Mr Bruce Nettleton and Mrs Roslyn Kazacos, originally founded the Children’s Growth Foundation in order to successfully lobby to gain PBS listing of Growth Hormone (GH) for children with GH deficiency or short stature.

In October 2003, The Children’s Growth Foundation (CGF) joined the APF, and the APF is continuing this initiative, lobbying the Federal Government to include GH replacement therapy on the PBS for adults as well.

In 1998, the APF successfully lobbied to increase the availability of pituitary medications and gained approval of PBS funding for Sandostatin LAR.  It is hoped this success will be repeated for Growth Hormone therapy.

The APF is establishing special support groups for families of children with pituitary disorders.  If you would like to be involved, please contact your state representative.  Go to support

About GH deficiency

GH deficiency can be caused by a number of conditions that result in permanent damage to the pituitary gland and may occur in childhood or adulthood. 

Interference in the production of GH from the gland is most commonly caused by a pituitary tumour. Damage to the pituitary may arise from the tumour itself or occur as a result of medical intervention to treat the tumour, such as surgery and radiotherapy.  Some children are born with the inability to produce GH and therefore remain GH deficient throughout life.

Without treatment these people suffer muscle wastage, obesity, fatigue, depression and social isolation. Unmanaged, it can have severe health consequences.