Wow, time has passed really quickly, who would have thought it is conference time again?
This edition of the newsletter has the links for you to work out your social functions, choose your preconference workshop, and book your gala tickets (note to self- pack dancing shoes!).
Out with the old and in with the new.
In this edition we celebrate our new board members and wave a very fond farewell to our outgoing president and board members. A big shout out to our volunteers for the Australian Pain Society (APS) and thank you for coming on board, and for all the work that has been undertaken.
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What’s that? You would like to expand your opportunities and be involved in APS? Look no further, we are looking for expressions of interest for the APS National newsletter editor. The best part about being involved in the editorial process is the opportunity to network and liaise with a lot of APS celebrities. In addition, the level of support provided is amazing, with fabulous opportunities for being at the forefront of the generation of evidence dissemination for APS.
Great stuff, looking forward to hearing and seeing more from the conference.
Kind regards
Dr Joanne Harmon
President’s Report – AGM 2025
Joyce McSwan
As we reflect on the past year, I am proud to share the incredible progress we have made in advancing pain education, research, advocacy, and support for our multidisciplinary membership.
This year has been one of both consolidation and innovation, as we continue to build on our strong foundations while embracing new opportunities to shape the future of pain management in Australia. Our society remains committed to fostering collaboration, supporting research, and ensuring that people living with pain have access to the best possible care.
Project Updates
painSTAR – Pain School for Translation And Research
Following its inaugural success in 2022, painSTAR was delivered for the second time in 2024, with the invaluable support of our dedicated faculty and DCC&A. It is inspiring to see our painSTAR alumni already contributing to APS, engaging with the Board and SPC. We are thrilled to confirm that APS will continue supporting this initiative, with painSTAR set to return in 2026.
Waiting in Pain (WIP) Project
The APS WIP research continues to generate significant interest and impact.
• The WIP2 staffing paper was published in The Journal of Pain in December 2023 (McIntyre, Braithwaite, Stanton & Burke) and received widespread media attention during National Pain Week.
• The WIP New Zealand study in collaboration with the NZ Pain Society is progressing well, with data collection completed and the final paper expected to be submitted for publication in mid-2025.
• Given the success of previous WIP projects, we are currently considering the feasibility of a third iteration.
Pain in Aged Care
• The painACT (Aged Care Train the Trainer) program (GO2810) was successfully developed,
incorporating videos, factsheets, and PowerPoint presentations. This was done in collaboration with NARI (National Ageing Research Institute) supported by an advisory group of expert allied health professionals in aged care. Following user testing, it is now freely available online through the APS website. We will be actively engaging with key organisations and stakeholders in the aged care sector to raise awareness of this resource.
• Sales of Pain in Residential Aged Care Facilities: Management Strategies (2021) (eBook version only) continued at modest levels in 2024. After a literature review performed in late 2023, we have confirmed its currency and decided in 2024 not to proceed with a third edition at this stage.
Scholarships and Grants
• APS/CFK Grant #6: Dr. Carolyn Berryman’s project, A Community-Based Multidisciplinary Model of Care for Adolescents with Chronic Pain, remains on track for completion in March 2025.
• APS/CFK Grant #7: In 2024, this grant was awarded to Nicole Pope for her study on Virtual Reality in Paediatric Chronic Pain Rehabilitation. This promising research is underway in 2025.
• We thank Prof Anne Burke for her dedication to the CFK grant program to date and look forward to working with the CFK Board to select a future APS-CFK liaison officer
• Following the withdrawal of PhD candidate Emily Moore, we are exploring opportunities to redirect Gift Fund resources towards new educational initiatives, including painSTAR.
Advocacy and Policy Engagement
APS has remained a strong voice in national discussions on pain management, making 10 formal submissions to inquiries and consultation requests, including multiple engagements with the Department of Health and Aged Care. Key topics included:
• The new Aged Care Act
• The Faculty of Pain Medicine's approach to pelvic pain
• The Australian Falls Guidelines
• Management of inflammatory arthritis
These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to influencing policy and ensuring that pain management remains a national health priority.
In July 2024, APS participated in National Pain Week and was on the panel discussion of the opening day.
In November 2024 the APS was represented at Chronic Pain Australia’s (CPA) Parliamentary event and presented to the Minister of Health’s office after the event for discussions on the need for better access to pain management within the primary care setting. Furthermore, the APS is currently participating in the Primary Health Network (PHN) Cooperative for Chronic Pain, which is a group Chaired by the Brisbane South PHN CEO, advising and collaborating on joint pre-election budget submissions to improve the access of pain management programs within the primary care setting.
HealthEd Partnership
In 2024, we established a new partnership with GP education provider HealthEd to enhance APS’s visibility among general practitioners and broaden our engagement with medical specialties.
• APS representatives attended HealthEd events in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. We plan to continue this presence in 2025.
• From 2025, APS will also contribute to HealthEd’s podcasts and webinars, further expanding our educational reach.
Key Society Activities and Achievements
• 44th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) – Darwin Our 44th ASM was a great success, with 474 attendees and a record number of abstract submissions. The event demonstrated strong engagement and highlighted the importance of in-person scientific exchange. And we thank our event organisers DCC&A.
• APS/Cops for Kids Grants
These grants continue to support innovative pain research, including our work in adolescent and paediatric pain management.
• APS Mentorship Program
Launched in 2024, this initiative has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with plans to continue in 2025.
