Osteoarthritis Aotearoa New Zealand (OAAoNZ)

Osteoarthritis Aotearoa New Zealand will hold the first of its Osteoarthritis “Summits” in November 2022 at Victoria University of Wellington’s Rutherford House.

This event and associated OA Research Network Conference seek to build on the work that was started at our OA Basecamp in July 2021 at the University of Auckland.

Our Work

Osteoarthritis Aotearoa New Zealand (OAAoNZ) is a coalition of dedicated members from clinical practice, researchers from various universities, health service managers and NGOs (Arthritis New Zealand Mateponapona Aotearoa and Physiotherapy New Zealand).

• We are concerned about health system responses to the growing burden of osteoarthritis (OA) in Aotearoa New Zealand, and the absence of a National Model of Care for managing the condition.
• We take inspiration from the successful series of significant gatherings or Osteoarthritis “Summits” held in Australia and led by the prominent rheumatologist and world-leading OA expert Professor David Hunter. This work ultimately generated a National Osteoarthritis Strategy for Australia in 2018.

In July 2021 OAAoNZ hosted an event called the ‘Taupuni Hao Huatau Osteoarthritis Basecamp’ at the University of Auckland. Eighty-five people from primary, secondary and tertiary care services, health researchers and funders met to discuss the management and treatment of OA from various perspectives.

Delegates also participated in several comprehensive workshops to establish priorities for future OA care delivery and research initiatives. A central theme of these workshops was that people want cohesion in the organisation and subsequent healthcare delivery for people with OA. Significantly, the priorities identified from the work begun at the OA Basecamp will help guide the co-design of the National Osteoarthritis Strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand.

OAAoNZ recognises that this work cannot be rushed and will need to take place over a number of years. While it is also a journey that members of our group have been involved in for many years, we strongly believe that this moment provides unique opportunities due to the once-in-a-generation health reforms taking place in this country. We are striving to build an inclusive community of practice in which all individuals and groups who have a professional, personal, and also community-based interest in the management of OA are welcome to share their ideas, experiences and expertise.

Our next scheduled event is the second ‘Taumata Osteoarthritis Aotearoa | New Zealand Osteoarthritis Summit’ to be held 2-4 November 2023 in Dunedin, New Zealand (venue TBC).

Key Objectives and Priorities

The key objectives of our kaupapa (values, principles and ideas) are as follows:

1. To co-create via active partnerships a National Model of Care for Osteoarthritis.

Toward this objective, we will:

• Develop and promote a mission statement for our kaupapa, which demonstrates the best care for all people with OA in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Advance the development of equity in clinical services, research and policy development and ensure collaboration with Māori and Pacific peoples at every level (i.e. clinical service development and implementation, research and policy).
• Promote advocacy and policy change that improves care delivery and quality of life for people living with OA in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Connect clinical service providers to build collaboration and facilitate consistent best practice care from Te Whatu Ora Health NZ and private health providers.
• Connect OA researchers from diverse backgrounds to foster collaboration and facilitate a cohesive approach to OA research in Aotearoa New Zealand informing the evidence-based content of a National Model of Care for Osteoarthritis.
• Work to build new and constructive relationships with New Zealanders who have OA to ensure that their voices are valued and visible when undertaking our work, but also to give them the confidence and ability to participate in our kaupapa.

2. To develop a list of national priorities in osteoarthritis research and innovative health delivery:

• Identify research and innovative health delivery priorities for the next three to five years that offer the greatest potential benefit for alleviating the growing burden of OA.
• Identify research and innovative health delivery priorities that match the strengths and expertise of the Aotearoa New Zealand OA research community to achieve the goals under objective 1.
• Identify multidisciplinary (or cross-sector) initiatives and strategies to advance OA research and innovative health delivery into priority areas.
• Connect the OA research and innovative health delivery community, and encourage increased collaboration in OA research and innovative health delivery in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Facilitate a consistent approach to OA research and innovative health delivery in this country from basic science to translational research and implementation by forming an OA Research Network and facilitating interdisciplinary and cross-institutional collaboration, including the voice of the OA consumer.