A message from the CEO
It is with some sadness that I write my last CEO message as I leave Painaustralia to take up a new role in 2022. As this year comes to a close, I have been reflecting on what an arduous year it has been for so many people. I do feel a sense of pride about what has been achieved for people living with chronic pain, yet much more remains to be done.
In particular, my thoughts are with the many Australians who live with chronic pain, who have not only had the day-to-day difficulties of accessing health care and managing their pain but have experienced extreme social isolation and increasing barriers to accessing care and support.
Painaustralia is in a strong position going forward with:
- an outstanding chairman Major General (Ret'd) Duncan Lewis AO DSC CSC;
- a highly effective board;
- a small but highly capable staff team including Nick Nguyen who has worked with Painaustralia for more than four years;
- a valuable consumer advisory group capably led by Sister Mary Lynne Cochrane;
- a committed national patron, Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret’d)
- our high-profile pain champions who help us to raise the profile of chronic pain in national conversations and among their networks including Hayley Leake, 2021 Australian Survivor Winner, physiotherapist and pain researcher; best-selling author Tara Moss; Invictus Games Gold Medalist and veteran Peter Rudland; ABC national medical reporter Sophie Scott; and seven-time paralympian Liesl Tesch AM MP.
- our Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management Group and Co-chairs Senator Wendy Askew and David Smith MP;
- our supportive members and sponsors; and
- our large network of dedicated consumers.
To all of you who have liked us on Facebook, who have provided valuable feedback to our surveys, who have shared a twitter post, who have used our National Pain Services Directory or looked up our website, we appreciate every interaction. It’s what generates healthy dialogue and advances ideas about how we can best respond to those living with chronic pain.
While it has been a year of many challenges, it has also been a year of achievement most notably the launch by the Australian Health Minister, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, of the National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management which was endorsed by all Australian governments.
We were honoured earlier this year when the Governor General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley hosted a Painaustralia event at Government House to raise awareness and support for veterans who live with chronic pain.
We know that a significant number of veterans live with chronic pain from injuries obtained during service and musculoskeletal pain and we are grateful to their Excellencies for their ongoing support for our work.
Painaustralia CEO, Carol Bennett speaks at the 8th Public Sector Women in Leadership Summit in Canberra.
In addition, we launched the updated and improved National Pain Services Directory, celebrated 10 years as the peak pain advocacy group with the launch of the biography of Painaustralia’s founder Dr Michael J. Cousins and we launched our new strategic plan 2021-24.
Since our last newsletter, I was honoured and inspired to join with so many incredible women leaders to speak at the 8th Public Sector Women in Leadership Summit in Canberra last month.
In this edition, we have the exciting announcement of the newest members of our Consumer Advisory Group, details about our latest advocacy and policy submissions, our work with state government health departments on the rollout of real time prescription monitoring programs and an article from one of our sponsors, CEA Technologies, which is working to support our defence and veterans’ communities.
I would also like to thank our members and Healthy Bones Chief Executive Officer, Greg Lyubomirsky for his guest piece about bone health and related back pain.
I look forward to seeing Painaustralia’s progress as it moves forward to the next chapter. In the immediate period, the organisation will be well served by acting CEO Monika Boogs.
I hope you enjoy this edition of eNews and that you have the opportunity to spend time with family and friends this coming holiday period.
Best wishes
Carol Bennett, Painaustralia CEO