Scleroderma Australia is inviting people with scleroderma, family members, and carers to share their experiences accessing specialist healthcare.

We are currently preparing a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Access to and Affordability of Medical Specialists in Australia.

This Inquiry is examining issues including:

• Access to specialists 
• Workforce shortages 
• Specialist waiting times 
• Out-of-pocket healthcare costs 
• Regional and rural healthcare access 
• Models of coordinated care 

For people with scleroderma, these issues are often part of everyday life.

Many people experience:

• Delays in diagnosis 
• Long waits to see rheumatologists and other specialists 
• Significant travel requirements 
• High healthcare costs 
• Challenges coordinating care across multiple providers 

To help ensure these experiences are represented, we have developed a community survey.

Why your participation matters

The survey findings will:

• Inform Scleroderma Australia’s submission 
• Help identify priority issues for reform 
• Provide evidence of the challenges faced by our community 
• Support future advocacy efforts 

Who can participate?

We encourage responses from:

• People with scleroderma 
• Family members 
• Carers 

We are particularly interested in hearing from people living in regional, rural, and remote Australia.

Complete the survey

Our survey closes: August 7, 2026

Together, we can help improve access to specialist healthcare for people with scleroderma.