Our Story

Sarah Twomey founded Healthy Hips Australia after recognising the need for a national body offering support and education to those affected by hip dysplasia. A mother of two children with the condition, Sarah was bewildered when her eldest daughter Eve’s two-month stint in a hip harness turned into a two-year ordeal. Sarah believes that increasing support, education and resources in Australia will benefit all people impacted by the condition, along with the community-based health professionals working with them.

Mission, Vision & Aims

Mission

Healthy Hips Australia aims to increase the availability and accessibility of resources, education and support for people working with and impacted by hip dysplasia.

Vision

To ensure resources, education and support are readily available for all people living with hip dysplasia, or raising and working with those affected by it.

Aims

• Equal access to support, services and resources for everyone in the community.
• Empowerment and support for individuals and families through knowledge and advocacy.
• Minimisation of the impact of hip dysplasia on development, self care, leisure,  work or play roles.
• Maximisation of smiles and fun for everyone involved.

Our Board

Healthy Hips Australia has a small, enthusiastic board of directors. We also have advisors contributing to the direction of the organisation. We thank them all for volunteering their time and expertise.

Our Ambassadors

We are grateful to the following people helping to put hip dysplasia on the national agenda:

HHA's 2021 Goals

Resources

• Review and expand the range of topics covered in the tips & hints handouts
• Disseminate information brochures to complement the hip dysplasia awareness and safe swaddling flyers

Education & Awareness

• Continue our safe swaddling awareness efforts, to further the reach of our current online awareness efforts
• Host our annual Australian Healthy Hips Week to highlight awareness for hip dysplasia
• See HHA posters in every children's hospital and private orthopaedic clinic in Australia to ensure we can connect with every person impacted by hip dysplasia who is in need of support
• Attend parenting expos and appropriate health conferences to increase awareness for the importance of early diagnosis of hip dysplasia

Support

• Connect earlier with newly diagnosed families by increasing the number of services providing them with information about our organisation
• Increase our online presence and explore connecting with families in need via online methods
• Facilitate social catch ups
• Develop and implement a formal support network that meet the needs of the hip dysplasia community

Our Impact 2018/2019

Our Impact 2017/2018

Strategic Plan

Our Patron

Mr Bruce Foster, MBBS, MD, FRACS is the Healthy Hips Australia patron. For the past 30 years, Bruce has specialised in paediatric orthopaedics. Bruce also sits on the medical board for the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. Bruce’s passion for paediatric orthopaedics is reflected in his set up of the Bone Growth Foundation. Now known as the Bone Health Foundation, it funds research and treatment for Australian children afflicted with bone impairments.

Links

The International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) is the world leader in promoting prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hip dysplasia. The efforts of our founder, Sarah Twomey, have been recognised by her appointment to the International Advisory Committee of the IHDI. The IHDI have endorsed several of our parent tips and hints handouts. We look forward to contributing to the global efforts in promoting prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hip dysplasia along side the IHDI.

The International Hip Dysplasia Registry (IHDR) aims to address gaps in evidence demonstrated by the 2014 AAOS guidelines, with the goal of identifying the best practices, standardising treatment and management, and optimising clinical and functional outcomes for children with DDH. Our founder, Sarah Twomey, is the Co-Chair of the IHDR Knowledge Translation Committee facilitating the dissemination of the IHDR's work.