'The Pituitary Connection'

www.pituitary.asn.au

Dear APF Community,

We're delighted to share a snapshot of what's been an incredibly energising and purposeful few months for the Australian Pituitary Foundation. 

We recently held our Annual Giving Day, and thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we raised an incredible $31,625 to go towards funding a dedicated Nurse Help Line—a vital initiative that will improve access to expert advice and reassurance for our community when it's needed most.

In May, our Board came together for a Strategy Day to reflect on our journey, evaluate our progress, and define our direction for the future. It was a rich and thoughtful session where we explored not just our strategic priorities, but also our sustainability, governance, and growth. We reaffirmed our commitment to our mission—supporting, advocating, and educating—and looked at how we could expand our reach and deepen our impact, particularly in areas like information sharing, membership, revenue growth, and partnerships. 

We also celebrated the power of connection through a series of "Coffee Catch Ups" across Tasmania, New South Wales, and Queensland, giving our members the chance to share stories, feel supported, and build bonds with others who understand their journey. 

A warm welcome goes to Carmela Caputo, who joined our Board this year and has already made a tremendous contribution through the Medical Advisory Board. In fact, our Medical Advisory Board has also grown, and we are thrilled to welcome several new experts who bring a wealth of experience across neurosurgery, neuro-ophthalmology, endocrinology, ENT, and psychological support. These include: 

This expanded expertise ensures that our education, advocacy, and patient support are grounded in the latest clinical insights and reflect the full spectrum of needs—physical, emotional, and cognitive—of our community.

We also held a successful GP education session in Melbourne, funded through last year's Giving Day. Equipping primary care professionals with better tools to recognise and support pituitary conditions remains a core priority for us, and we're excited to see this work continue to grow. 

Finally, we're proud to share that Jamila Rizvi, author, advocate, and media commentator, has joined us as an APF Ambassador. Jamila has a deeply personal connection to our cause, having lived through a challenging diagnosis of Craniopharyngioma, a tumour that profoundly impacted her pituitary function. Through her writing and public voice, she has already raised awareness of what it's like to live with the condition and has recently been on tour for her latest book "Broken Brains" and we are honoured to have her lend her insight, passion and platform to APF. 

Together, these developments speak to our shared momentum—one that is grounded in empathy, strengthened by expertise, and fuelled by the commitment of our members and supporters. 

Thank you for continuing to walk this path with us. 

Warmly, 

Malini Raj

Co-Chair, Australian Pituitary Foundation

Robert Price

Co-Chair, Australian Pituitary Foundation

Dr Sue Jackson

"It's Just Stress." 

That's what the first doctor said to me back in 2020 when I went in for a check-up after feeling unusually fatigued.  I agreed, it made sense.  Life was busy and stressful, and I took the referral for a blood test and went on my way.

At the time, I was your typical 38-year-old male – working full-time and trying to be halfway decent at CrossFit five days a week.  Because of that, I knew my body well.  So, when I was still feeling off almost two years later, I brought it up with my new GP.  I talked about the persistent lack of energy, the noticeable drop in strength, and the general sense that something just wasn't right.  Over the previous year, I'd torn my calf and developed a DVT, events that felt disconnected at the time but would soon make sense in a bigger picture.

Click the button to find out more about Phil's Story. 

Your journey matters, and we'd love for you to share it with us. Contact Kim at support@pituitary.asn.au

The Australian Pituitary Foundation is inviting men to share their stories as part of a new national Men's Health initiative. Click here to see how you can help.

Merck a leading science and technology company has welcomed new expert guidance that will harmonise the dynamic tests used in the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine disorders in children across Australia and New Zealand.

Dr Tony Huynh – Director of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Queensland Children's Hospital, Associate Professor in the Child Health Research Centre (Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland), and Chemical Pathologist at Mater Pathology – is lead author of the new protocols and has long advocated for the harmonisation of testing in Australia.

"The elucidation of the underlying causes of endocrinology conditions requires the collaborative effort of clinicians and the expertise of diagnostic laboratories," said Associate Professor Huynh.

"While endocrinologists rely on clinical acumen to diagnose endocrine conditions, they often rely on biochemical tests to confirm their clinical suspicions," he said.

Associate Professor Huynh who is President of the Australia and New Zealand Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ANZSPED) explained that, in some cases, baseline biochemical testing does not provide a definitive diagnosis and there is a requirement to use a dynamic stimulation or suppression test. These tests require the expertise of the laboratory to ensure the samples are analysed and reported appropriately.

"We use dynamic tests to evaluate how a child's hormonal systems may respond. This helps us determine if a child's hormone levels are appropriate and if their glands are functioning correctly – it's a crucial step for diagnosing and managing endocrine disorders in children," added Associate Professor Huynh.

"Although we have made great strides in harmonising newborn screening regionally and

nationally – we needed to do more to harmonise protocols for endocrinologists, biochemists and pathologists to support best practice dynamic endocrine testing in children," said Associate Professor Huynh.

Join us as we come together for Pituitary Awareness Month

Join us this October for our free, friendly events across Australia, open to anyone affected by pituitary conditions, including patients, families, carers, and supporters.

We're recognising Pituitary Awareness Month with a range of community gatherings including, Wear Purple for Pituitary, Puzzles for Pituitary, Pizza for Pituitary, and Tea & Transformation (High Tea Fundraiser).

These events are a great opportunity to connect, share experiences, and raise awareness in a relaxed, welcoming setting.

A child star of 2001's teen drama Cybergirl, Ania went on to work with traumatised children with several international NGOs. After years of searching for answers, she was just 35 when diagnosed with Cushing's Disease. She joins Tim and Sean as a NSW State Social Coordinator organising the events and get togethers in NSW.

We're pleased to welcome three new corporate partners to the APF community: Breezy Packs, Nooi Living, and Serene Body Health.

As a special thank you, Breezy Packs is offering 10% off with the code FORPITUITARY10, and Nooi Living is offering 10% off with the code APF10 — both valid across their websites.

Be sure to take advantage of these exclusive discounts and support our partners!

PO Box 909 Macleod West VIC 3085

Unsubscribe