• Social Networking Events
Now in their third year, these events provide an excellent opportunity for new and longstanding members to connect between conferences.
• Ongoing Advocacy and Representation
APS played an active role in advocacy events such as the CPA parliamentary event and National Pain Week, along with important stakeholder consultations led by the Faculty of Pain Medicine.
I extend my deepest gratitude to our Board, Secretariat, DCC&A, committees, members, and everyone who contributes to the work and life of APS. Your dedication, expertise, and passion make our achievements possible, and I am truly grateful to have had the privilege of working alongside you. It is through your efforts that we continue to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those living with pain.
Serving as President of the Australian Pain Society over the past two years has been an incredible honour. I am deeply thankful for the trust you placed in me and for the unwavering support of my colleagues. I leave this role knowing the Society is in exceptional hands under the leadership of our new President, Bernadette Smith, and our outstanding Board Executives. Bernie has been my steadfast right-hand throughout this journey, and I couldn’t have asked for a more dedicated and capable partner in leadership.
I am also excited to welcome the new board members and look forward to supporting them in my role as Immediate Past President. I look forward to helping them integrate into board life and ensuring they have the opportunity to contribute fully.
While we have achieved much, our work is far from over. The need for accessible, affordable, and high-quality, evidence-based pain management remains critical. Together, we will continue to strive for better outcomes for those we serve.
Thank you for the privilege of leading this remarkable Society. It has been an honour, and I look forward to the next stage of this journey with you all.
President’s Report
Bernadette Smith
I am truly honored and excited to step into the role of Australian Pain Society (APS) President. It is a privilege to be part of such a passionate community, dedicated to shining a light and changing the trajectory of pain—through research, clinical practice, education, and lived experience. For me, the strength of APS lies in its truly multidisciplinary and diverse membership.
Alongside my excitement, I must admit to feeling a sense of responsibility. Being at the helm of such an esteemed society is no small task. However, I take comfort in the collective wisdom and support of, the APS Board, Committees, Special Interest Groups (SIGs), members and, of course, the cornerstone of our Society—the DC Conference &Association Management (DCC&A) dedicated conference and secretariat teams. Knowing I am surrounded by such incredible expertise, dedication, and shared vision gives me confidence – as we know, it takes a team!
As I step into this role, I first want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Joyce McSwan for her inspiring leadership and unwavering commitment over the past years. Her legacy, along with those who came before her, has set a high standard, and I am honored to build upon the strong foundation they have established.
Looking ahead, I am committed to ensuring that the Society remains adaptive to the evolving needs of our members—enhancing their experience by actively listening and learning, which I believe is crucial to our ongoing success and relevance. I am also passionate about continuing to foster innovation to enrich the membership experience while maintaining a clear focus on the less glamorous but essential task of ensuring the Society’s financial sustainability— now and into the future—recognising its vital role on both the national and international stage.
In thanking Joyce, I also want to take a moment to acknowledge our incredible APS volunteers, from the APS Board to the various committees, SIGs and members. Their contribution—whether in large or small ways—is invaluable. They give so much to our Society without expecting anything in return, and their contributions are the backbone of our work. At the outset of my presidency, I want to personally express my deep appreciation for every effort they contribute. I see my role as one of supporting and nurturing this amazing team of volunteers, and I look forward to working alongside you all during my term.
Looking ahead, we have an exciting journey before us. Our ever-fabulous Annual Scientific Meeting is made possible through the dedication of DC Conference & Association Management (DCC&A), Kevin Keay, and the incredible Scientific Planning Committee (SPC) ‘rockstars’, whose commitment drives its success. Meanwhile, painSTAR continues to gain momentum, with its third iteration set for 2026, led by a passionate faculty of APS royalty under the leadership of former President, Professor Anne Burke. Alongside these flagship events, we are also fostering new collaborations and programs designed to enhance member engagement and drive innovation.
I am truly excited about these opportunities and the chance to work closely with all of you to ensure that the APS not only meets the evolving needs of our membership but also remains a beacon of excellence in pain management. Thank you for your continued support, and I encourage you to share your ideas and successes as we embark on this journey together.
Cheers,
Bernie
Thank you to our retiring President, ACT, NT and VIC Directors
Mrs Joyce McSwan
Immediate Past President
We wish to sincerely thank Mrs Joyce McSwan as she steps down from her role as Australian Pain Society (APS) President.
Joyce served as the Queensland Director for two years from 2019, following her time on the APS Relationships Committee as the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia representative. Joyce stepped into the role of President-Elect in 2021 and then became President from 2023.
She brought with her a broad range of clinical experience and skills as a business owner. Joyce is a multi-award winning clinical pharmacist and educator within the field of pain management. She has authored and innovated many pioneering pain programs for primary health care, private hospitals and within the pharmacy industry in Australia and Southeast Asia.
Her work in pain management has been promoted by the Productivity Commission of Australia, in particular, for her value-based health pathways and expertise in collaborative partnerships within both primary healthcare and hospitals. Currently she is the Clinical Program Director of the Gold Coast Primary Health Network ‘Turning Pain into Gain’ program and Managing Director of PainWISE. In addition to her executive roles, she is also leads in altruistic work within regional and remote areas of Australia, to improve access to pain management services in hard-to-reach areas. She has strong skills in motivational interviewing, health pathway design and translating evidence into everyday clinical relevance.
