Australia is the first country to have a National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management

Health Minister Greg Hunt launched Australia's National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management (The Action Plan) at Painaustralia's Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management event on 18 May 2021.

In a world first, the Action Plan will provide real impetus and practical support for the 3.4 million Australians living with chronic pain said Painaustralia CEO Carol Bennett.

“The National Strategic Action Plan is a critical step towards improving the quality of life for the millions of Australians who live with chronic pain and every day face the challenges of accessing affordable and specialised pain treatment,” said Ms Bennett.
 

The Action Plan, which is now endorsed by all Australian governments, provides a pathway to improved pain awareness, support and treatment for people living with chronic pain.

Minister Hunt said the Action Plan was about providing people living with chronic pain a sense of hope and light and a way through.

Federal Shadow Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing Ged Kearney spoke at Painaustralia’s Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management Group event on 18 May 2021. Ms Kearney spoke about the need to stop putting issues such as chronic pain into the too hard basket. “We have to stop that and really remove that attitude and pour resources and time and effort and energy into developing this area as an acceptable, accessible and affordable health treatment,” she said in her speech.

Media Release

Australia is the first country to have a National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management

18 May 2021

In a world-first, Australia now has a National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management (The Action Plan) which will provide real impetus and practical support for the 3.4 million Australians living with chronic pain said Painaustralia CEO Carol Bennett welcoming today’s launch by Health Minister Greg Hunt.

“The National Strategic Action Plan is a critical step towards improving the quality of life for the millions of Australians who live with chronic pain and every day face the challenges of accessing affordable and specialised pain treatment,” said Ms Bennett.

“We thank Minister Hunt for his support of the Action Plan and launching it at today’s Painaustralia’s Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management Group event.

“The Action Plan, which is now endorsed by all Australian governments, provides a pathway to improved pain awareness, support and treatment for people living with chronic pain.

“Hopefully, with the Action Plan now in place and supported by all governments, it will provide the priority that those who live in chronic pain need.”

The Cost of Chronic Pain in Australia report found that in 2020 chronic pain cost $144.1 million and if nothing is done it will rise to $215.6 billion by 2050.

The Action Plan was developed by Painaustralia with funding from the Australian Government and is the culmination of the commitment and dedication of key stakeholders and consumers.

After extensive consultation, the Action Plan was released in 2019 for endorsement by the Australian Government and details eight key priority areas that can be undertaken to help address chronic pain in Australia today.

“Today’s announcement by Minister Hunt is the culmination of many small steps – all of them hard won and which have now resulted in the adoption of this plan by all Australian governments,” Ms Bennett said.

Ms Bennett said the next step was to ensure governments provided funding to realise the actions and agenda outlined in the plan including recognising pain as a national health and public health priority.

Ms Bennett thanked all members and particularly the founding members, the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, the ANZCA Faculty of Pain Medicine, the Australian Pain Society and the Pain Foundation (formally known as the Pain Management Research Institute) for their commitment to the Action Plan.

The National Strategic Action Plan can be found here

A new compass guiding people on their pain journey

18 May 2021

People who live with chronic pain will now find it easier to find alternative holistic treatments with the launch today of the new look and improved National Pain Services Directory.

The updated directory was made possible by funding from the Australian Government and was launched by Senator Wendy Askew at the Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management Group event at the Capital Pain and Rehabilitation Clinic in Deakin which is celebrating 20 years of service to the Canberra community.

“The directory provides a comprehensive list of more than 200 pain clinics who treat all types of pain conditions and can help consumers and GPs to find help from every region across Australia,” Senator Askew said.

Painaustralia CEO Carol Bennett said the National Pain Services Directory was a practical resource tool not only used by consumers but also by GPs and other health professionals who are looking for evidence based, holistic treatments.

“The updated directory has sophisticated search functionality which enables people to find a clinic in their own state and territory, related to specific pain conditions, a public or private facility, and geographical location with a ‘use my location’ button that is highly accurate and can pinpoint services directly to where someone lives or works,” she said.

Megan Kuleas, 31, from Canberra, lives with chronic pain after being diagnosed with Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome and a heart condition due to her pain.

“Currently, 3.4 million people in Australia experience chronic pain, and I am one of these people. My conditions are not visible so although I look healthy each day, I often experience chronic and acute pain and other unfortunate side effects,” she said.

Her pain differs each day and there are days where she can’t physically move and is bedridden.

“It is so challenging, some days it can feel like the inside of my body has been ripped apart,” she said.

Ms Kuleas said the directory was ground-breaking for people who live in pain, like herself.

“The directory will not only assist people who live with pain, both new and old, but also their carers, loved ones and other medical professionals,” she said.

“The ability to search using location is extremely beneficial particularly for those whose access to medical treatment is restricted by distance and location. As a person who lives with pain myself, I am grateful to Painaustralia and the Department of Health for the directory which provides a practical resource for those like me navigating their pain journey.”

The directory is available here. 

Painaustralia appoints Major General Duncan Lewis as new Chair

18 May 2021

Painaustralia is pleased to announce today’s appointment of Major General Duncan Lewis AO, DSC, CSC as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Major General Lewis is a former Australian military officer, Secretary of the Department of Defence, diplomat and intelligence chief and from 2014 to 2019 was the Director-General of Security and head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

Prior to that appointment, he held the post of Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

He is a retired Australian Army officer, and formerly Special Operations Commander Australia (2002– 2004) and National Security Adviser.

Major General Lewis said it was a great privilege to take up the position of Chair of Painaustralia which this year is celebrating 10 years advocating on behalf of people who live with chronic pain.

“This is a critical time as we finally have a national approach to pain management in Australia with today’s important announcement that all Australian governments have endorsed the National Strategic Action Plan,” he said.

Major General Lewis will take over the Chairman’s role from Em Professor Ian Chubb AC who was elected to the position in 2019.

Professor Chubb said Major General Lewis is a distinguished and eminently qualified appointment that will lead Painaustralia forward in its next chapter.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my term as Chairman of Painaustralia, it has been a time of genuine achievement and I know that I am leaving the organisation in excellent hands,” he said.

“I eagerly look forward to the implementation of the National Strategic Action Plan and am delighted that Health Minister Greg Hunt launched the Action Plan at today’s Painaustralia’s Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management event.

“The National Strategic Action Plan is the result of years of dedicated work and extensive and comprehensive consultation and I would like to thank all of Painaustralia’s members and particularly our founding members, the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, the ANZCA Faculty of Pain Medicine, the Australian Pain Society and the Pain Foundation (formally known as the Pain Management Research Institute) for their commitment to the Action Plan.

As the new Chair, Major General Lewis said he would focus on implementation of the National Strategic Action Plan.

“While there is now greater awareness of pain and pain management than ever before, we need to continue to ensure that more is done for the 3.4 million Australians living with chronic pain,” he said.

“I look forward to working with the medical, health, academic, research and consumer members and stakeholders in Painaustralia to make a real difference for those living with chronic pain.”