Global Healthy Living Foundation Australia

01/11/2026

A major breakthrough for people living with Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)!

From 1 November 2026, eligible Australian adults with active moderate to severe TED will have affordable access to teprotumumab (Tepezza®) through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Why is this such a significant development?
🔹 The first biologic treatment specifically targeting TED available in Australia.
🔹 Can help reduce eye bulging, inflammation, eye pain and double vision.
🔹 Offers the opportunity to treat active TED before permanent eye damage occurs.

For people living with TED, this represents more than a new treatment option. It offers hope for improved vision, confidence and quality of life.

This milestone is also the result of advocacy and the voices of people living with TED who shared their experiences to help make change happen. Thank you to everyone who contributed!

Read our article to discover how teprotumumab works, who may be eligible and what PBS access means for patients.



Image shows a brushstroke pattern in two colours. To the right are the words: New Treatment for Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), Teprotumumab (Tepezza®). Now available on the PBS for Australians with active moderate to severe TED. 1 November 2026. The GHLF logo is in the bottom right corner

Australians with moderate to severe thyroid eye disease (TED) now have affordable access to a targeted treatment via the PBS for the first time.

29/10/2026

Do you live with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis?

Thursday 29 October is World Psoriasis Day. 1.6 million Australians live with psoriasis, and around 30 per cent of these also have psoriatic arthritis.

🧴 💊 💉 Many new treatments have been approved for these conditions in recent years, yet many people are not aware of them. Could one of these treatments improve your symptoms and quality of life?

🩺 Here are three things you can ask your doctor today:

1. What other treatments can I try?
2. How can I improve other symptoms related to my psoriasis?
3. Do I need to see a dermatologist?

Start the conversation today!

🔎 For more psoriasis resources and tips, visit our Psoriasis Education Hub at ghlf.org.au/psoriasis

Psoriasis Australia The Australasian College of Dermatologists

29/10/2026

🌍 Thursday 29 October is World Psoriasis Day

This day aims to raise awareness about psoriasis and correct common misconceptions. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects the skin and other parts of the body. It is not contagious.

This year's theme — Look Beyond My Skin — aims to empower young people and encourage them to speak openly about their psoriasis experience.

Many young people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis say they often feel alone, isolated and misunderstood. People around them, including wider society and sometimes even their own families, may not fully understand what they are going through or be able to support them. As a result, young people are facing the disease and its challenges alone. ❤️

Eliza Spencer was two years old when she was diagnosed with psoriasis and eczema. As a teen, her symptoms were severe, embarrassing and undertreated, but she wasn't referred to a dermatologist until she was 25. In this video, Eliza shares how advanced treatments suppressed her conditions and helped her live life with confidence and hope for her future.

By sharing Eliza's story, we aim to raise awareness of the unique challenges young people with psoriasis face and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment to improve their quality of life.

To watch the full video go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnSYUhNeeAk

For more psoriasis resources visit our education hub at ghlf.org.au/psoriasis





Psoriasis Australia
The Australasian College of Dermatologists

27/10/2026

It’s no secret that accessing the right treatment and care can be a challenge. At GHLF Australia, we know we can help change this.

We’ve been busy advocating for our community, from meeting with policymakers in Canberra to making submissions that could help improve access to medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Our recent work has focused on:
💬 Amplifying the voices of people living with chronic conditions.
💊 Advocating for timely, equitable access to innovative medicines.
🏥 Calling for changes that could help reduce barriers to treatment, including specialist access.

We know that behind every policy decision are real people waiting for care, managing complex conditions and navigating a healthcare system that doesn’t always meet their needs.

We’ll keep raising these issues and advocating for change — because better access to treatment starts with listening to the people who need it most.

👉 Find out what we’ve been up to and read about our latest advocacy efforts.



Image shows health advocates outside Parliament House Canberra.

Learn what GHLF Australia has been doing behind the scenes recently to advocate for better access to the treatments you need.

23/10/2026

Have you experienced RSV? We’d like to hear your story.

GHLF Australia would like to speak with Australians aged 50 to 75 years who have been medically diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and live with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.

❓Does that sound like you?

If your RSV experience meaningfully disrupted your health or daily life — including your ability to manage your existing condition, work, family responsibilities, travel or independence — we’d like to hear about it.

🌏 You may be invited to share your experience as part of a global RSV awareness campaign.

For now, we simply want to identify and speak with potential candidates, verify your RSV experience, and understand your story and comfort with participating.

Selected participants may have the opportunity to share their experience through filmed, written or digital disease-awareness content and will be compensated for their participation.

📩 Interested? Contact us at [email protected] for a confidential initial conversation.

There is no commitment to participate at this stage.
Please help us by sharing this article link with anyone you think may be interested.

