Arthritis Queensland Ltd and Arthritis NSW are set to merge to form one new organisation called The Arthritis Movement.
It’s envisaged the merger will create a powerful new alliance to deliver enhanced services and stronger advocacy for people living with arthritis in a geographic area covering more than half the Australian population.
The merger was confirmed by each organisation’s members for effect from January 1, 2025.
Alex Green, Chief Executive Officer of both organisations, welcomed the endorsement of the merger by members and said the creation of The Arthritis Movement will result in expanded services and improved support for those living with arthritis.
Mr Green will become the inaugural CEO of The Arthritis Movement.
“The merger aims to increase our impact by combining resources with teams based in Queensland and NSW and a focus on growing impact through innovative services,’’ Mr Green said.
Nigel Corne, Board Chair of Arthritis NSW said, “The Arthritis Movement will enable expanded and enhanced services to be delivered in Qld and NSW and ushers in a new era in helping people living with arthritis’’.
Board Chair of Arthritis Queensland, Kate Templeman said the merger would boost operational efficiencies, lower costs and will create a more unified and powerful voice in advocating for the needs of people living with arthritis.
The Arthritis Movement will operate under a single governance structure, with the Directors of Arthritis Queensland and Arthritis NSW combining to form one board.
Arthritis Queensland and Arthritis NSW have been functioning as closely aligned organisations since 2022, with shared staffing and systems resulting in record fundraising and thousands more people served across both organisations.
The two organisations have collaborated on a range of initiatives including Dance for Arthritis, Arthritis Moves, a webinar series, Arthritis Assist, Tai Chi for Arthritis, and services for children with Juvenile Arthritis.
“The creation of The Arthritis Movement promises potential improvements to service quality from streamlined operations and enhanced resources,” said Mr Green.
He said consideration would be given to existing service providers and priorities in both Qld and NSW. Both state offices will continue to function with the creation of the Arthritis Movement, and the merger is not expected to result in any job losses.
The Arthritis Movement will focus on identifying and pursuing additional areas of support and advocacy for people living with arthritis.
Donations will continue to support local programs in Qld and NSW.
