This year’s program brings together rheumatology, respiratory, and allied‑health specialists to help you better understand your condition, communicate confidently with your care team, and manage symptoms that affect daily life.

You’ll hear directly from clinicians about how they approach scleroderma care, what information helps them make decisions, and how you can prepare for appointments to get clearer answers. Sessions cover fatigue, pain, breathlessness, sleep, mental health, and navigating complex health pathways — with real‑world strategies you can use straight away.

The seminar also includes a clinician Q&A panel, national advocacy partners, and time to connect with others in the community.

A warm, supportive day for patients, families, carers, and anyone wanting to better understand scleroderma.

We’re pleased to welcome Dr Sara Winter who will be joining us to deliver a powerful and practical session on the deep connections between sleep, breathing, pain and fatigue in scleroderma. With her expertise in sleep psychology and chronic disease wellbeing, Dr Winter will guide attendees through evidence‑based strategies to improve comfort, energy and daily functioning. This is a standout session designed to give people living with scleroderma real, actionable tools to feel more in control of their health.

Dr Paul Kubler, will provide an accessible overview of how rheumatologists approach scleroderma care, including the key clinical information they look for when assessing a patient and how they make decisions about investigations, monitoring and treatment pathways. He will explain the challenges rheumatologists face in delivering timely, coordinated care, and outline emerging treatment options and research directions that are shaping future practice. His session will help attendees understand what to expect in appointments, how to prepare effectively, and how to communicate their needs in a way that supports clearer problem‑solving and shared decision‑making.

We’re also delighted to have Dr John MacIntosh, who will share how respiratory physicians assess and monitor lung symptoms in scleroderma, including the tests and early signs that guide care. He’ll explain what breathlessness can mean, when changes matter, and how regular monitoring helps detect issues early. His session will help attendees understand what to expect in respiratory appointments and how to communicate lung concerns with confidence.

You’re invited to join our Q&A session with clinicians, where you can ask questions, explore challenges, and gain clarity from experts who understand the complexities of scleroderma.

In addition, Louise Healy from Rare Voices Australia will speak about the power of community voices in shaping better care and support for people living with scleroderma. She’ll guide attendees through how to find reliable information, why health literacy matters, and how asking the right questions can lead to clearer answers in appointments. Louise will also explore practical ways to advocate for yourself when care feels fragmented, including how to use national rare‑disease resources to support your journey. Her session is designed to help you feel confident speaking up, navigating complex systems, and knowing that your voice truly makes a difference

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have lived with scleroderma for many years, this seminar is designed to support you, empower you, and remind you that you’re not alone.