you will be

attending.

Session times for Gold Creek and Black Mountain School can be found on our website:

www.arthritisact.org.au.

Reminders

Please note: Gold Creek Pool WWX Sessions and Black Mountain School WWX Sessions are not available during the ACT School Holidays

from 28 September 2015 – 9 October 2015.

Please Note: WWX participants are required at all times to sign in and initial the date column on

the Attendance Sheets.

A gentle reminder is that all hourly WWX Sessions at all pools do include time for changing and showering. Please ask your WWX Supervisor

if you have any questions.

Please email me or ring me at the office if you

have any queries regarding the WWX Program.

Kim Edwards, WWX Program Coordinator

6288 4244 or [email protected].

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Arthritis ACT are pleased to announce that a new extra WWX Session will be now available for Term 4 at the Calvary John James Hospital Hydrotherapy Pool

– Rehabilitation Wing, Deakin.

The new session starts on Tuesday evening, 13th

October, 5.15pm – 6.15pm (includes changing time).

Please contact the WWX Supervisor for this session if you are going to attend: Kim Edwards’s mobile -

0412 603 773.

News

Considering the very cold winter we have had in Canberra recently, our WWX sessions are well attended. Interest in participating in our WWX Program has certainly increased and we anticipate this will increase again in the Spring/Summer season due to our increased promotion of WWX Program to local health practitioners and our Shopping Centre Information Displays being held over the

next few months.

Club MMM WWX Session, Belconnen Town Centre continues to prove very popular for the Wednesday session. Unfortunately, this session is limited to 12 participants including the WWX Supervisor so booking in for this session is required on a weekly basis. Both Gold Creek Pool and Black Mountain

NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2015

Biosimilars and Biologics: What you need to

know

The advent of biosimilars heralds a new era in biologic therapy for auto-immune forms of arthritis. But government moves to drive the uptake of biosimilars to achieve budget savings have raised concerns. What

does it all mean for health consumers?

Biologic medicines for the treatment of auto-immune forms of arthritis have been available in Australia since 2003. These medicines have helped to revolutionise the treatment of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile arthritis, reducing disability and

improving quality of life for many.

The patents for many biologics used for arthritis are now starting to expire in Australia and copies, known

as biosimilars, are beginning to enter the market.

A biosimilar of infliximab, the first for a biologic used to treat arthritis, has just been approved for use and subsidy in Australia, and will be available soon. Other biosimilars are expected to come onto the market in

the next couple of years.

The introduction of biosimilars has been widely welcomed because it offers the potential to reduce costs for both the health consumer and the Government, so more people may be able to start using these medications. Biosimilars will also increase treatment choices for people who need to take

biologic medicines.

Less welcome, however, are measures which will allow pharmacists to substitute a biosimilar for the original

biologic medicine, as they do with generic medicines.

This means that your pharmacist may in fact give you a biosimilar medicine (if available) rather than your usual

biologic without you or your doctor realising.

These measures are designed to encourage the uptake of biosimilars with the aim of achieving budget savings for the Federal Government but have raised concerns among consumer and clinician groups about the

implications for consumers.

Arthritis Australia and the Australian Rheumatology Association in particular have been active in raising their concerns with the Federal Government about allowing pharmacy level substitution for biosimilars.

Why is pharmacy level substitution a concern?

Associate Professor Susanna Proudman, Medical Director of Arthritis Australia, explains why allowing

substitution at the pharmacy level might be a problem.

“Biosimilars are copies of biologic medicines but they are not generics. Biologic medicines are grown in living cells and are extremely complex. They are virtually impossible to copy exactly, unlike generics of

simple conventional medicines such as aspirin.

“This is really important because minor differences in these medicines and the way they are produced and administered, may affect their safety and

effectiveness,” she says.

“We know that biosimilars are safe and effective in patients who are new to that therapy and we support

their use in these cases.

“At present however, we just don’t have enough evidence to know if biosimilars and biologics can be used interchangeably in people who are stable on their current therapy, as could happen if pharmacy

level substitution was allowed.

