Submissions and Policy Updates
Submission to the Independent Review of Nursing
Painaustralia provided a submission to the Independent Review of Nursing Education, providing support to the position of our founding members, the Australian Pain Society.
Nurses and other health care professionals need improved education and training as well as better decision support systems and tools to equip them to deliver better pain management. Ensuring that pain management is embedded in the education and training of this crucial workforce will not only improve the lives of people with chronic pain but will also benefit the many thousands of nurses and midwives who work to support people living with chronic pain.
Our submission addresses the terms of reference that examines the effectiveness of current educational preparation of, and articulation between, enrolled and registered nurses and nurse practitioners in meeting the needs of health service delivery.
Our recommendations include:
- An overarching education strategy
- Expanded training opportunities
- A single validated assessment and monitoring tool for chronic pain
- Improved decision support systems and resources
For more information read our submission here.
Therapeutic Goods Administration consultation on spinal implantable medical devices
Painaustralia met with the TGA Devices Applications and Verification Section as part of the consultation on ‘Proposed reclassification of spinal implantable medical devices’
Following consideration of all the submissions received to the consultation paper ‘Proposed reclassification of spinal implantable medical devices’, the TGA has decided to undertake further targeted consultation and will hold a workshop aiming to discuss in more detail a range of medical devices that should be included within the scope of proposed new classification rule.
Spinal implants can provide significant benefits to patients with diseases or injuries of the spine and can contribute to improvements in quality of life. For example, reduction in back pain increases productivity, reduces dependence on medications, and in general facilitates more activity, leading to improvements in quality of life.
In our discussion, Painaustralia highlighted recent device failures and subsequent findings that have revealed a poorly regulated industry that has put consumers at considerable risk of harm, including those with persistent and chronic pain. This has highlighted the need for more patient education and information around medical devices and the potential risks that they may pose. Painaustralia has urged the TGA to consider supporting the reforms with the development of consumer resources that help inform decision-making.
For more information read our submission here.
Australian Ethical Health Alliance Third meeting in Canberra
Painaustralia was pleased to participate in the third meeting of the Australian Ethical Health Alliance held in Canberra this month. The Australian Ethical Health Alliance was formed in 2019 to promote the implementation of the Australian Consensus Framework. The Alliance seeks to facilitate ethical behaviour at the organisational level, provide general guidance to organisations, and encourage and monitor reporting of activities directly related to the principles outlined in the Australian Consensus Framework.
AIVL’s World Hepatitis Day Oration
Painaustralia was pleased to participate in the Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug users League World Hepatitis Day Oration opened on Monday with an address by Australian Government Health Minister, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, outlining priorities in the new national hepatitis strategies. The Minister’s address was followed by presentations from AIVL and some local, ACT-based organisations, highlighting the importance of custodial settings in terms of Australia’s comprehensive national focus on the elimination of hepatitis C in particular, and how the implementation of needle and syringe programs (NSP) in custodial settings is an important initiative within this broader context.