Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management Group
The Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management Group is co-chaired by David Smith MP and Senator Wendy Askew. The friendship group is a non-partisan group that is open to all Senators and Members.
Senator Wendy Askew
Chair of Community Affairs Legislation Committee Deputy Chair of Community Affairs References Committee Party
Liberal Party of Australia
Mr David Smith MP
Member for Bean, Australian Capital Territory
Australian Labor Party
THE ROLE OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS IN PAIN MANAGEMENT, Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management Group
On Thursday 12 November, the first meeting of the Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management Group was held to discuss medicinal cannabis for pain management. This was an important opportunity to outline on behalf of our community the frustration we feel regarding the lack of pain management treatments available, the hope and expectation that many in our community have for medicinal cannabis and the barriers to access that exist.
CEO Carol Bennett outlined Painaustralia’s briefing paper on medicinal cannabis, which highlights the need for better pain management options and access for Australians living with pain, and a more robust evidence-base for medicinal cannabis as a pain management treatment.
Associate Professor Malcolm Hogg, Head of Pain Services at Melbourne Health, Painaustralia Clinical Director and medicinal cannabis prescriber, discussed the nuances around prescribing medicinal cannabis for chronic pain patients.
Professor Jennifer Martin, Chair of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, discussed the latest research around medicinal cannabis and the studies that are currently underway.
Associate Professor Michael Vagg, Dean, Faculty of Pain Medicine, discussed how cannabinoids measure up to clinical standards including biological plausibility, risks and effectiveness as a pain management strategy.
It was a fascinating and thoughtful discussion with great questions that raised the level of awareness and understanding amongst our critical parliamentary advocates.
Launch of the Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management Group
The Governor General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), formally launched Painaustralia's Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management Group, and welcomed Tara Moss as the newest Pain Champion at an event held on Tuesday 6 October.
The purpose of the group is to raise awareness amongst politicians for better management of pain conditions, and explore opportunities to work with Painaustralia to improve the quality of life of the over 3.37 million people living with pain conditions, their families and carers, and minimise the social and economic burden of pain on individuals and the community.
PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDS OF PAIN MANAGEMENT OF THE 46TH PARLIAMENT