Thank you

Australians aged 50 to 75 years who have had severe RSV and live with asthma, COPD, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or chronic kidney disease are invited to help us build an awareness campaign.

12/10/2026

On 12 October, each year the world comes together for World Arthritis Day (WAD) – a day dedicated to raising awareness about rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). More than 7 million Australians live with or a musculoskeletal condition such as , , , and many others.

Building on the momentum of World Arthritis Day 2025, Achieve Your Dreams continues as the campaign theme for . It celebrates the goals and aspirations of people affected by rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, while highlighting the changes needed to make them possible, from earlier diagnosis and better access to treatment to greater understanding, inclusion, and support.

For people living with RMDs, they represent strength, resilience and determination in the face of daily challenges. Hear from those living with various forms of RMDs and the medical professionals who dedicate their lives in helping them live their life to the fullest on our Patient PrepRheum Podcast.

Visit: https://creakyjoints.org.au/patientpreprheum/

Tell us about your dreams and goals in the comments. Have they evolved over the years? Have you found ways to work towards them? What needs to change to help you achieve them?

24/09/2026

The Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD) have asked us to share this invitation to participate in an online group discussion about accessing dermatology services in regional and rural areas.
The focus group will bring together patients living in regional and rural areas and utilising dermatology services for skin conditions.

This research has been approved by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (Project ID: 53668). A copy of the explanatory statement providing more detail on the project is attached.

Who can participate?
- People aged 18+ with a lived experience of using dermatology services for a skin condition, current or past OR a parent/guardian of someone under 18 with this experience;
- Live in a regional or rural area of Australia, and
- Willing to share their experiences in an online group discussion.
Update: Researchers from the Monash University School of Rural Health have advised that, after an overwhelming response, they have reached capacity for expressions of interest for this focus group.
______________

How it works
Researchers from the Monash University School of Rural Health will independently manage this process. They'll review expressions of interest, contact individuals directly to confirm participation and time, and run the focus group. Taking part is entirely voluntary, and anyone who expresses interest in participating can decide not to proceed after hearing more from the researchers.

If you take part in the online group discussion with other regional and rural residents, you will be offered a $100 gift card to compensate you for your time.

If interested, please contact Prof Belinda O'Sullivan on [email protected] and A/Prof Matthew Carroll on [email protected] with your name, skin condition and geographic location by 9 October 2026.

21/09/2026

Did RSV seriously disrupt your life?

GHLF Australia is looking to speak with Australians aged 50 to 75 years who have been medically diagnosed with RSV and also live with asthma, COPD, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.

We’re particularly interested in hearing how RSV affected your health, recovery, daily life or ability to manage an existing condition.

Selected participants may have the opportunity to share their experience through filmed, written or digital disease-awareness content and will be compensated for their participation.

Interested? Contact us at [email protected] for a confidential initial conversation. There is no commitment to participate at this stage.

17/09/2026

Is your Rheumatoid Arthritis or Lupus not responding to available treatments?
WHY NOT FOCUS ON A TARGETED INVESTIGATIONAL THERAPY INSTEAD?

We are sharing this information on behalf of the Rheumatology Clinical Trials Unit at Monash Health.
__________
Take part in a clinical study for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

The ASSURO study is currently being done to learn more about an investigational drug when given to people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study will help us learn how the investigational drug is processed in the body over time and provide important safety data.

To be considered for the study, participants must be 18 (or legal age of consent) to 65 years of age and either:
- Diagnosed with RA and have not responded to (or could not tolerate) 2 or more treatments
OR
- Diagnosed with SLE and have not responded to (or could not tolerate) 3 or more treatments

Your medical history will be reviewed, and additional criteria must be met to enrol in the study.

Study drugs, visits, and study-related tests are provided at no cost to you. You will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred due to your participation in the study such as travel.

Find out more:
[email protected]

04/09/2026

Have Your Say: Help Improve Access to Secukinumab.

We invite you to provide feedback supporting a request for nurse practitioners (NPs) to prescribe secukinumab (Cosentyx®) for severe forms of the following conditions:
- Chronic plaque psoriasis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis
- Hidradenitis suppurativa.

Allowing appropriately qualified NPs to prescribe this treatment could help improve access for people who need it, particularly in communities where specialist services may be harder to reach.

Your experience and perspective matter. Community feedback can help show why greater access matters and support the case for change.

Read the article to learn more and find out how you can provide your comments.

https://ghlf.org.au/latest-news/have-your-say-support-nurse-practitioner-prescribing-of-secukinumab/

ID: Graphic shows a speech balloon against a blue background. The balloon contains the text, "We want your feedback", and the CreakyJoints Australia and GHLF logos. Below the balloon is text that reads, "Support nurse practitioner prescribing of secukinumab".

Community access to secukinumab (Cosentyx®) could soon be improved by allowing nurse practitioners to prescribe it.