Scleroderma Victoria

Closing soon!! Don't miss out out - grab your $10 ticket today!

🚨 Closing soon! Don’t miss your chance to support Scleroderma Australia and be in the running to win big!

Play For Purpose Raffle 33 tickets are just $10, with an incredible $350,000 First Prize Pack up for grabs - including a Lexus RX 450h+, $175,000 in gold bullion and more than $36,000 in shopping vouchers.

Best of all, 50% of every ticket purchased through Scleroderma Australia’s Play For Purpose page goes directly towards supporting our community, helping fund scleroderma nurses and specialist support across Australia.

⏰ Ticket sales close Thursday 8 October 2026 at 8 pm AEDT.

Please buy your tickets through the Scleroderma Australia page so your support goes directly to our community. Link in the comments section.

Don’t miss out - grab your $10 ticket today!

Your feet deserve attention, too!

Changes to circulation, skin, joints and the protective padding under the feet can all contribute to pain, ulcers and other foot problems.

At our September Virtual Education Session, Professor Debbie Turner from Queensland University of Technology shared practical insights into caring for your feet and managing some of the challenges scleroderma can cause.

Key takeaways:

✅ Looking after your skin daily can help protect the skin barrier and reduce dryness.
✅ Emollients containing ceramides can help support dry skin, while very dry or hardened skin may benefit from urea-based products.
✅ Small foot wounds can become serious, so early attention is important.
✅ A podiatrist can help with wound care, risk assessment, foot pain, footwear and other foot-related concerns.
✅ Well-fitting footwear with a rounded toe box and appropriate support can help reduce pressure and protect your feet.
✅ Keeping your feet warm is important, particularly if Raynaud’s affects your feet. Sudden temperature changes can also trigger symptoms.
✅ The free FootHold program provides foot and ankle exercises you can do at home.
✅ New or worsening pain, wounds, colour or temperature changes, numbness or tingling are all reasons to seek professional advice.

Your feet carry you through everyday life, so giving them the right care can make a real difference to comfort and mobility.

Check out our blog post to learn more about scleroderma and the feet, and hear more insights from Professor Debbie Turner - link in the comments section.

💬 What’s one question you wish you had asked when you were first diagnosed?

MARK YOUR CALENDARS for our upcoming October Scleroderma Victoria Support Group Meetings, available both online and in-person!

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, a carer, or have been part of the community for years, you’ll find connection, understanding, and support from people who truly get it.

New attendees are always welcome!

For more details, visit our website!

What does clinical research actually do? How does it work? And how do researchers decide what aspect of scleroderma to focus on?

On 18 November, 3pm AEDT, we're sitting down live with Associate Professor Wendy Stevens, consultant rheumatologist at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne and a co-founding member of the Australian Scleroderma Interest Group, for a joint session with St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne.

Wendy has spent decades at the centre of scleroderma research, and this is a rare chance to pick her brain!

Wendy would like this session to be meaningful to our community, so submit your questions now, and she'll do her best to answer them live!

Remember, this is a deep dive into research, not a space for personal medical advice.

Have your say and register your interest here: https://bit.ly/4xjzAvV

💬 What’s one question you wish people would ask about invisible symptoms?

Looking after your skin when you’re living with scleroderma can take a little extra care. 🤲

Digital ulcers, Raynaud’s, sensitive skin, and changes in hand function can all bring their own challenges, but there are practical steps you can take to help protect your skin and hands.

In our August Virtual Education Session, rheumatology nurse practitioner Emma Bavage shared helpful tips on preventing digital ulcers, caring for wounds, staying warm, maintaining hand function and knowing when to seek medical advice.

Swipe through the carousel for some of the key takeaways. 👉

Want to learn more? Read the full blog post for a closer look at Emma’s practical advice and everyday strategies for managing scleroderma skin and digital ulcers.

https://sclerodermavictoria.com.au/managing-scleroderma-and-digital-ulcers-insights-from-emma-bavage/

JOIN US for our October Virtual Education Session with guest speaker Dr Karoline Raven!

WHEN: Saturday, 10 October at 10:30am AEDT
WHERE: Online via Google Meet
COST: It's FREE!
TOPIC: Environmental triggers for inflammation in Scleroderma

In this informative session, Dr Karoline Raven will:

-Explore how environmental factors can trigger and influence inflammation in systemic sclerosis
-Discuss the inflammatory pathways involved in systemic sclerosis and its symptoms
-Share insights into the relationship between temperature, inflammation and Raynaud’s phenomenon
-Explain how understanding these processes may contribute to improved treatment options and quality of life

Dr Karoline Raven is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Immunology and Infection Control and works within the Experimental Rheumatology Group. Her research focuses on understanding environmental triggers for inflammation and inflammatory disease, with the aim of improving treatment options and long-term outcomes for people living with systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis is a complex multi-system condition, and understanding the inflammatory processes that contribute to its symptoms is an important area of research. Dr Raven’s work is helping to explore how environmental triggers may influence inflammation and disease progression, including the impact of temperature on Raynaud’s phenomenon.

Whether you're living with scleroderma, caring for someone who is, or simply looking to learn more, this session is for you.

Register today!
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ves-environmental-triggers-for-inflammation-in-scleroderma-oct-2026-tickets-1990749062034