Media Release

NATIONAL PAIN WEEK – AUSTRALIA NEEDS TO TALK ABOUT PAIN

28 JULY 2022

Giulia Jones is available for comment (print/radio or TV) via 0439 958 298

Australia needs to talk about pain.

Painaustralia, the peak lobby group for the 1 in 5 people suffering from chronic pain, believes Australia needs to have a conversation about pain.

The Chief Executive Officer of Pain Australia, Giulia Jones, says that pain needs to be looked at—not just as something that’s associated with other medical conditions, but a condition IN and OF itself.

“We all think we know what pain is about, but do we?

“The most recent research from around the world indicates that just prescribing medication is not the whole answer, that there is a need for a much more holistic approach.

“There’s much more to proper pain management that just which medicine to prescribe. It is about people reengaging with life, living with pain and moving life forward despite the pain while managing it as well as possible.”

This week experts as part of National Pain Week have been discussing the 4 Ps of pain management:

• Physician care
• Pharmacology
• Psychology and
• Physical movement.

Mrs Jones says we as a community need to start a conversation about how we manage pain, and this week provides the perfect opportunity to start that discussion.

National Pain Week was launched on Monday, by Chronic Pain Australia, with the release of a survey of 1500 people living with chronic pain that found the costs involved in managing pain was so expensive many people had to cut back on food to pay for their medication.

“The survey found more than half of the respondents are paying $200 or more a month to manage their pain and struggle to make ends meet.

“We, as a community, have a problem with pain. One in five Australians are suffering from chronic pain. We all think we know how to manage it, but do we?

People living with long term pain need a personalised mix of physician care, social engagement, psychological uplift, physical movement, and physiotherapy as well as restoration of confidence and hope, this is what multidisciplinary pain care can achieve.

“But to date the broader community does not understand long term pain, and this type of care really needs to be expanded so that everyone in long term pain is able to access and afford the right multidisciplinary pain care.

We can do better in pain management, and we can give 1 in 5 Australians a better experience of life lived with chronic pain.

“So, let’s start this conversation right now”

To kickstart the conversation, please call Giulia Jones on 0439 958 298

PAINAUSTRALIA’S NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Chairman’s Message

I am delighted to present Painaustralia’s Annual Report for 2021 – a
constructive and productive year for the organisation.

As of the 18th of May 2021, I was honoured to take over the role of
Chair of Painaustralia and I would like to extend my thanks to the
previous Chair, Emeritus Professor Ian Chubb for his outstanding
work for Painaustralia during his tenure.

As Chairman, it was particularly gratifying to see the launch
and endorsement of the National Strategic Action Plan for Pain
Management by the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt, at the
Painaustralia Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management Group
event in May. This was indeed a major achievement and milestone
and was the result of years of dedicated work and extensive and
comprehensive consultation led by Painaustralia. However, our
work in this area is certainly not finished, and my focus moving
forward is to see the goals in the National Strategic Action Plan
funded and implemented throughout Australia. We need to continue
our work with the new Federal Government, the governments of the
states and territories and health stakeholders to ensure that more is
done for the 3.4 million Australians who live with chronic pain...

READ MORE

Launch of the Impact of opioid regulatory reforms on people living with chronic pain survey report

This week Painaustralia is publicly releasing its report, Impact of opioid regulatory reforms on people living with chronic pain. The report details the first-hand experiences of consumers since the changes were introduced by the Australian Government in June 2020.

The survey, which spanned an eight-week period from December 2020 until February 2022 attracted over 1,800 respondents.

The main themes that emerged within our report were:

• the lack of access to alternative services available for people with chronic pain, in the absence of medication;
•  difficulties in accessing medication; feelings of judgement and stigma;
• decreased quality of life; poorer mental health;
• increased visits to GPs and other health professionals resulting in increased and unwanted costs to consumers; and;
•  the need for education and awareness campaigns for consumers and health professionals

Our report findings emphasise the underlying urgent need for alternative support and treatments for consumers and details the significant mental health impacts on chronic pain facing consumers – many of whom are increasingly distraught and uneasy when seeking medication or other options for treatment of their conditions.

As a result of this, we recommend:

• increased support for people living with chronic pain, including the creation of a dedicated helpline to address mental health and provide referrals to alternative pathways and support groups;
• additional funding for new items under the Medicare Benefits Scheme to give greater access to allied health services and group pain management programs;
• continuous and additional education and awareness campaigns to help reduce stigma and provide clear pathways to alternate treatments for consumers and health professionals.

We would like to extend our gratitude to the consumers who took the time to put in a response to our survey. You can read our report here.

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.