International Pain Awareness Month in September provided an important opportunity to elevate chronic pain into the national conversation and increase its visibility across Australia.

A significant initiative was the Painaustralia Wear it Red for Pain Campaign on 19 September, when pharmacies around the country wore red, created in-store displays, shared resources, and had numerous conversations with people living with pain.

In addition, health professionals, individuals, clinicians and industry and peak organisations also donned our logo and dressed in red and shared their photos, messages and personal reflections across social media. Seeing this support in local communities helped people feel less alone and reminded Australians that chronic pain affects millions of lives every day.

Throughout the month, we also shared lived-experience stories and hosted community conversations and events.