We are grateful that we will continue to benefit from Joyce’s experience, insights and professionalism as she continues in an ex-officio capacity as Immediate Past President to the APS Board.
Dr Andrew Watson
Dr Andrew Watson has retired from the APS Board as the Director for the Australian Capital Territory. Joining in 2019, Andrew has served on the Board for the maximum tenure of six years. During that time, he was also the Board Representative for the Basic Pain Research Special Interest Group (BPR SIG).
Andrew was a valuable contributor to the Board and always a keen and effective contributor to our advocacy submissions when asked to provide input.
He was the convenor for our Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in Canberra in 2023 and remains integral to the APS Scientific Program Committee (SPC) into the future.
We are delighted that Andrew has chosen to continue to contribute to the APS via the SPC and look forward to his valuable input.
Adjunct A/Prof Cindy Wall
Adjunct A/Prof Cindy Wall stepped down from the APS Board as the Director for the Northern Territory, effective 30 November 2024. Joining in 2022, Cindy served on the Board for two years and was the convenor for our ASM in Darwin in 2024.
Cindy’s research interests explored the influence of personality, justice beliefs, and mental health on rehabilitation from work injury and understanding psychological factors facilitating optimal patient outcomes post diagnosis, injury, or surgery in chronic pain.
We wish Cindy continued success in the future!
Dr Esther Dube
Dr Esther Dube has also retired from the APS Board as the Director for Victoria, having completed her first term of three years.
Esther’s insights contributed to the Board, and she provided essential input to our advocacy submissions when asked for feedback.
We wish Esther all the best for the future!
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We
would like to extend a warm welcome to our new President, President-Elect and Treasurer and newly elected Board Members
Mrs Bernadette Smith
President
We are thrilled to confirm that Mrs Bernadette Smith is the new President for the Australian Pain Society (APS).
Bernadette joined the APS Board in 2021 as the Director for Tasmania prior to stepping into the role of President-Elect in 2023 and now President in 2025.
Graduating from UTAS in 1992 Bernadette spent the next 10 years working as a Psychologist for Community Mental Health Services in Tasmania (Child & Adolescent/Adult Community).
Bernadette has also worked for UTAS as honorary clinical lecturer with the School of Psychology and Rural Clinical School at the Cradle Coast Campus.
Bernadette moved into private practice (Psychology Plus) in 2003 where she developed a special interest in the treatment of chronic pain and health education. In 2016, Bernadette completed her Master of Science in Medicine (Pain Management) through the University of Sydney. Aside from consulting in private practice Bernadette co-facilitates a federally funded Group Pain Management Program (OPAL) on the Northwest Coast of Tasmania and has done so for the past 8 years.
Bernadette is also co-director of Pain Solutions a multi-disciplinary team working with compensable patients suffering chronic pain.
Bernadette is a big supporter of the Pain Revolution; she rode for the first time in 2018 and is currently a mentor for local pain educators through the local pain education program.
We welcome Bernadette’s expertise and insights in her new role as President.
Dr Laura Prendergast President-Elect
We are delighted to confirm that Dr Laura Prendergast is the new President-Elect for the APS.
Laura joined the APS Board in 2017 as the Director for Victoria. After four years in that role Laura moved to the APS Board Executive in the role of Treasurer in 2022, which she held for three years prior to being appointed as President-Elect in 2025.
Laura is a Senior Psychologist at the Northern Health Persistent Pain Management Service in Melbourne, Victoria, where she delivers group programs and provides assessment and individual treatment to clients with persistent pain. She also consults on the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Clinical Panel, reviewing and providing advice for psychologists treating people who have been touched by road trauma. She is passionate about multidisciplinary pain management and enjoys the challenge of improving educational resources for people with pain in her clinical practice. Laura is a strong advocate for Health Psychology and its focus on prevention and population level interventions in addition to targeted clinical work.
Laura brings with her a vast experience across many aspects of the APS. She has led the Membership team for many years, was integral to the development and revision of the ByLaws developed to support the Constitution from 2019 and is well versed in the financial management of the Society. She has also contributed to the revision and update of the APS Position Statement The role of the Psychologist in the management of pain, 4th edition and its supporting Executive Summary. We look forward to Laura’s continued contributions to the APS Board in her new role.
Dr Duncan Sanders
Treasurer
We are pleased to announce that Dr Duncan Sanders has been appointed as the Treasurer for the APS. Duncan joined the APS Board in 2024 as the Director for Queensland and has since been mentored into the treasury function by Laura Prendergast, stepping into the role of Treasurer from 2025.
Duncan is a Senior Lecturer for the Master of Medicine (Pain Management), Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney, and a Pain Management Physiotherapists. He completed his PhD at The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London. His PhD exploring the brain mechanisms and modulation of persistent pain using modern neuroimaging techniques, which was nominated for the King’s College London graduate school prize. Over the last four years his research focus has shifted from neurobiological mechanism of pain, to looking at clinically relevant work focused on early identification, prevention and management of chronic pain related disability. He is currently working with collaborators on a Department of Health grant to develop a national education pain program for healthcare professionals.
His main area of interest over the last 15+ years has been in multidisciplinary pain management, working in world-renowned facilities. He is the past Chair and Vice-Chair of the Australian Physiotherapy Association NSW Pain Group.
Congratulations to Duncan as he moves into this APS Board Executive role.
Mr Anjelo Ratnachandra
Director - ACT
We welcome Mr Anjelo Ratnachandra as the APS Director for the Australian Capital Territory.
