From one parents struggle an Australia wide movement was born; never again would a child go through Alopecia Areata alone...

My journey with Alopecia Areata started back in 1998, when my little one was diagnosed. Navigating those early days as a parent, it hit me pretty quickly just how little support and real information was actually out there for families like ours. For the next ten years, I poured myself into helping other kids with AA and their parents. I shared every practical tip, strategy, and resource I could find just to help these kids join in and feel confident doing normal, everyday things like kinder, school, and sports. Most of what I knew came straight from my own hard-earned experience, and I just couldn't sit back and let other families face this lonely road without any help.

By 2008, I realised that just offering a shoulder to lean on wasn't going to fix the bigger picture. Unless we made Alopecia Areata visible and properly understood, the stigma and misconceptions around hair loss were never going to budge. Being a proud regional Victorian, I saw a massive need for a proper national organisation that could support people, raise awareness, and actually fight for change. That spark is what led me to set up the Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation (AAAF) in 2010.

Our Vision at AAAF is for Australians with Alopecia Areata to flourish with confidence and embrace their true selves leading to greater self-esteem, happiness, and overall well-being.

I knew firsthand how financially devastating Alopecia Areata can be for families, so I wanted to provide tangible, real-world support. That is exactly why I created our Donate Hair Program. By collecting hair donations and utilising them to fund our Grant a Wig Program, we ensure children living with the condition can thrive. My long-term vision however, is to actively back research for financially viable cures and treatments.

More than a decade later, I am still deeply involved in the hands-on work— managing the programs to ensure help reaches the families who need it most. The ultimate goal is to empower those with Alopecia Areata to flourish with unshakable confidence, embracing their true selves and unlocking greater self-esteem, happiness, and overall well-being.

- Chel, AAAF Founder & President

Our Service Philosophy

To give each person the best chance of managing their Alopecia Areata journey positively, the whole family and each individual needs to be supported to manage their unique experience. By reducing the financial and emotional stress and enabling children, young people, adults and their support networks to develop their strengths and skills, AAAF assists the whole family to achieve that positive journey.

Mission

Support: provide support to those with all forms of Alopecia Areata, and their families;
Awareness: inform the public and create awareness of Alopecia Areata;
Research: to support research into a cure or acceptable treatment for Alopecia Areata.

The AAAF Committee consists of a group of dedicated individuals whose lives have all been touched in some way by Alopecia Areata. These passionate volunteers contribute their time, skills and effort to help us achieve our missions and help people with Alopecia Areata and their families.

AAAF receives no government funding and relies entirely on the generosity of the community to provide our important services.

Statement of Commitment

AAAF provides an open, welcoming and safe environment for everyone participating in our programs. We provide high-quality programs that are safe and welcoming for all attending. We seek advice and guidance from kids, parents, professionals and colleagues so these standards are continuously maintained.

Click here to download AAAF’s Capability Statement.

AAAF is fully registered as a Health Promotion Charity with Class One DGR Certification.

Meet the Committee

Meet the members of our managing committee

Sheridan

Communications Officer

Sheridan began her journey with Alopecia Areata at age 7, which developed into Alopecia Universalis by age 27. Sheridan struggled through childhood and adolescence with the many challenges of alopecia and has since dedicated herself to personal and professional development to support others experiencing similar challenges. A graduate of Murdoch University in Community Development and online entrepreneur, she is dedicated, enthusiastic, friendly and excited to be a part of AAAF to support the community.

Liz

South Australia Branch Manager

Liz was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata in 1985, and has offered support to women with hair loss ever since. So it was a natural stepping stone to her joining the AAAF in 2010 as the South Australian Branch Manager. There is a family history of Alopecia Areata so Liz is passionate in offering support and raising awareness of the disease. She hopes that through research a cure will be found in the future. Liz works in the family Agricultural and Viticultural business and is a part-time Office Manager in her husband’s legal firm.

Greg

Western Australia Branch Manager

Greg has been impacted by Alopecia Areata since 2006 and as a parent he has seen first hand the impact it can have. He is passionate about making lives better for people with Alopecia Areata in its many forms and has been on the National Committee since 2011. Greg is an Engineer and works in the resource sector.

Connect with our Support Ambassadors

Our Support Ambassadors are people living with Alopecia Areata who have been where you are. They're available for one-on-one conversations when you need to talk to someone who genuinely understands

Yasmin

Support Ambassador

Yasmin turned her lifelong experience with alopecia into a powerful platform for change. Born without hair, Yasmin spent years believing that her identity was tied to her hair, However, she soon realised that hair doesn’t define her, leading to a profound transformation in her life. Her journey as a model and influencer is marked by her unwavering commitment to helping others live confidently with alopecia.

Yasmin@aaaf.org.au

Vanessa

Support Ambassador

Vanessa’s daughter was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata at age 6 and now is a teenager with total hair loss. Vanessa understands the emotional impact on parents when their child suddenly and unexplainably loses their hair – not having the answers, wanting to access treatment but not knowing where to start, feeling powerless and confused.Joining the AAAF community and attending the Kids Adventure Camps with her daughter gave Vanessa a strong network of wonderful caring parents and volunteers. Gaining knowledge and confidence to help her daughter embrace her condition and live a confident and happy life with Alopecia.Vanessa is passionate about helping families to access information and supports to navigate their way through the uncertainty of hair loss and help bring connection within the community for kids with hair loss to support each other.

vanessa@aaaf.org.au

« Previous

How can we support you?

Newly Diagnosed

I’ve been diagnosed

Find the right support, learn from other members of the community who have been where you are now. Here you will find:

+ Connections to the right practitioners,
+ Information on options open to you,
+ AAAF’s support programs,
+ Community Support Networks

Discover more

Resources for Parents and Support People

My child has been diagnosed

Parenting a child with Alopecia Areata presents its own set of challenges. Think of these as a collection of resources that have helped many families in the last few decades in the same position as you.

+ Resources to help you navigate this along with your child,
+ Information on options open to you,
+ AAAF’s support programs,

Discover more

Resources for Youth

I’m a Youth living with Alopecia Areata

Hitting youth on its own is a wild ride, let alone navigating it with the added challenges Alopecia Areata creates:

+ Resources onnavigating job interviews, dating, school, and the social stuff nobody talks about,
+ Wig and brow tutorials,
+ AAAF’s support programs for you,
+ Community Support Networks,

Discover more

Peer and Mental Health Support Resources

I’m looking for Peer & Mental Health Support

Alopecia Areata… it’s life changing, but you are never alone. Here we’ve curated a collection of resources to make the more difficult days easier and have them occur less often. Many of our community members learn to love their Alopecia Areata. On this page find:

+ Mind body Mindfulness Practices,
+ Tips and advice for the bad days,
+ Community Support Networks,
+ Mental health support networks,

Discover more

Get Involved

I’d like to get involved

Join our mission to support, educate, and advocate for the Alopecia Areata community. Every contribution makes a meaningful impact. Here you’ll find:

+ How to individually volunteer or become a corporate sponsor,
+ How to fundraise,
+ How to get involved in donating hair,

Find your way of getting involved

Donate

Make a Donation

Everything AAAF does is community funded. No government support, no corporate backing. If this community has helped you, or you want to help others find it, your donation goes directly to the work that matters: support, education, and research.

Donate Now