$6.8 million to improve understanding of pain

The Liberal National Government will commit funding of up to $6.8 million to improve understanding and management of pain by consumers and health professionals.

$2.5 million funding will be provided over four years from July 2019 for three projects:

• Up to $1 million to Painaustralia to support consumer awareness and education for people affected by pain
• Up to $1 million over four years from July 2019 to support the training of GPs to enable them to participate more effectively in pain management care
• $500,000 for a public education campaign specifically focussed on the management of pain and the use of opioids

Our Government recognises that pain, especially chronic pain places a terrible burden on sufferers. It not only reduces quality of life for them and their families, but places many people at risk of addiction to painkillers.

In this week’s Budget, we committed $4.3 million over four years from 2019-20 to ensure rural Australians affected by chronic pain have better access to pain management services.

This funding will deliver outreach pain management specialist services in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia. It will also provide upskilling for GPs and other primary care providers in these areas to improve prescribing habits and awareness of appropriate pain management treatment.

The Cost of Pain in Australia, prepared by Deloitte Access Economics, estimates that 3.24 million Australians were living with chronic pain in 2018, and that seven out of 10 affected people were of working age.

The Government will continue to partner with pain organisations to address the impact of pain on the Australian community.