Anjelo Ratnachandra is the founder of Beyond Pain and an award-winning practitioner who established one of the first private chronic pain/ fatigue physiotherapy services in Australia. His unique set of skills in Physiotherapy and
Counselling has led him to contribute towards numerous research papers in pain & fatigue management. He is the author of the popular self-guiding book Beyond Pain which has reached over 13 countries.
Anjelo has extensive experience, having worked with chronic illnesses for almost two decades. He not only helps individuals but also consults to corporations (State and National), and government organisations on early intervention and injury prevention. He runs his own workshops and has developed pioneering concepts in the area of persistent pain and chronic illness. For his work, Anjelo has received numerous awards in Occupational Rehabilitation and was the inaugural winner of Worksafe’s (Vic) Treating Health Practitioner Award in 2011. In 2018, he was awarded Physiotherapist of the Year at the Australian Allied Health Awards. He has worked in Australia and overseas and is a popular keynote speaker.
Dr Amelia Searle Director - NT
We are glad to welcome Dr Amelia Searle as the APS Director for the Northern Territory.
Amelia completed her PhD through the University of Adelaide in 2011 in the area of child mental health. Her research experience spans two decades, in the broad areas of mental health and wellbeing, public health and epidemiology, and health services research. In her current role as Data Manager/Research Scientist at the Flinders Medical Centre Pain Management Unit, Amelia collaborates with medical consultants, allied health clinicians, nurses and administrative staff, as well as university academics in order to conduct various research projects regarding chronic pain patient outcomes, generating results that are directly translatable into quality improvement and evidence-based practice. Amelia has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and presented at various national and international conferences. She also holds an adjunct role within the Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health.
Mrs Karla Wright Director - QLD
We are thrilled to welcome Mrs Karla Wright as the APS Director for Queensland.
Karla Wright is a highly dedicated and experienced Pharmacist based in Brisbane, Queensland, where she practices at a Community Pharmacy in Fernvale. As the VicePresident of the Queensland Branch Committee of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), she plays a pivotal role in advancing the practice of pharmacy in the region. Through her involvement in the PSA, she actively contributes to shaping policy and improving professional standards and she has dedicated her career to advancing Pharmacy practice and improving patient care.
In addition to her many other responsibilities, Karla is an active member of the Australian Pain Society and has been a member of the Relationships Committee since 2021. Her involvement in this committee allows her to collaborate with professionals from various disciplines to address issues related to pain management and patient care. Through her various roles and contributions, Karla has become a respected leader in the pharmacy profession. Her diverse work across policy development, clinical practice, education, community service and research showcase her dedication to advancing pharmacy practice, improving patient outcomes, and ensuring that patients receive the highest standard of care continues to have a lasting impact on both her local community and the broader healthcare landscape.
Mrs Alison Sim Director - VIC
We are pleased to welcome Mrs Alison Sim as the APS Director for Victoria.
Alison qualified as an osteopath in 2001 and has worked in a variety of clinical settings since graduating. She completed a masters degree in pain management at The University of Sydney 10 years ago and has worked exclusively in the area of pain management since. In 2021 Alison commenced a full time PhD which focused on early interventions for people with a compensable injury. She completed the PhD in 2024 and is currently working in pain research. Alison continues to work clinically part time, seeing patients with chronic pain in a multidisciplinary clinic. She has been part of the APS for many years and has attended the annual conference for the last eight years, as well as the most recent painSTAR 2024 event. Alison appreciates the connectedness that the APS fosters within its membership and firmly believes in its purpose to advance pain management through research, education and advocacy for people with living with pain.
We welcome Anjelo, Amelia, Karla and Alison, thank them for their commitment to the APS and look forward to working with them into the future.
Calling for Newsletter Editor EOIs!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr Lincoln Tracy for his dedication and support as our Newsletter Editor over the past seven years.
Lincoln has made invaluable contributions to our team by formalising the newsletter structure and schedule.
It is with sadness that we say goodbye, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours.
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We are now seeking Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to fill the role of Newsletter Editor, supported by our Assistant Editor.
About the Role:
The Editor's key responsibilities include:
• Reviewing and editing newsletter content to ensure consistency and readability.
• Writing an editor's note at the beginning of each edition (five times per year, alternating with the Assistant Editor) to provide insights on current topics in the pain field or highlight key newsletter content.
• Attending the newsletter topic only at board meetings (mostly online, with one in-person meeting at the ASM each year) to update the board on newsletter activities and receive feedback.
• Chairing eNewsletter team meetings (twice per year) to guide content strategies and initiatives.
What You’ll Gain:
• Valuable volunteer experience to enhance your CV for promotions or grant applications.
• A platform to share your insights with our membership and wider readership.
• Opportunities to review new pain-related books before their official release when requested by the APS.
• A chance to network and develop a broader understanding of the society.
We publish 10 editions annually, with seven more newsletters scheduled through December 2025.
If you’re interested, please submit your EOI to the APS Secretariat at aps@apsoc.org.au.
Bernadette Smith APS President
LESS THAN 2 WEEKS TO GO! REGISTER TODAY!
Don’t miss out, last days to register!
You’ll enjoy an extensive program including pre-conference workshops, international keynote speakers, national speakers and topical sessions.
Join the many other professionals that are involved with pain and pain management and learn with clinicians and researchers across many different aspects of pain management.