This is especially the case for auto-immune forms of arthritis, where the use of biosimilars is still quite

new,” A/ Professor Proudman says.

“Switching and especially multiple switching between a biosimilar and a biologic, may affect patient safety by triggering an immune response or it may make the

medicines less effective.

If something does go wrong, it also makes it much harder to work out which product is causing the problem, because an immune response can take a

while to surface.”

“For these reasons it is important that consumers are informed about biosimilars and talk to their rheumatologist about whether these medicines are

suitable for them.”

What does this mean?

Biologic A complex medicine grown using

living organisms.

Biosimilar A copy of a biologic medicine that is very similar, but not identical to, the original

medicine.

Conventional medicine A simple,

chemically manufactured medicine, such as aspirin.

Generic medicine An identical copy of a

conventional medicine

VOLUME 18 , ISSUE 4

5 things you can do to make sure you get

the right medicine

Both prescribers and consumers will still have the right to veto biosimilar substitution at the pharmacy level, but it is important that this is an informed

choice. To make sure you get the right medicine:

1) Talk to your rheumatologist about your biologic medication and whether a biosimilar

is available and might be right for you.

2) Decide in consultation with your rheumatologist whether you should keep taking the same brand of biologic/biosimilar

medicine or whether it could be substituted.

Biosimilars continued….

3) If you both decide that you need to keep taking the same brand of medication, make sure your rheumatologist ticks the ‘Do not substitute’ box on your script. Tell your pharmacist that you want the medication that is on the script and that you do not

authorise any substitution.

4) Check the package of your medication when you collect it from your pharmacist and keep a record of its name so you know what brand of medicine you are

taking.

5) Keep informed about this issue by visiting

www.arthritisaustralia.com.au

Bowen’s Disease

Bowen’s disease is an early form of skin cancer that presents as a slow growing scaly skin patch. It is most commonly seen in the lower legs and may be

mistaken for psoriasis.

Signs of Bowen Disease include:

Flat, scaly, red and slightly raised patches of

skin

A single patch or multiple patches may be

present

The edge of the patch is irregular

Each patch is slow growing

Most have no symptoms and rarely are they

painful

The cause of Bowen’s disease is unknown but

several risk factors do exist.

These include:

Gender- higher prevalence in females.

Age- higher prevalence in over 40.

Sun exposure.

Arsenic exposure.

Immunosuppressed individuals.

Viral infection such as HPV (wart virus).

Most Bowen’s lesions remain in the outer skin or the epidermis. It is considered a precancerous condition that can be treated with methods such as cryosurgery. It is important any unusual skin

problem is checked by your GP.

NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2015

Arthritis ACT

TAI CHI a program for better living

Arthritis ACT is seeking expressions of interest from members & guests to attend a subsi-

dised 6 week Tai Chi program commencing Wednesday, 28th October 2015 at 11.00 am.

Venue

Activities Room, Level 2A, Grant Cameron Community Centre, 27 Mulley Street, Holder

Cost Members $20.00 for 6 sessions Guests $40.00 for 6 sessions

Benefits to You

The Tai Chi Program will help you: Reduce stress, increase balance and flexibility, feel re-

laxed and improve your overall mind, body and spirit.

Tai Chi for 6 weeks – Led by certified instructors from the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Aus-tralia , the sessions are one hour each week for six weeks and are designed to be relaxing

and enjoyable.

If you are interested in attending register online at https://www.arthritisact.org.au/member/misc/events or email [email protected] or call

1800 011 041.

https://www.arthritisact.org.au/member/misc/events

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Tai%20Chi%20Registration

VOLUME 18 , ISSUE 4

Register now!! Strength and Balance Classes

An entry level, exercise program designed to help you strengthen your

muscles and improve your balance .

Commencing: Mondays 11:30-12:30 or

Thursdays 9:30—10:30

Week of 12 October 2015 for 10 weeks

Cost: Members: $10 Non-Members: $50

Venue: “Activities Room” Level 2 A, 27 Mulley Street

Holder

To register:

Contact Arthritis ACT on [email protected] or

phone 6288 4244

NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2015

Have you thought about including a bequest in your will?

