Healthy Bones Australia released a new Community Risk Report at Parliament House in Canberra on 27th October, at an event hosted by the newly formed Parliamentary Friends of Bone Health.

The report was based on over 126,500 completions of the Know your Bones online self-assessment and showed gaps in care and called for unified national action.

The report launch coincided with the Assistant Minister for Health, Ageing and Women, the Hon Rebecca White MP (pictured centre in image above), announcing new funding support of $700,000 to boost early testing and prevention.

Assistant Minister White said, “This investment is about prevention and empowerment,”

“Too many Australians – particularly women over 50 – are living with undiagnosed osteoporosis and facing fractures that could have been prevented.”

The event was attended by Know Your Bones Ambassador, Sally Pearson OAM an Olympic and World Champion (pictured left in image above), patient advocates, clinical experts and federal politicians as part of Osteoporosis Awareness Activity during October.

Sally Pearson said "As an ambassador, I often speak with people who share their stories of difficult recoveries from unexpected fractures.” and she stressed “fractures can happen to anyone and can change your life in an instant."

Greg Lyubomirsky, CEO Healthy Bones Australia (pictured right in image above) stressed “Every fracture – even from a simple bump or fall – should be a clear signal to test, diagnose, and treat before another break occurs. With better awareness and action, thousands of fractures could be prevented each year"

Professor Peter Wong (right, pictured with the report), Healthy Bones Australia Medical Director and Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee added "We must act early – identify bone fragility, intervene decisively and ensure those at risk receive the right care and treatment to reduce the impact of preventable fractures”.

The event attracted broad national media coverage including TV news, print and digital reports and national and regional radio.

 
From left to right: Senator Wendy Askew (co-chair Parliamentary Friends of Bone Health), Prof. Peter Wong (HBA Medical Director) , Greg Lyubomirsky HBA CEO), Elaine Cotter (consumer advocate), Hon Rebecca White MP (Assistant Minister for Health), Carole David (consumer advocate), Sally Pearson OAM (Know Your Bones Ambassador), Alice Jordon-Baird MP (co-chair Parliamentary Friends of Bone Health), Dr Shoshana Sztal-Mazer, Prof. Mark Cooper (President - Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society) and Prof. Ego Seeman.