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Main menu
  • About Us
    • A Little Bit About Us
    • Our Team
    • Our Board
    • Strategic Plan & Annual Reports
    • Ambassadors
    • Our Members
    • Our Corporate Supporters
  • About Pain
    • What Is Pain?
    • What is Chronic Pain?
    • Painful Facts
    • Common Forms of Pain
    • Who Does Pain Affect?
  • Getting Help
    • Getting the Right Care
    • Pain Services & Programs
    • Support Groups & Help Lines
    • Resources
    • Government Assistance
  • Improving Policy
    • Our Vision
    • National Pain Strategy
    • Human Right
    • Submissions & Reports
  • Get Involved
    • Join or Renew Membership
    • Philanthropic & Corporate Partner
    • Make a Donation
    • Surveys & Trials
  • Health Professionals
    • Education & Training
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • Resources
  • Events
    • Health Professionals
    • For Everyone
  • Media
    • Media Releases
    • Painaustralia In The News
    • eNews
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  1. Home
  2. About Pain
  3. Who It Affects
  4. Multicultural Communities
Who It Affects
  • Children & Young People
  • Older People & Those Living With a Disability
  • Rural & Remote
  • Multicultural Communities
  • Indigenous Australians
  • Veterans
  • Sports People
  • Workers & Workplaces

Multicultural Communities

Multicultural groups have cultural differences that can impact upon the chronic pain experience. The most obvious of these is communication and language. People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations tend to seek out a doctor who speaks their language and are reliant on their view of pain and pain management. However, the doctor may not be trained in multidisciplinary pain management and may simply prescribe painkillers, which are not effective in the long-term.

Patients who are not happy with the care they are receiving from their doctor are encouraged to find a doctor who will listen to their needs and offer an alternative approach to treatment. Patients can take an interpreter with them, and doctors can also access communication tools such as the CALD tool to help them assess pain in non-English speaking patients. If you are a carer or family member of someone who would benefit from CALD, please ask your doctor about it.

Other issues relate to cultural beliefs or traditions. For example, Vietnamese and Chinese communities tend to rely on traditional remedies—such as herbs and acupuncture—and may view western medicine as “toxic” or “poison”. Some Arabic people are known to believe that pain is a normal part of ageing and many over 50 stop exercising—believing it to be for young people only. Education is necessary to provide the best help to the patient.

Resources

Pain clinics & programs

  • Pain clinics: Current list of pain clinics in Australia
  • Pain programs: Current list of pain programs in Australia

Websites & reading

  • Pain Management Network Multicultural Report 2015: NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation
  • Visit our Getting Help page for more help & resources

Videos

Understanding pain and what to do about it in less than five minutes

  • Arabic YouTube
  • Chinese YouTube
  • French translation YouTube
  • French subtitles YouTube
  • German YouTube
  • Hebrew YouTube
  • Italian YouTube 
  • Japanese YouTube
  • Norwegian translation YouTube
  • Norwegian subtitles YouTube
  • Portugese YouTube
  • Spanish YouTube

Understanding pain: Brainman stops his opioids 

  • French subtitles
  • Japanese subtitles

Understanding Pain: Brainman chooses

  • French subtitles
  • Japanese subtitles

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PAINAUSTRALIA LIMITED

Unit 6, Level 1, 42 Giels Court
Deakin, ACT 2600

PO Box 9406
Deakin, ACT 2600

Telephone: (02) 6232 5588
Email: admin@painaustralia.org.au

ACN 147 676 926

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