Painaustralia is Australia’s leading pain advocacy body working to improve the quality of life of people living with pain, their families and carers, and to minimise the social and economic burden of pain on individuals and the community.
Special mix of treatment could finally bring relief to Aussies suffering chronic pain
November 2025
Temporomandibular joint pain affects the jaw, temples, face, and ears, and can cause severe headaches and difficulty talking and chewing.
Like many patients who live in chronic pain, our consumer advisory group member Amie Rule has turned to a range of treatments to manage her chronic jaw pain.
See her featured along with our CEO, Monika Boogs, in this National 7 news story.
Media Release
Palliative Care Australia and Painaustralia advance national conversation on pain management at end of life
04 November 2025
Palliative Care Australia in partnership with Painaustralia
Palliative Care Australia (PCA) and Painaustralia (PA) have joined forces at Parliament House today to emphasise the urgent need for timely pain assessment and management, and to ensure continued access to essential pain relief medicines for people receiving palliative care.
The event, hosted by the Parliamentary Friends of Palliative Care, brought together policymakers, clinicians, and advocates who want to advance compassionate, evidence-based care for all Australians. Painaustralia showcased a new My Pain assessment Communication Tool (MPaCT) in development, and Palliative Care Australia’s Strategic Plan 2026–2029 was launched at the event, highlighting national efforts to improve the experience of people living with pain and those receiving palliative care.
Painaustralia CEO Monika Boogs said effective pain management is fundamental to maintaining dignity and quality of life for people receiving palliative care.
Shingles Awareness - The Hidden Health Baggage
October 2025
Our CEO Monika Boogs was invited to join Australian TV star and comedian Julia Morris to raise awareness about the devasting impact of shingles and the long-lasting pain so many patients can experience.
The Hidden Health Baggage campaign in Sydney Harbour on 14th October highlighted that 97 per cent of Australians over 40 already carrying the virus that causes shingles from a previous chickenpox infection.
Too often, shingles is thought of as “just a rash’ when in reality, it can be painful and debilitating.
Beyond the visible symptoms, it can disrupt sleep, mood, work, and daily activities and potentially affect quality of live. For some people, it can also lead to long-term issues including chronic nerve pain.
A Painaustralia survey asking consumers about shingles and its impact found that out of 2000 respondents, 92 per cent experienced nerve pain.
Nearly half said their pain lasted more than a year. And 53 per cent said shingles affected their ability to work and were forced to reduce their hours or retire early.
One of the key messages of the campaign is to please talk to your health professional about how you can protect yourself against shingles.
Health Hub Industry Awards
October 2025
Painaustralia was honoured to be named a finalist in the Health Hub Industry Awards in the Advocacy Champion category.
Our CEO Monika Boogs was nominated for a podcast with Joyce McSwan from PainWise and Health Industry Hub’s Rozalina Sarkezians where they discussed the barriers for patients to effectively manage, downscheduling of pain medicines and the key clinical trends that will drive transformations in pain management over the next five years.
Painaustralia would like to thank Health Industry Hub for highlighting the issues and challenges faced by the many millions of Australians who live with persistent and chronic pain.
Thank you!!
September 2025
Thank you to everyone who got involved in Wear it Red for Pain!
Special thanks to our sponsors Panadol and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, and to all of those who took part: The Pharmacy Guild ACT and NSW Branch, Massage and Myotherapy, Simon Blacker, Monique MacKrill, Saluda, Montu, Nevro, LivCor Australia, Queanbeyan Pharmacy, Lanyon Pharmacy, Quorn Pharmacy, TerryWhite Chemmart Paragon, North Hobart Pharmacy, Coober Pedy Pharmacy, Aussie Care Hub Midnight Pharmacy, TerryWhite Chemmart Cumberland Park, and everyone else who participated and shared their experiences. See the wrap up here.
Annual Report 2024
June 2025
We are proud to share Painaustralia’s 2024 Annual Report, highlighting a year of renewal, advocacy and impact.
From driving national conversations on pain policy, launching new tools like the Opioid Safety Toolkit and Kaha App, to celebrating excellence through our inaugural Pinnacle Awards - this year’s report captures our continued commitment to amplifying the voices of people living with pain.
Read the full report here and see how we are working to create a more supportive and equitable health system for the 3.7 million Australians affected by chronic pain.
The House of Wellness
June 2025
Raising awareness and understanding of chronic pain in our community is one of the ways we can address the associated stigma. Our CEO Monika Boogs chatted to Sarah Maree Cameron and Gerald Quigley about chronic pain on the House of Wellness radio program aired around the country last Sunday. Listen here.
Greens adopt policy to double allied health visits.
February 2025
Painaustralia would like to thank the Federal Greens party who have adopted our policy to double allied health sessions for pain management from 5 to 10. Painaustralia has advocated for this change for the last couple of years. It is pleasing to see the Greens acknowledge the needs of Australians living with chronic pain. To see the Greens' commitment visit here.
Shingles Survey Report
February 2025
A new Painaustralia report, It’s Not Just a Rash, released today ahead of Shingles Awareness Week (February 24 – March 2), reveals the alarming toll shingles takes on individuals and their families including financial hardship, long-term pain and health complications. The report, based on insights from over 100 Australians affected by shingles, underscores the need for broader access to the shingles vaccine.
Download the report here.
Our Latest Media Release
Painaustralia supports TGA statement on safe use of paracetamol in pregnancy
24 September 2025
Painaustralia supports TGA statement on safe use of paracetamol in pregnancy
Painaustralia welcomes and supports the statement from Australia’s Chief Medical Officer and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regarding the safe use of paracetamol in pregnancy.
The TGA has confirmed that robust scientific evidence shows no causal link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and the development of autism or ADHD in children. Paracetamol remains the recommended treatment option for fever or pain in pregnancy when used as directed, as untreated pain and fever themselves may pose risks to mother and baby.
Painaustralia CEO, Monika Boogs, said:
“This is an important reassurance for women who are pregnant or considering pregnancy. The TGA’s advice is based on rigorous scientific evidence, and we encourage people to feel confident in following that guidance. Importantly, we urge anyone with concerns to speak directly with their healthcare professional about the medicines that are right for them.”
Paracetamol and chronic pain management
Paracetamol is also one of the most widely used medicines among Australians living with chronic pain with many consumers relying on paracetamol as part of their pain management plan when used safely and according to directions.
“Chronic pain is a major health issue in Australia, affecting more than 3.6 million people,” Ms Boogs said.
“For many, paracetamol provides an accessible and affordable option to help manage pain day to day. But like any medicine, it is not risk-free. That is why we always recommend that people seek professional medical advice to ensure their treatment plan is safe and effective.”
Safe and informed use is essential
Painaustralia emphasises that while paracetamol has a long history of safe use, it is essential that people follow recommended dosage guidelines and consult their healthcare professionals
“Painaustralia’s priority is to ensure people living with pain have access to the safest and most effective treatments available, supported by high-quality information and advice from trusted health professionals,” Ms Boogs said.
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