Submissions and Policy Updates
Painaustralia’s Budget Submission 2020-21
Painaustralia’s Pre-Budget Submission from Painaustralia proposes initiatives which represent the ‘low-hanging fruit’ that can address vital gaps in our current policy and practice. These priority programs complement the implementation of the National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management, have strong evidence-based objectives and are cost effective for the broad outcomes that they will achieve.
RACGP Red Book Consultation
Painaustralia was invited by the RACGP to provide input to the 10th edition of the Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice (the Red book).
The Red book is one of RACGP’s flagship clinical resources. The Red book has provided guidance to general practitioners (GPs) on opportunistic and proactive preventive care since 1989. The 9th edition is available here.
Painaustralia has emphasised that there are potentially vast gains to be made through prevention, early intervention, and better access to best practice pain management strategies for all health professionals. Painaustralia’s recommendations are aimed at ensuring the 10th edition of the Red Book comprehensively equips general practice to deal with the growing incidence and prevalence of chronic pain as supported through best practice, evidence-based strategies.
To meet the health challenges of opioid misuse and the rising pain burden, Australia needs a strong preventive focus towards chronic pain that has the support and engagement of primary care and general practice. Painaustralia’s submission highlights the growing prevalence of pain in Australia, approaches that can help prevent the onset of chronic pain, the biopsychosocial approach to chronic pain management and opioids and chronic pain management.
Read our submission here.
Painaustralia's providing input to National Disability Insurance Agency
Painaustralia is working to improve NDIS and Disability support access issues for people living with chronic pain and related disability. If you or someone you know has been denied access to the NDIS, please get in touch with us. Your experience will help us advocate for change.
Please email us at admin@painaustralia.org.au if you would like us to include your case study in our submission to the NDIA.
Submission to Productivity Commission Inquiry into the role of improving mental health
Painaustralia was pleased to provide a submission to the consultation on the Draft report of the Productivity Commission (Draft Report) Inquiry into the role of improving mental health to support economic participation and enhancing productivity and economic growth.
Painaustralia highlighted figures from the Cost of Pain in Australia, prepared by Deloitte Access Economics, which finds that the reported comorbidity for chronic pain and depression or anxiety is estimated at 44.6% of patients, which is within the range of estimated values from the international literature.
People with chronic pain often live with depression, anxiety and/or other mood disorders. Chronic pain is also a significant risk factor for suicidal behaviour and people living with chronic pain are two to three times more likely to experience suicidal behaviour compared with the general population.
Overall, Painaustralia welcomed the recommendations made by the Commission and made additional suggestions that go further in acknowledging the impact of chronic pain with regards to mental health. In particular we hope that by working together and aligning mental health and chronic pain policy, we can ensure collective and sustained action on both these significant public health issues.
Submission to Senate Community Affairs References Committees Inquiry into current barriers to patient access to medicinal cannabis in Australia
Painaustralia provided a submission to the Senate Community Affairs References Committees Inquiry into current barriers to patient access to medicinal cannabis in Australia.
Painaustralia’s submission acknowledged the widespread use of cannabis products and degree of community support for greater access to them for a range of reasons. The focus of our submission was on the role of cannabis to manage chronic pain. In particular we note the role medicinal cannabis may play in aiding with distress and neuropathic pain.
Painaustralia supported current efforts to enable quicker access to medicinal cannabis where it has been correctly prescribed and recommends that efforts to expediate access must be informed by best practice approaches to pain management.
The development of a sound evidence base remains a critical enabler to ensure safe and effective use of medicinal cannabis for chronic pain. Further research and investment will be important as we still have much to learn about the role medicinal cannabis can play in addressing chronic pain conditions.
Read our submission here.