Leave the conference enabled to make a difference in your sphere of work.
Please click here to register
Registrations will increase slightly from 11:59 PM AEST 9 April 2025.
Plan your conference experience today:
Program Overview
Keynote Speakers
Panel Discussion: Psychedelics in Pain
Pre-Conference Workshops
Topical Concurrent Sessions
Free Paper Sessions
Meet the Minds Sessions
Social Program
For further information please visit the conference website
Should you have any queries about the conference, please contact the Conference Secretariat.
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APS TO DO LIST
Already registered for APS 2025? We can’t wait to see you soon!
We’ve put together a conference to-do list to make sure you’re fully prepared for the event of the year.
See how many boxes you can tick before arriving at the Pullman Melbourne Albert Park.
Don’t forget to…
Pay all outstanding balances online, or call the APS Conference Secretariat on +61 2 9954 4400 if you wish to pay over the phone
Choose your Social Functions
Choose a Pre-Conference Workshop
Book your Gala Dinner tickets
Peruse the Topical Sessions
Start using the hashtag #AusPainSoc
If you’re presenting or have a poster at APS 2025, make sure you’ve ticked these boxes too…
Save presentation onto a USB and visit the Speaker Preparation Room at least ONE HOUR before your presentation
Print a hard copy poster and submit your digital poster (Poster Presentation Guidelines)
Review the additional guidelines for any extra tips or trick (Free Paper Presentation Guidelines)
We look forward to welcoming you to Melbourne, VIC.
Should you have any queries about the conference, please contact the Conference Secretariat.
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CONFERENCE SOCIAL PROGRAM
Social Program Explore the social program and plan your conference experience today:
Sunday 13 April 2025
Welcome Reception
Venue: Exhibition Hall, Pullman Melbourne Albert Park
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Dress: Smart Casual
Cost: Included in registration fee for full delegates and sponsors/exhibitors
Additional tickets: $60pp, guests welcome
Join us for a first look at the exhibition hall and a chance to catch up with colleagues and delegates you may not have seen since Darwin.
Basic Pain Research & Pain in Childhood SIG Dinner
Venue: The Windsor Alehouse, 42 Punt Road
Time: From 7:30pm, after the Welcome Reception
Dress: Smart Casual
Cost: $90 per person, guests welcome
The Windsor Alehouse is within walking distance of the Pullman, it has a cosy and wholesome vibe and offers craft beer, live music and delicious food.
Enjoy a two-course meal, plus drinks with friends and colleagues interested in Basic Pain Research and Pain in Childhood. Delegates don’t have to be a member of the SIGs to join, everyone is welcome.
Monday 14 April 2025
Social Activity
Venue: The Windsor Alehouse, 42 Punt Road
Time: From 5:30pm
Cost: Delegates will receive a complimentary drink card in their registration pack, no reservation is required.
An easy stroll after a long day of sitting, join fellow delegates at The Windsor Alehouse - a local pub that offers craft beers, wholesome meals, and space to network.
With a dedicated reserved space for APS delegates, join colleagues to wind down and recap on the day's learning, over a complimentary wine or beer.
Tuesday 15 April 2025
Gala Dinner
Venue: Carousel, Albert Park Lake
Time: 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Dress: Smart/Cocktail
Cost: $150, guests welcome (transport included)
Join us to celebrate another fantastic ASM, enjoy a delicious meal and drinks - with plenty of time for dancing (of course!). The Gala Dinner is always considered a highlight of the conference, don't miss out!
BONUS Monday 14 & Tuesday 15 April 2025
Run Club
Venue: Meet at the Pullman lobby
Time: 7:00am - 8:00am
Dress: Active clothing and runners
Registrations not required Claire Samanna and Chris Neason, from Monash University, will lead the ASTEROID Run Club on Monday AND Tuesday morning, meeting in the Pullman lobby at 7am and returning by 8am.
This run club will follow the protocol from the ASTEROID randomised control trial, a running intervention for individuals managing chronic low back pain. The interval-style program is beginnerfriendly but can be easily adjusted for more experienced runners. Claire and Chris will guide you through a group warm-up and offer options to personalise the right run, or even walk for you.
So bring your running shoes and enjoy the morning sun around Albert Park Lake!
Register Now! Secure your place at these enjoyable and entertaining social functions
Should you have any queries about the conference, please contact the Conference Secretariat. We look forward to welcoming you to Melbourne, VIC!
Morning Workshops
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Afternoon Workshops
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Full Day Workshop
Understanding the Importance of Validation: A Conversation with Professor Tamar Pincus
Professor Tamar Pincus, PhD ( Health Psychology) Dean of the Faculty of the Environment and Life Sciences at the University of Southampton (UK). Her research involves exploring the psychological mechanisms of pain in experimental settings, observational studies to measure changes in risk of time, and conducting qualitative interviews to explore the thoughts and beliefs of people living with pain, along with those who are part of their lives.
Prof Pincus is an international keynote speaker at the upcoming 45th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) of the Australian Pain Society, which will be held in Melbourne from April 13-16, 2025. In the lead-up to the ASM, Prof Pincus spoke with Dr Lincoln Tracy, a researcher and writer from Melbourne, Australia, discussing how her career took her from music to psychology, the biggest project she’s ever worked on, and why more pain clinicians need to think like magpies. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
What was your path to pursuing a PhD in psychology?
