New national toolkit to help Australians understand and manage their medicines safely
11 November 2026
New national toolkit to help Australians understand and manage their medicines safely
Australians now have access to a new, practical online resource designed to help them understand what they are taking, use their medicines safely and feel more confident discussing them with healthcare professionals.
Developed by Painaustralia with input from consumers, pharmacists and healthcare professionals, the In the Know: Know Your Medicines Safety Toolkit brings together clear, reliable medicines information and practical tools people can use in their everyday lives.
The Toolkit comes at a time when consumers have lost a familiar source of independent medicines information following the closure of NPS MedicineWise and the discontinuation of its MedicineWise app. It also builds on recommendations from the national review of paracetamol safety to strengthen consumer awareness and education about safe medicines use.
Painaustralia CEO Monika Boogs said that while medicines play an important role in managing many health conditions, understanding and managing them safely can be challenging.
“For consumers living with chronic pain and other long-term conditions, managing medicines can be complicated. They may be taking several prescription medicines, sometimes from different healthcare professionals, alongside over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements,” Ms Boogs said.
“Knowing what you're taking, why you're taking it and how to use your medicines safely is incredibly important. Yet consumers regularly tell us that finding clear, practical information that brings all of this together can be difficult.
“We wanted to develop something that went beyond simply providing information and gave consumers practical tools they could use at home and in conversations with their healthcare professionals.”
The free, interactive Toolkit brings together 10 plain-English consumer guides covering how to understand, review, manage, store and dispose of medicines safely, as well as how to share important medicines information with healthcare professionals.
It includes a downloadable My Medicines List, which consumers can complete and update online or print and take to appointments.
The Toolkit also features illustrated guides, conversation starters and QR codes linking to further information and trusted Australian health resources, allowing consumers to explore the topics most relevant to them.
Importantly, the Toolkit has been developed with consumers rather than simply for them.
A consumer roundtable helped identify the information consumers wanted and needed, with consumers continuing to review the language, content, design and usability throughout development. Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals also contributed their expertise.
Painaustralia Consumer Advisory Group member Megan said the Toolkit was relevant to people at different stages of managing their medicines.
“It is a helpful tool for all consumers, from those who have only just started taking medication through to those like myself, who have been taking medication for years,” she said.
Ms Boogs said the Toolkit had broader relevance beyond people living with chronic pain.
“Although developed by Painaustralia, the Toolkit is for all Australians, whether they're managing chronic pain or another health condition, or helping a family member manage their medicines safely.”
The Toolkit was developed with the support of Consumer Healthcare Products Australia (CHP Australia) through an unrestricted educational grant.
It is being officially launched today at NSW Parliament House by Charishma Kaliyanda MP, Member for Liverpool.
Access the Toolkit: https://www.painaustralia.org.au/toolkit