Painaustralia is Australia’s leading pain advocacy body working to improve the quality of life of people living with pain, their families and carers, and to minimise the social and economic burden of pain on individuals and the community.
Chairman, Em Professor Ian Chubb, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, Painaustralia CEO, Carol Bennett and Painaustralia Treasurer, Ben Tansley
On Monday 29 June 2020, representatives of Painaustralia including our Chair Em Professor Ian Chubb AC FAA, director Mr Ben Tansley and CEO Carol Bennett had the privilege of a private meeting with his Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley at Government House in Canberra...READ MORE
Media Releases
Parliamentarians launch updated National Pain Services Directory
04 AUGUST 2020
The new Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management Group has today launched the updated National Pain Services Directory, which now lists over 200 public and private facilities, provides mapping and navigation information, as well as listing the various services provided at each facility.
Co-chair of the Parliamentary Group Senator Wendy Askew welcomed the update, “Australians are living through unprecedented health challenges presented by COVID-19, but for the 3.37 million Australians living with chronic pain conditions, it can be particularly difficult to locate and access pain services. Chronic pain conditions can have a significant impact on every aspect of a person’s life, with conditions like low back pain now the leading cause of disability worldwide. These new improvements to the National Pain Services Directory provide current, easy to access and use information to assist consumers and health professionals in navigating treatment for what is a complex chronic condition.’
The National Services Directory was originally launched by the Federal Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP in October last year to provide consumers and health practitioners with the support they need to make informed decisions around pain management options and pathways. The Directory is an important initiative funded by the Federal Government under the Consumer Awareness and Education Grant.
The directory now has enhanced search and locational functionality allowing consumers and health professionals to find the right multidisciplinary care closest to their location.
Co-chair of the Parliamentary Group David Smith MP said, “People living with chronic pain include some of the most vulnerable in our communities. It is encouraging to see these improvements that will enable people to access best practice care by skilled health practitioners, as close to their location as possible.”
The enhanced interactivity combined with new mapping and navigational functionality will improve this essential service for consumers and health professionals across Australia. The Directory will be accessible on multiple smart devices.
Painaustralia CEO Carol Bennett said ‘Providing good support to people at the earliest possible stage of their chronic pain journey is one of the keys to achieving better outcomes. But it can be difficult for people to navigate complex health systems and to know which services provide quality and evidence- informed care. This improved directory is not the solution to pain, but it will shorten the journey of many people experiencing serious and persistent pain as they seek out treatment that will work for them’.
The pain services directory can be accessed via the Painaustralia website: https://www.painaustralia.org.au/getting-help/pain-directory
Painaustralia in the news
ABC NEWS - 14 September 2020
The Daily Telegraph - 04 September 2020
The Daily Telegraph - 03 September 2020
The Courier Mail - 02 September 2020
Senator Wendy Askew speaks on the cost of chronic pain - 01 September 2020
The House of Wellness - 20 August 2020
Latest Submissions
ENEWS Issue 99
- Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study Consultation paper and Priority content for the National Health Survey 2022 from Painaustralia July 2020 Download the submission
- Inquiry Into The Use Of Cannabis In Victoria from Painaustralia July 2020 Download the submission
- The National Injury Prevention Strategy Submission from Painaustralia June 2020 Download the submission
- US CDC Consultation on Management of Acute and Chronic Pain Request for Comment from Painaustralia June 2020 Download the submission
- Proposed Amendments to the Poisons Standard - Down-Scheduling of Cannabidiol (CBD) from Painaustralia to TGA May 2020 Download the submission
- Proposed amendments to the Poisons Standard – Down-scheduling of Ibuprofen 400 mg to TGA from Painaustralia May 2020 Download the submission
- A message from the CEO
- Parliamentary Friends raise the issue of chronic pain in Parliament
- Budget Submission 2020–2021
- Report on Opioid Reform Survey
- International Pain Awareness Month
- Communication and Awareness Reference Group (CARG)
- Australia’s Annual Overdose Report by Penington Institute
- Pain and COVID 19: International Dementia Conference
- Faculty of Pain Medicine setting standards in procedures
- Submissions and Policy Updates
- Media
- Guest Article: Dr Leanne Beagley, Mental Health Australia CEO
