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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Funding to provide community support services including consumer information, self-management education and telephone support (crisis help line).
- The development of a national research agenda to address gaps in knowledge about chronic pain and improve clinical practice in pain management.
Submissions
2024
Painaustralia's submission to the Health Technology Assessment Policy and Methods Review Public consultation 2 - February 2024 - Download the submission
2023
Painaustralia's Spinal Cord Stimulator Consumer Experience Report - December 2023 - Download the report
Painaustralia's Budget submission - January 2023 - Download the submission
Painaustralia submission on the interim decision regarding paracetamol access - February 2023 - Download the submission
Painaustralia's submission to the Health Technology Assessment Policy and Methods Review - June 2023 - Download the submission
2022
Painaustralia submission to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide - August 2022 Download the submission
Painaustralia's National Medicines Policy submission - September 2022 Download the submission
Painaustralia's submission to the TGA's Proposed amendments to the Poisons Standard - September 2022 Download the Submission
Painaustralia's submission to the TGA on paracetamol - November 2022 Download the Submission
2021
Painaustralia Federal Budget Submission 2022-23: Working Together to Make Chronic Pain a Priority Download the submission
Future Focussed Primary Healthcare: Australia’s Primary Health Care 10 year Plan 2022-2032 from Painaustralia - November 2021 Download the submission
Submission to the National Medicines Policy from Painaustralia - October 2021 Download the submission
Submission to the Draft National Preventive Health Strategy Consultation from Painaustralia - April 2021 Download the submission
Regulation to support Real Time Prescription Monitoring (RTPM) - from Painaustralia - March 2021 Download the submission
Painaustralia Submission to the 2021-22 Federal Budget - Working together to address chronic pain - January 2021 Download the submission
FEDERAL BUDGET 2020 - 21 SUMMARY - Painaustralia October 2020 Download the summary
SUBMISSION TO THE 2020- 21 FEDERAL BUDGET - Painaustralia August 2020 Download the submission
2020
Inquiry into approval processes for new drugs and novel medical technologies in Australia from Painaustralia October 2020 Download the submission
The Preventive Health Strategy Submission from Painaustralia September 2020 Download the submission
PAIN AND COVID-2019 - The perfect storm that validates the need to fast track technology advances in pain assessment for vulnerable populations and their families by Dr Jennifer Abbey, AM, Carol Bennett, CEO, Painaustralia and Philip Daffas, CEO, PainChek September 2020 Download the paper
NICE Chronic Pain Assessment and Management Guidelines to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence London UK from Painaustralia September 2020 Download the submission
Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study Consultation paper and priority content for the National Health Survey 2022 from Painaustralia July 2020 Download the submission
Inquiry Into The Use Of Cannabis In Victoria from Painaustralia July 2020 Download the submission
The National Injury Prevention Strategy Submission from Painaustralia June 2020 Download the submission
US CDC Consultation on Management of Acute and Chronic Pain Request for Comment from Painaustralia June 2020 Download the submission
Proposed Amendments to the Poisons Standard - Down-Scheduling of Cannabidiol (CBD) from Painaustralia to TGA May 2020 Download the submission
Proposed amendments to the Poisons Standard – Down-scheduling of Ibuprofen 400 mg to TGA from Painaustralia May 2020 Download the submission
Canadian Pain Taskforce Consultation on Ways to Improve How We Understand, Prevent and Manage Pain in Canada From Painaustralia May 2020 Download the submission
Natural Therapies review 2019/20 Download the submission
Senate Inquiry on Current barriers to patient access to medicinal cannabis in Australia from Painaustralia February 2020 Download the submission
Submission to RACGP RED Book from Painaustralia February 2020 Download the submission
Medical Research Future Fund Dementia, Aging and Aged Care Mission Roadmap from Painaustralia February 2020 Download the submission
Submission to Evaluation of National Framework for Action on Dementia from Painaustralia January 2020 Download the submission
2019
