National Action Plan: a reason to celebrate this National Pain Week

This week is National Pain Week and for the first time, chronic pain is now on the national agenda. Rather than just discuss the problem of pain, we can turn our focus toward the solution.

Painaustralia is leading the charge with a National Acton Plan for Chronic Pain Management. Funded by the Australian Government, the plan is a step towards improving access to affordable best practice pain care Australia-wide, and will offer a roadmap for implementation of the National Pain Strategy.

Better access to affordable treatment for chronic pain, and increasing understanding of care options available, will minimise misuse and reliance on pain medication; improve quality of life for individuals and enhance their mental health; help more Australians return to work after injury; and reduce the economic burden of pain in this country, particularly in regional areas that face specific barriers to services.

We are also seeing bipartisan support for the issue, with the ALP including chronic pain in its draft National Platform for the first time this year, and both Minister for Health, Hon Greg Hunt MP, and Shadow Minister for Health, Hon Catherine King MP, engaging with Painaustralia and our key stakeholders at our recent Annual General Meeting.

“There has been an unprecedented level of support for the issue of chronic pain in Australia, and we are grateful to the Australian Government for its enlightened response,” said Painaustralia CEO Carol Bennett.

“This long misunderstood and neglected health issue is now receiving attention from both major parties, a positive move towards ensuring the best possible outcomes for individuals, families, communities, workplaces, and the Australian economy.

“We look forward to working with politicians, stakeholders, supporters and consumers to develop a robust and strategic National Action Plan that will offer practical and effective solutions, and increase access to evidence-based strategies, for the millions of Australians living with pain.”

National Action Plan Survey: tell us what you think

Painaustralia has created a survey to seek input from health professionals, consumers, carers and other interested people to help us shape the National Action Plan.

We are keen to hear your views about the priorities you think will make the most difference, so please take our online survey and tell us what you think.

Click here to complete the survey. The survey closes 17 August 2018.