World Autism Awareness Day is a worldwide initiative aiming to increase understanding of the disability. Autism is a development disorder that impairs social interaction, communication and behaviour.

“Studies have identified that 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls) have autism spectrum disorder (ASD)”

Show your support this April by:

• Wearing blue
• Volunteering with the foundation
• Raising awareness on social media
• Fundraising
• Informing family and friends of the disability

For more details: https://www.autismspeaks.org/world-autism-awareness-day

‘March into yellow’ is a campaign designed to raise awareness for women with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a common disease in which the tissue that is similar to the lining of the womb grows outside it in other parts of the body.

“10% of women suffer with endometriosis at some point in their life with the disease often starting in teenagers.”

Show your support this March by:

• Taking pictures of your yellow challenges and post them on your social media accounts using #MarchintoYellow #endoaustralia
• Inform family and friends of the cause
• Donate to Endometriosis Australia
• Join the community group
• Volunteer with an Endometriosis Australia event

For more information, visit: https://www.marchintoyellow.org.au/how

Throughout March, Epilepsy Australia is urging people around the country to end the stigma and discrimination of epilepsy and ‘GO PURPLE’, the international colour for epilepsy. Epilepsy is a common brain disorder which takes the form of recurring seizures.

“An estimated 65 million worldwide currently live with epilepsy – in Australia alone approximately 250,000 people live with epilepsy and one in 25 people will have epilepsy at some point in their life.”

Get involved this March by:

• Informing family and community members about epilepsy
• Hosting a purple day fundraiser
• Buying merchandise which donates money to epilepsy Australia
• Volunteering
• Raising awareness on social media using #gopurple

For more details, visit: http://www.epilepsyaustralia.net/get-involved/

Coeliac Awareness Week is a campaign which aims to reach many thousands of Australians unaware they are living with coeliac disease and help them identify the symptoms and take steps towards diagnosis and treatment.

“Coeliac disease is a serious medical illness, affecting 1 in 70 of the population. However, 80 per cent of affected Australians remain undiagnosed.”

Get involved this March by:

• Displaying posters in your local area
• Reading online resources
• Informing family members and friends of the harms
• Creating awareness on social media
• Organising your own fundraiser

For more information: http://www.coeliac.org.au/caw/

World Glaucoma week is held in March each year to raise awareness about glaucoma as a potentially blinding eye disease and to stress the importance of regular optic nerve checks. This is an issue which needs to be stressed as glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.

Over 300,000 Australians have glaucoma. While it is more common as people grow older, it can occur at any age. As our population becomes older, the proportion of glaucoma patients is increasing.

“One in eight Australians over 80 will develop glaucoma with 50% of these cases being undiagnosed”

Beat invisible Glaucoma this march by:

• Informing your friends and families of the risks of Glaucoma
• Register to hold a breakfast
• Become a Glaucoma ambassador
• Raise awareness on social media
• Make a donation

For more information, refer to: http://www.glaucoma.org.au/index.html

Orthoptics awareness week is an annual event in the Orthoptics Australia calendar. This week is when Orthoptists across Australia can promote the profession and the work Orthoptists do.

Orthoptists can take this opportunity to showcase the significant role the profession makes to eye health, raise the profile of the profession and campaign on behalf of the profession and the patients/clients to governments and policy makers.

OAW is a chance for Orthoptists to come together and unite in promoting the profession and what Orthoptists do for their patients and the ophthalmic community.

For more information: http://www.orthoptics.org.au/eventdetails/1410/orthoptics-awareness-week

This March, do something amazing #forsickkids by supporting the annual Bandaged Bear Appeal.

Running from 1 – 31 March, the Bandaged Bear Appeal is a signature fundraiser, helping raise vital funds for brave patients. Your support of the Bandaged Bear Appeal makes it possible to continue providing world-class care and treatment to thousands of children every year.

All funds raised throughout the Appeal go towards purchasing the most advanced medical equipment, funding vital research and delivering services that are central to the wellbeing of patients and families.

Get involved by:

• Holding a fundraising event
• Purchasing merchandise
• Volunteering
• Making a donation

For more information, visit: https://www.bandagedbear.org.au/events/bandaged-bear-appeal

Clean Up Australia Day works to inspire and work with communities to clean up, fix up and conserve the environment. This is an event aimed to encourage all Australians to take to their local park, beach, bushland or streets and help collect rubbish.

A cleaner Australia is the first step in ensuring maximum prosperity of the country.

Get involved this March by:

• Organising your own clean up
• Donating to the foundation
• Volunteering

For more information, visit: https://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/

Febfast aims to give individuals the tools and opportunity to reflect, change and break existing routines that inhibit wellness, starting with alcohol consumption. Febfast is Australia’s flagship fundraiser for young people living with serious disadvantages. From mental health issues, abuse and neglect, to not having a safe place to stay or relying on drugs to cope in this world, these young people face unimaginable journeys.

February is febfast month, a time set aside for giving up alcohol and sugar with the proceeds benefiting disadvantaged youth.

In 2014-15, 17.4% of adults aged 18 years and over consumed more than two standard drinks per day on average, exceeding the lifetime risk guideline. 

Get involved in the fight for better health by:

• Raising awareness on social media
• Organising a fundraiser
• Volunteering
• Making a donation

For more information: http://www.febfast.org.au/