I have been one of these people who have hopped from one career to another. My first degree was actually in music, and then I developed an interest in looking at the psychology of music and how music contributed to wellbeing. I ended up doing a masters in research methods and statistics at University College London. As part of the course, we had to do a dissertation, and I happened to knock on the door of Shirley Pearce, who was researching pain. The next thing I know I had a studentship to do a PhD.
Shirley was interested in cognitive biases and pain – the idea that people who live with pain, particularly chronic pain, don’t process the information from their environment in the same way that you do if you don’t have pain. I started with an experimental study exploring attention in pain, but I was also extremely lucky because Shirley linked me to two of the giants of the pain field at the time: Pat Wall and Stephen Morley.
What was it like working with such established researchers at the early stages of your career?
Pat had a way of making you feel relaxed, because he was really relaxed. He would chat about literature, theatre, poetry, or art… he could talk about anything. It never really clicked that I was talking to such a giant in the field, because I would go in and talk about what I was doing. He’d go, “oh, that’s really interesting, [and] here’s a mouse’s brain”. It was different with Stephen, though, because I knew that he was such a leading voice in my area of research. Stephen was one of my PhD examiners, and I remember walking into the room and finding myself shaking at how nervous I was. But he loved my work, so when I walked out it felt like I was walking on air.
What kinds of projects are you and your collaborators focusing on at the moment?
One area is all about how we prepare for clinical trials. If you look at previous trials on pain, the vast majority of them are either unsuccessful or only have a tiny effect that doesn’t last. You can’t look at that and not think about what a terrible waste of money has been. But to me, the truth is that we don’t prepare for trials sufficiently. We don’t really build our interventions carefully through models and theories and then test them sufficiently in smaller pilots. We try to test them as fast and as cheaply as we can, and we end up with a tiny effect because we’ve watered down the whole principle that we’re trying to operate on.
Another area goes back to the work I started with Stephen Morley, which is looking at the concept of validation, but we’re doing it in a modern research laboratory. I’m really interested in thinking about how you define and measure validation. Does it happen in a moment, or is it iterative? It’s clearly important between a clinician and a patient, but it also exists in your day-to-day life with the people around you, be they teachers or your partner. I’m interested
in the effect of validation – the cognitive mechanism that changes when you as a patient, who has been trying to tell your story for a long time, are finally heard and validated. And we have a theory about what might happen, and how what happens impacts your ability to understand the messages you’re being given by a clinician and then change your behaviour to hopefully see a difference in how you live with your pain. We’re really zooming in to see what biophysiological changes occur during a simulated consultation – which includes validation – and then we can look at the video and get patients to tell us the exact moment when they first felt validated. We can then look at whether there are changes in their biophysiological signals or facial expressions.
Is there a particular project or publication from your career that you’re particularly proud of?
Am I allowed to have three [laughs]? One of the things I published with Stephen after we started working together was a big review in Psychological Bulletin. We were very interested in the enmeshment between self-identity and pain leading to distress. It was a cognitive model that I’m still working on, so that’s a particularly important one.
The second one comes from more recently in my career, when I started to really understand the patient voice. As researchers, we distance ourselves from the real world, especially if we do experimental work. I eventually started to listen more to the patient voice, and a few years ago we wrote a paper where we turned things on their head. Instead of doing what researchers usually do, which is presenting all the evidence first and then having a patient come in at the end and say that they agree with it, we worked with Joletta Belton and did the complete opposite. Joletta told her story of living with pain, but every now and then we would stop and provide the relevant evidence underneath what she was saying. I’m really grateful to the editor who got their head around publishing something so different – I’m hoping that paper will change the way other people will approach their writing.
And then the final one is from 2023, and was the biggest project I’ve ever done for a single
paper – the meta-analysis and network metaanalysis for antidepressant use in chronic pain, which was published as a Cochrane review. I think there was a level of naivety on my part when we took that project on, but our findings were very important and have already been included in two different sets of guidelines. I think this piece of work really set research priorities for other pharmacological interventions, because over the years I feel we dove into using a lot of pharmacological interventions which are not necessarily supported by research – which means we might have caused more harm than good.
Was there a particular event or moment that made you recognise the importance of the patient voice?
I’ve never really reflected on that. But I think it was a combination of things, with one of the primary ones being lived experience. I had a number of very serious episodes of pain, which limited my life considerably. This experience changed the way I viewed interactions between clinicians and patients, as when I returned to training clinicians after going through these episodes, I started to see a number of behaviours that I would have found quite difficult to deal with if I was the patient. Nowadays, the majority of what I teach practitioners is to communicate better, to validate and reassure while understanding depression and anxiety, which all comes from my research work.
In your mind, what are some of the big questions in the pain field that you would like to see answered over the next five to 10 years?
I think at least some of the big questions have to be around pharma. We need to think about what we are giving people, the effects it has on them, and the harms that these treatments can cause. While doing the Cochrane review it was shocking to find out that the research base for the use of a lot of antidepressants – especially amitriptyline – is so weak, and yet millions of people are prescribed amitriptyline as if it’s a routine drug for pain. So, I think we need to start looking at pharmacological interventions more seriously, especially in terms of potential harms, as most trials that we reviewed didn’t report long-term adverse events at all.
Given the historical reliance of viewing pain from a biomedical perspective, do you have any thoughts on how the use of pharmacological interventions has affected the way people view their pain being validated?