- Consultation on National Obesity Strategy, submission from Painaustralia December 2019 Download the submission
- Royal Commission into Disability November 2019 Download the submission
- IASP's Proposed New Definition of Pain Released for Comment September 2019 Download the submission
- Submission from Painaustralia to Independent Review of Nursing Education Download the submission
- Proposal for new aged care funding instrument Consultation May 2019 Download the submission
- PBS Improvements Process_Medicines Status Website From Painaustralia April 2019 Download the submission
- Medical Benefits Schedule Review: Draft Report from the Pain Management Clinical Committee From Painaustralia April 2019 Download the submission
- Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health_Submission from Painaustralia April 2019 Download the submission
- TGA Spinal Implants reclassification Consultation_Submission from Painaustralia March 2019 Download the submission
- TGA prescription medication under evaluation Consultation_Submission from Painaustralia March 2019 Download the submission
- National Rural Health Conference_Conference Paper March 2019 Download the paper
- ACRE Draft Prescribing Guidance-Non-Cancer Pain_Submission from Painaustralia March 2019 Download the submission
- Royal Commission into Aged Care Submission from Painaustralia February 2019 Download the submission
- TGA Medical Devices Consultation Submission from Painaustralia February 2019 Download the submission
- Review of Early Release of Superannuation Benefits: Furthers consultation and draft proposals February 2019 Download the submission
- Submission to Victorian Royal Commission into Mental Health January 2019 Download the submission
2018
- Senate Community Affairs References Committee Inquiry into the Effectiveness of the Aged Care Quality Assessment and Accreditation Framework November 2018 Download the submission
- Establishing a National Women’s Health Strategy for 2020 to 2030 Submission November 2018 Download the submission
- Establishing a National Men's Health Strategy for 2020 to 2030 Submission November 2018 Download the submission
- National Osteoarthritis Draft Strategy Survey response from Painaustralia November 2018 Download the response
- Proposed Amendments to the Poisons Standard _ TGA MR Paracetamol consultation: Submission October 2018 Download the submission
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Bill 2018 and related Bill September 2018 Download the submission
- Royal Commission into Aged Care_ToR_submission from Painaustralia September 2018 Download the submission
- Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into the My Health Records Amendment (Strengthening Privacy) Bill 2018
- Consultation Boxed Warning Guidance to TGA September 2018 Download the submission
- Consultation on Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities for 2018-2021 September 2018 Download the submission
- Submission to Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry into the Criminal Code and Other Legislation Amendment (Removing Commonwealth Restrictions on Cannabis) Bill 2018 June 2018 Download the submission
- Submission to TGA Advertising Code - Complaints Handling June 2018 Download the submission
- Submission to Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Accessibility and quality of mental health services in rural and remote Australia May 2018 Download the submission
- Relationship between the National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions and the National Pain Strategy May 2018 Download the submission
- Submission to Department of Health - National Action Plan for Endometriosis May 2018 Download the submission
- Submission to Australian Aged Care Quality Agency - Draft Guidance Material for New Aged Care Quality Standards May 2018 Download the submission
- Submission to Department of Health - Scheduling Delegates' interim decision on Ibuprofen and invitation for further comment March 2018 Download the submission
- Submission to Department of Health and Human Services Victorian Government - Regulatory impact statement and proposed regulations for Safescript Victoria’s real-time prescription monitoring system March 2018 Download the submission
- Submission to Consultation Paper: Prescription strong (Schedule 8) opioid use and misuse in Australia - options for regulatory resonse - TGA March 2018 Download the submission
- Submission To The Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport Inquiry into The Quality of Care In Residential Aged Care Facilities in Australia February 2018 Download the submission