It could go a long way to helping our community

As a small community organisation, Arthritis ACT relies heavily on the generosity of people like yourself in the community to assist those affected by arthritis in the ACT region. Many of our programs, including the increasingly popular Strength and Balance classes, are com-

pletely dependent upon donations to operate.

Have you considered a bequest in your will to Arthritis ACT? This charitable gift can help

to ensure that the good work of our organisation can continue long into the future.

If you would like more information, please contact Ms Rebecca Davey, Chief Executive

Officer, at [email protected] or by telephone 1800 041 011.

mailto:[email protected]

VOLUME 18 , ISSUE 4

October Saturday 3 Young Adults Group

Time: TBA Venue: Trip to Goulburn

Contact: Nicky 0404 391 136

Thursday 8 RA & Sjogren’s Interest Group

Time: 10.30am –12noon

Venue: Hellenic Club, Phillip

Monday 12 Arthritis Support Group


Venue: Hellenic Club , Phillip

Monday 12 Strength & Balance Class (1 of 10)

Time: 11.30am – 12.30pm

Venue: “Activities Room” Level 2A,

27 Mulley Street Holder


Registration: E: [email protected] or call

1800 011 041

Tuesday 13 Arthritis ACT Honours Ceremony &

Annual General Meeting

Time: 4.30pm –6.30pm


27 Mulley St Holder

Thursday 15 Strength & Balance Class (1 of 10)

Time: 9.30am – 10.30am




Registration: E: [email protected] or call

1800 011 041

Thursday 15 ACT Chronic Conditions

Seminar - ‘Pain, Shame and New

Ways Psychologists Can Help’

Speaker: Marion Swetenham, Clinical Phychologist

Time: 7.00 – 8.30pm

Venue; Building 1, Pearce Community

Centre, Collett Place Pearce

Wednesday 21 World Osteoporosis Day Seminar

Time: 2.30 - 4.30pm

Venue: TCH Auditorium, Building 3

The Canberra Hospital

Guest Speakers: Dr Robert Schmidli, Endocrinologist

Professor Robyn Lucas, ANU

Dr Disa Smee, Associate Professor UC

Thursday 22 JIA Playgroup

Time: 4.00pm - 6.00pm

Venue: Lollipop's Playland & Café

Majura Park Shopping Centre,

Cost: Entry to Lollypop’s covered by Arthritis

ACT, extended to all children in the family.

Wednesday 28 Tai Chi for Beginners

Time: 11.00am - 12 noon




Registration: [email protected] or call 1800 011 041

November




Saturday 7 Young Adults Group

Time: 12.00 noon

Venue: Café Injoy, Federation Square Gungahlin




Venue: Hellenic Club, Phillip

Thursday 19 ACT Chronic Conditions

Seminar - ‘Depression’

Speaker: Julia Reynolds, National Institute for Mental

Health Research, ANU

Time: 7.00 – 8.30 pm

Venue; Building 1, Pearce Community Centre,

Thursday 19 JIA Playgroup

Time: 4.00pm - 6.00pm

Venue: Lollipop's Playland & Café

Majura Park Shopping Centre,

Cost: Entry to Lollypop’s covered by Arthritis ACT,

extended to all children in the family.

December

Saturday 5 Young Adults Group - Christmas Lunch

Time: 12.00 noon

Venue: Australian National Botanic Gardens






Christmas Lunch

Time: 12.30 pm

Venue: ‘Sweet Copper’ Nicholls

Contact: Anna 0402 014 167

Friday 11 Arthritis ACT - Christmas Party

Time: 3.00 – 5.00pm

Venue: Level 2A 27 Mulley Street, Holder

Cost: Free!

RSVP: [email protected] or call 1800 011 041

by Monday, 7 December.

VOLUME 18 , ISSUE 4

NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2015

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Strength%20&%20Balance%20Classes

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Strength%20&%20Balance%20Classes

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Tai%20Chi%20for%20Beginners

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Christmas%20Afternoon%20Tea

newsletter - arthritis act · major joints and found the arthritis act wwx program the best thing i...

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