The use of pharmacological interventions drives the biomedical model of pain, and the biomedical model drives the use of pharmacological interventions. And without a doubt there is an overuse of surgery and a tendency to go with a treatment that you can just prescribe. But I do need to clarify something. For every treatment that we look at and which our trials find no evidence of an effect – even if it’s something like paracetamol or ibuprofen – there is always a subgroup of people who are true responders. But because we test the effects at the group level, we end up throwing away the responses from these people when we give up on a particular treatment.
So, we need to find a way of identifying these people and matching them to an intervention. And you can say the same thing about other interventions, whether it’s surgery, physiotherapy, psychology… sometimes pain management works, sometimes it doesn’t. People get really married to a particular way of doing things, but I think it’s having a sense of flexibility that allows you to be a great therapist. I describe myself as being a bit of a magpie – I look at all the amazing ideas people have and steal little bits and pieces here and there, and now have a little treasure trove of different approaches.
What motivates you to keep doing what you do?
I get enormous satisfaction from the moment where you can see on a practitioner’s face that they finally understand what you’ve been trying to teach them. It’s quite moving to hear them say, “this is dear to me, I’m going to take it home and I’m going to use it in my life – not just in practice – because I can now see there’s no difference between patients and people, and I’m a person”. It’s incredibly rewarding to see that kind of self-awareness develop in people.
Then on the research side of things, I’m always excited by seeing people who I have mentored during their PhD, or the early stages of their
career, come through as the next generation of researchers, to see them spread their wings and do things that I wouldn’t have even thought of because they are so confident in what they’re doing.
What’s a piece of advice that you think all students and trainees should remember?
I remind them to not take things personally when your paper or grant application is rejected. It never stops feeling like you’ve been mown down by a bus, but most of the time it’s not personal. You need to turn yourself around and think, “how do I make this better?”. Feedback is a gift – a thorny one – but it’s still a gift. Someone reviewed it in order to make the science better, to help you improve. I was very touchy about getting rejected early in my career, even when papers were accepted but the reviewers wanted minor changes. So, one of the pieces of advice is to just wait 24 hours before you respond.
What are you looking forward to the most about coming to Australia for the ASM?
The people! I mean, you’ve got some of the best researchers in the world down there. People like Peter O’Sullivan, Lorimer Moseley, Tasha Stanton – and I’m actually going to get to hang out with these people, talk about research, and build collaborations? I can’t wait. I’ve wanted to come out to your conference for the last 10 years. I’m very excited to finally get the opportunity to do so.
Dr Lincoln Tracy is a senior research fellow at Monash University and freelance writer from Melbourne, Australia. He is a member of the Australian Pain Society and enthusiastic conference attendee. You can follow him on X (@lincolntracy) or check out some of his other writing and interviews on his website
Australian Pain Society 2025 Rising Star Award Winner: A Conversation with Dr Caitlin Jones
Dr Caitlin Jones, PhD, is an early career researcher at the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, a collaborative research hub established by The University of Sydney and the Sydney Local Health District. Her research explores the benefits and harms of high-risk treatments for painful musculoskeletal conditions. Dr Jones was recently announced as the Australian Pain Society’s Rising Star for 2025, an award showcasing up-and-coming researchers in the Australian pain community.
As the Rising Star Award winner, Dr Jones will deliver a plenary lecture focusing on the role of opioids for musculoskeletal pain at the upcoming 45th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) of the Australian Pain Society, which will be held in Melbourne from April 13-16, 2025. In the lead-up to the ASM, Dr Jones spoke with Dr Lincoln Tracy, a researcher and journalist from Melbourne, Australia, about her journey to becoming a pain researcher, what winning the Rising Star Award means to her, and more. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
What was your path to pain research?
Before I started my research journey, I couldn’t decide between studying physiotherapy and psychology, and I sort of stumbled upon this profession called occupational therapy. OT is really a combination of both of those things – it’s treating people from a physical, psychological, and cognitive perspective. It felt like a great way not to have to choose one thing, but to get to explore two areas I found interesting.
During my time as an occupational therapist, I worked in both acute post-surgical care and rehabilitation with a lot of people who had pain. It was always a bit frustrating to me that we didn’t seem to have great ways of managing pain – even acute pain – in ways that allowed them to be functional and enjoy their lives. And on top of that, I developed low back pain during my early twenties, which was quite debilitating at times.
That was the final nudge I needed to finally act on my desire to get involved in pain research.
I started looking for a supervisor and a project so that I could potentially do a PhD. Eventually I found Professor Christine Lin at the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, and it was just incredibly good fortune that the OPAL trial was looking for a PhD student at that time. I jumped at the chance without really appreciating what an incredibly good experience this was going to be. Now when I look back at things, I consider that jump from clinical work to research to be one of the best decisions I ever made.
How do your own experiences of living with pain help inform your research work?
I feel it gives me a genuine empathy for how debilitating pain conditions can be. I’m quite lucky that I experience episodes of acute pain; it’s not something that’s with my all day, every day for years on end. But I feel I have a degree of understanding of what it’s like for people to live with pain, and what it’s like spending time and money on finding and trying treatments from all different healthcare professionals but then not getting any real benefit from those treatments. My experiences have opened my eyes to how much we don’t know – and how few silver bullet treatments we have – for something as fickle as pain.
You mentioned your involvement in the OPAL trial, which looked at the use of short-term opioid analgesics for low back pain and neck pain. This trial generated a lot of discussion – not all of it positive – among the pain community when the findings were published. What was it like dealing with such a vocal response to your research?