- Submission To The Department Of Treasury Consultation On The Review Of The Early Release Of Superannuation Benefits February 2018 Download the submission
- Submission to the Australian Government, Department of Health Consultation on Specialist Dementia Care Units January 2018 Download the submission
2017
- Painaustralia Pre-Budget Submission 2018-19 Submitted December 2017 Download the submission
- Submission to the up-classification of surgical mesh and patient implant cards August 2017 Download the submission
- Submission to the Discussion Paper 'Why we need a new rural and remote health strategy' August 2017 Download the submission
- Submission to the Review of Effectiveness of the Aged Care Quality Assessment and accreditation framework for protecting residents from abuse and poor practices, and ensuring proper clinical and medical care standards are maintained and practised August 2017 Download the submission
- Submission to the Senate inquiry into the value and affordability of private health insurance and out-of-pocket medical costs July 2017 Download the submission
- Submission to the Review of National Aged Care Regulatory Processes July 2017 Download the submission
2016
- Submission to the Fifth National Mental Health Plan December 2016 Download the submission
2015
- Submission to the Standing Committee on Health Parliamentary Inquiry 2015 Download the submission
- Pre Budget Submission 2015-16 Download the submission
- Medicare Benefit Schedule Submission 2015 Download the submission
Reports
- Ketamine Report - Painautralia (November 2021)
- Orofacial Pain Survey Report - Painaustralia (November 2021)
- AUSTRALIA’S ANNUAL OVERDOSE REPORT 2020 - Penington Institute (August 2020)
- Survey Report - Impact of 2020 opioid reforms on people living with chronic pain 2020 - Painaustralia (August 2020)
- Take-home intranasal naloxone to prevent opioid overdose deaths - Medicine Today (April 2020)
- Mortality After Discontinuation of Primary Care–Based Chronic Opioid Therapy for Pain: a Retrospective Cohort Study (19 August 2019)
- Cost of Pain Report (Painaustralia April 2019)
- The cost of pain in Australia Report for Painaustralia Lynne Pezzullo (4 April 2019 )
- Statement on “Medicinal Cannabis” with particular reference to its use in the management of patients with chronic non-cancer pain (Faculty of Pain Medicine, 2019)
- Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Taskforce (Draft report from the Pain Management Clinical Committee February 2018)
- Consumer Impact Statement - Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Taskforce February 2018
- Opioid harm in Australia and comparisons between Australia and Canada (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare November 2018)
- Migraine in Australia Whitepaper (Deloitte for Novartis Australia October 2018)
- Information Series No. 1: Normative data for adults referred for specialist pain management in Australia (ePPOC September 2018)
- Information Series No. 2: Normative data for children and adolescents referred for specialist pain management in Australia (ePPOC September 2018)
- mHealth for chronic disease management: Experiences of young people and professionals (move, Arthritis & Osteoporosis WA, Curtin University, May 2018)
- Patient Outcomes in Pain Management 2017 Mid Year Report (ePPOC & University of Wollongong, 1 July 2016 - 30 June 2017)
- Australia's Health Tracker By Socio-Economic Status 2017 (Australian Health Policy Collaboration, released 28 Nov 2017)
- The Essential Report: codeine (Essential Research, 14 Nov 2017)
- Shifting the Dial: 5 year productivity review (Australian Government Productivity Commission, released 24 Oct 2017)
- The Second Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2017)
- Global Pain Index Report - Australia (GSK, 2017)
- Global Pain Index Report - Global Summary (GSK, 2017)
- Building Better Foundations for Primary Care (Grattan Institute, 2017)
- Phase 3 Evaluation of the NSW Pain Management (Health Consult & ACI, 2017)
- Perils of Place: Identifying hotpsots of health inequality (Grattan Institute, 2017)
- MBS Review Interim Report (Department of Health, 2016)
- The First Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2015)
- Waiting in pain: a systematic investigation into the provision of persistent pain services in Australia (Australian Pain Society, 2012)
- Campaign for Pain: Briefing kit (Painaustralia)
- The $6 Billion Woman and the $600 Million Girl (Pelvic Pain Steering Committee, 2011)
- IOM: Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education and Research (Institute of Medicine U.S.A., 2011)
- The High Price of Pain: The economic impact of persistent pain in Australia (MBF Foundation, 2007)