Australia 2007

Dear Participants of the Bone and Joint Decade World Network Conference,

 

On behalf of the Bone and Joint Decade International Steering Committee and our staff, it is a great 

pleasure to welcome you to our 2007 World Network Conference, the first in Australia. 

 

This year the programme is focused on Back Pain and Spinal Disorders, this being one of the Decade’s 

target areas. Our second focus area for the meeting is Health Economy, and promoting cost-effective 

improvements in care. 

 

It is with great pleasure I remark that for the third year running we have an international patient 

advocacy meeting in direct continuation with the network conference. This has been developed by our 

patient representatives in the BJD International Steering Committee and worldwide.  

 

As the Decade approaches its final years, the International Steering Committee met recently in London 

to discuss the continuation of the BJD initiatives after 2010.   

 

From this year on, we are developing a model that will sustain the organisation beyond 2010 and 

continue to be inclusive of relevant stakeholders globally.  This is to ensure that the valuable 

achievements, unique programmes and networks which have been built up since the Decade’s 

initiation will have a communication platform on which to continue even after the end of this Decade. 

 

The result of the ISC’s dialogue is now a plan of action based on the BJD Strategic Document 

presented in Durban, in November 2006. As a fundamental element to the strength of the organisation, 

the National Action Networks have a vital role to play. This will be further discussed at this year’s 

network conference. 

 

The first step will be to establish a structure for initiating a global musculoskeletal forum. The BJD is 

currently a multi-discipline, multi-nation network which acts as a facilitator and a catalyst for change – 

this will continue.  

  

As a second step, the BJD will encourage increased regional collaboration. Regional councils (Europe, 

Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas) may be formed to take the lead on regional issues, and use the 

existing networks and regional organisations to influence regional policy for musculoskeletal health 

and science.  

 

We will also encourage the development of patient advocacy by the use of existing organisations to 

assist new organisations, particularly across regions, and in developing countries. Knowledge sharing 

across networks is one of the most valuable commodities, and should be applied to advocacy as well 

as science. 

 

Our collective vision is a society where prevention, treatment and care of people with musculoskeletal 

disorders are of high standard and accessible around the world. Our work is focused to this end. The 

mission of the BJD has been, and will continue to be, promoting musculoskeletal health and science 

worldwide. These goals will not end when this Decade ends; rather, this is an enduring commitment.  

 

With the changes that the BJD will undergo during the coming years, while here in Australia we hope 

to lay the foundation for a lasting world-wide Musculoskeletal Forum for Bone and Joint Disorders 

which will provide a platform for continued progress.  

 

Our annual World Network Conference also marks a point at which we also like to highlight some of 

the achievements by individual countries and persons, which are driving the BJD initiative.  

 

Mr Ben Horgan, Network Coordinator in Australia and BJD Ambassador, and Prof Peter Brooks, 

member of the BJD International Steering Committee and Conference Programme Chairman, and Ms 

Ruth Lilian, Conference Manager, have all worked hard to make this event a great success. 

 

I wish you all a rewarding stay in Australia, meeting old BJD friends and new, and thank you for your 

continued participation in our Global Network.

 

 

Professor Lars Lidgren, 

Chairman, 

International Steering Committee  

Bone and Joint Decade

It is with much pleasure and anticipation that I welcome you to the 2007 International Bone and Joint Decade Network Conference on the Gold Coast of Australia. 

 

The BJD National Action Network of Australia has played an integral role in the shaping of Musculoskeletal health in this country since its inception in 2000. Many great successes can be credited to the partnerships that have been formed through our NAN, not least of which was the naming of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health as a National 

Health Priority in 2002. From this we have also been involved in shaping the direction of strategies for the continuing improvement of care for patients, the improvement of training for medical students and a greater awareness of the burden placed on society and individuals who deal with these ever increasing problems. 

 

I have had the great pleasure of being involved at an organisational level in the Patient Advocacy Meetings for the last 2 years and am sure that you will find this years meeting to be as rewarding as previous years. Once again we are delighted to have the team from Weber Shandwick facilitating the meeting for us. This year we have Ms Donna Tout, 

Senior Account Director and Mr Will Collie joining us from the Sydney office. I thank them for their support and generosity of their time. 

 

This year’s conference will coincide with International Arthritis Day and to celebrate we will be hosting a public walk. We are expecting many locals to come along and urge you to register for the event if you arrive in time. You will find more information in your registration pack. 

 

Back Pain will be a key taking point during our Network Conference and as this is one of the global priorities of the Decade I am sure you will find many interesting and relevant speakers presenting information relevant to a global audience. The Australian NAN is working towards listing Back Pain within our health priority and this meeting will play a key role in moving this forward. I truly hope you will find the presentations to be useful 

for your work in this area as well. 

 

Finally I wish to thank all the sponsors who are listed in this booklet for their support of this meeting and their continuing dedication to the Australian NAN‘s determination to achieve the goals of the Decade through to 2010 and beyond. 

   

 

Ben Horgan 

National Coordinator  

Bone and Joint Decade Australia  

Patient Advocacy Leader 

BJD Ambassador