Thalassaemia Australia (TA) Programming & Services

Free Education Presentations:

Thalassaemia Australia focuses on the promotion, knowledge and understanding of Thalassaemia and haemoglobin conditions through community health education and awareness campaigns. Pre-pregnancy information dissemination and general community education aims at empowering health consumers to make informed decisions regarding their future and the future of their children.

Education programs are funded by the Department of Human Services (DHS)

Goto Department of Human Services

Community Education

The current Thalasaemia Australia Community Education process incorporates programs and initiatives in the following areas:

School Based Programs

This is a state wide program that incorporates free educational sessions to Victorian High School students. Sessions are aimed at Years 10, 11 and 12 Biology, Science and Health Education Classes. All sessions provide a succinct and concise overview of Thalassaemia from, the genetics, to diagnosis, to treatment, to life style/life issues and future prospects. Year 12 SAC 4 and the consideration of Bioethics are highlighted in senior classes. Thalassaemia Australia targets hundreds of students per annum and has consolidated the schools based education program as a successful and proactive awareness tool throughout metropolitan and regional Victoria.

• Link to Education Flyer
• Link to Education Disclaimer
• Email us to make a booking for your School

Community/Corporate Education Program

General community education under the auspices of Thalasaemia Australia incorporates the identification of opportunities to present to wider groups in the general populace.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities, Auxiliaries and Women's Networks, Non-Profit and Pro-Bono Networks, Charitable Funds and organisations displaying an interest in what we do are regular audiences. Thalasaemia Australia runs a fluid awareness campaign that can be adapted to suit the interest level and ethnic diversity (where appropriate) of each target audience. Awareness and advocacy campaigns targeting the corporate sector often leads to partner relationships, reciprocal arrangements, funding opportunities and projects with direct outcomes and benefits to our members. Corporate blood donor, campaigns, fund raising events, sponsorship and pro-bono work are directly linked to the Thalassaemia Australia community/corporate strategy.

Community Liaison

TA works with a wide cross-section of the community, including:

• Persons with haemoglobin conditions
• Persons caring for someone with a haemoglobin condition
• People who may carry a gene for a haemoglobin condition
• People at risk of having a child affected by a haemoglobin condition
• Health professional providing services to a person with a haemoglobin condition or who wish to improve their understanding of the conditions.

Information Provision

Obtain record and distribute to members, families and health professionals and other interested parties, the latest scientific and medical information on haemoglobin conditions.

Dissemination of information for the development of self management tools and techniques with reference to:

International Standards and Best Practice

National Prescribing Services - National Recommendations

Australia wide link to Specialist and Allied Services

Reference point for interstate Thalassaemia Services

Local Community Thalassaemia Centre

Care and Treatment

In conjunction with the relevant organisations, TA seeks to provide the following:

Optimum standard of treatment and comprehensive care (FOR PEOPLE WITH HAEMOGLOBINOPATHIES)

Best practice clinical treatment

PBS funded medications

Better transfusions practice

Affordable and effective chelation therapy

Access to Government and state concessions

Coordinated clinical care of multiple conditions in a multi-discipline health environment

Support Groups

Encourage and facilitate the formation and development of support groups for people with Thalassaemia and related haemoglobin conditions and for their families.

Advocacy

Provide an advocacy service for people with Thalassaemia and other haemoglobinopathies, designed to increase awareness in the general community and, on request, to act as a spokesperson on behalf of individuals and families.

Research

Support, and encourage and instigate medical and social research projects designed to improve the quality of life for people with haemoglobin conditions.

Public Relations

Plan, strengthen and maintain mutual relationships between the Thalassaemia Australia, health professionals, and people with haemoglobin conditions, their families and the general community.

Other areas of interest to TA include:

• Health Promotion
• Health Policy
• Grief and Loss
• Website construction
• E-Bulletin updates
• Newsletter development
• Government liaison
• Health and Genetics Education
• Health consumerism
• Funding/Grant Applications
• Fundraising
• Patient Rights and advocacy
• Privacy and confidentiality in Chronic Health Care
• Multiple conditions and co-morbidities
• Blood and blood products