Improving Policy

Painaustralia’s role is to work with government and other stakeholders to improve policy in relation to the management of pain, through implementation of the National Pain Strategy and to recognise pain as a national health priority.

The painful facts point to a massive and growing public health issue that must be addressed with leadership at the national level.

While most states and territories have developed and are implementing state-wide pain strategies this work is fragmented and under-funded and there is an enormous need for a coordinated national approach to improve treatment of acute and chronic pain and provide equitable access to effective evidence-based pain services for all Australians.

Painaustralia is calling for:

1. Leadership and coordination by the Federal Government of a national approach to ensure access to integrated pain management services, building on the work of state governments, private sector providers, Primary Health Networks and Local Hospital Networks.
2. Access to effective pain services for all Australians including people in rural, regional and remote areas, indigenous and socio-economically disadvantaged communities, children, older Australians and people with mental illness.
3. Access to pain management education and training for health professionals in particular as it relates to early intervention, multidisciplinary team practice and the use of opioid medications.
4. A public awareness campaign to address discrimination, misunderstanding and stigmatisation of people with pain within the community, including in the workplace and in welfare and compensation systems.
5. Funding to provide community support services including consumer information, self-management education and telephone support (crisis help line).
6. The development of a national research agenda to address gaps in knowledge about chronic pain and improve clinical practice in pain management.