A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AUSTRALIAN ADDISON’S DISEASE ASSOCIATION INC.

In 1994, three Coffs Harbour women discovered quite by chance that they each had Addison’s disease, a rare disease caused by failure of the adrenals.

Seeking more information about this disease, they joined a UK group, the Addison’s Disease Self Help Group (ADSHG), where they were told that other Australian women were also members. They supplied the names to the Coffs Harbour group, who decided to start an Australian organisation. It was difficult at first to find other Addisonians; however the husband of a Sydney member set up a website www.addisons.org.au. and, with the site in operation, more people came forward and it became realistic to establish an Australian Association.

The first committee was formed in 1995 and aims and objectives were set out.

These were:

  1. To make the public aware of Addison’s disease
  2. To educate the medical profession to have a higher awareness of the disease
  3. To supply up to date information to people with Addison’s disease
  4. To build a caring network for the support of people with Addison’s disease.

While these objectives have been refined over the years, we continue to work towards fulfilling them. Our website invites medical practitioners to access the information we supply. Due to the rare nature of Addison’s disease/adrenal insufficiency, many doctors fail to diagnose it correctly, sometimes with fatal results.

Annually we hold a Sydney Seminar where information is provided, and people can meet
others with the same medical condition.

We publish newsletters during the year containing up to date information which is
distributed to our members and medical practitioners.

The website provides a wealth of information to our members and the public. Medical and pharmaceutical questions sent in by our members are answered by a senior Professor of Endocrinology from The University of Adelaide and a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics from The University of Melbourne.

We are seeking to expand our information to medical professionals by attending endocrine seminars and conferences and distributing relevant materials.

A support and information line is available from 9:00AM to 9:00 PM each day.

Approved for publication – May 2020