That’s a great question. I was the PhD student on the OPAL trial, so I was in a very fortunate position where I had these excellent and highly experienced researchers who were my mentors and supervisors to guide me through that period where I felt like a fish out of water.
We were really pleased that the trial was getting so much attention, because that’s what you hope for after you complete a trial. But given that the findings were a bit surprising and even controversial in some circles, we were grateful
for the good faith discussion and feedback –even the criticism – that was given to us from the pain community. No trial is perfect, and feedback like that is helpful for designing the next trial.
But there was definitely a minority of responses that were nasty, and more personal abuse and harassment rather than feedback. Even though most of the discussion was done in good faith, those not-so-kind comments felt very loud. But we all supported each other through that, and I try to keep the perspective that it really was just a small part of a much larger, more positive and constructive dialogue about our work.
What does winning the Australian Pain Society Rising Star Award mean to you?
I’ve been involved with the APS since I was a first year PhD student, because I was rightly advised that membership would be a fantastic way to meet people, become part of the national community, and learn about areas of pain research that are different from the ones I work in. I can remember the last four or five Rising Star winners, and I was incredibly impressed by all of them, so I’m shocked and flattered to be following in their footsteps.
Winning an award like this does wonders for my confidence, and feeling like I’m not only part of, but that I’m making meaningful contributions to, this wonderful pain management community. It will also help my career, because having the support of the APS will go a long way to helping me stand out from the crowd when I’m applying for highly competitive grant opportunities where the success rates are so low.
Without giving all of the details away, what do you hope attendees of the ASM will take away from your plenary presentation in April?
I hope that people leave my talk with an open mind about the idea of evidence-based medicine, and where we may be going wrong in the pain field. I think most people are already on board with the notion that we need to demand a high level of evidence before we implement new interventions, but they are often is less questioning of the evidence behind interventions that have been used for a really long time.
It's ard to change habits, and there are some long-held assumptions and vested interests that influence decision-making around certain
pain management interventions. Using opioids for musculoskeletal conditions is just one example of a practice that’s been widely used for a long time – but the decision to use them is based more on history and assumptions rather than evidence. And there are plenty of other interventions where the evidence base underpinning their use in practice is pretty shaky or doesn’t exist at all. So, I hope that after my talk people will think about where the gaps in the evidence base of their respective fields are, even for those things that have just always been done.
Is there a particular study or manuscript that’s particularly important to you, or that you’re really proud of how it turned out?
Well, the OPAL trial is definitely the most impactful thing I’ve ever been a part of, so I’m incredibly proud and grateful to have been involved with that. But I’m even more proud of a pilot trial that we recently completed where we looked at reducing the amounts of opioids prescribed when a patient is discharged after having hip or knee replacement surgery. We found that the idea of the trial is feasible and acceptable to clinicians and their patients, which has lit a fire under us to proceed with a full-scale trial.
This study was designed and conducted with a whole team of people, but I was able to take on more of a leadership role on this project now that I’m a few years out of my PhD. Getting to take on more of an active role made me realise how much I have developed – in terms of skills, abilities, and confidence – since I was a PhD student when I was brand new to everything. It makes me really grateful for all the people who have taught me over the last five years.
What keeps you motivated to do research?
Getting to work on the OPAL trial as a PhD student was such a great start because it showed me that anyone can be involved with impactful research at any stage. That feeling that I’ll be able to keep having an impact, even if it’s incremental impact – keeps me going. I also find it really rewarding to get to be a part of the scientific process of improving healthcare. And I just love the day-to-day work involved with research – the reading, the writing, the thinking, the talking, and developing new ideas. I feel that it suits my personality even more than what clinical work did.
What pieces of advice do you have for students and other early career researchers or trainees?
One of the pieces of advice is to think carefully about who you pick as your supervisor – even more carefully than what the specific project you’ll be working on is – and let that guide your decision-making. You’ll be working very closely together, so you really must have that mutual respect and enjoy working with each other.
Another piece of advice I give to other people all the time is to remember that it’s completely normal to get rejected and get critical feedback, or to have to keep working on drafts of the same piece of work and being frequently disappointed with the results. These things aren’t a sign that you’re doing it wrong, or that you are not as good as your peers. Every single person you see win a grant or an award, or get published in a good journal, has probably been rejected multiple times. But you only hear about the good things when they finally happen – you don’t always hear about the failed attempts along the way. Research really is a game of persistence, and you’ve got to learn to grow and adapt, to bring in fresh perspectives, or even change courses. But you can’t give up, because a bumpy road is the normal road.
The third thing I often tell other students and trainees is that you need to learn to separate your sense of value and self-worth from your successes in research. These days the system is just too random and there are too few successes that come along to let that dictate your self-esteem. There are healthier ways to feed your self-esteem – like thinking about how much work you put into things, how strong your collaborative relationships are, and who you are outside of work.
If you had an unlimited bucket of money to fund your dream research project, what question would you try and answer?
I would like to implement a massive registry where every intervention for pain that gets delivered in the Australian healthcare system is recorded, and there are outcomes and follow-up measures integrated into normal clinical practice, so we are constantly gathering information on how well things worked and what adverse events or harms came afterwards. Having a constant, massive observational study would allow us to learn so much about
the interventions we deliver in real time and to adapt our practices as needed. This wouldn’t eliminate the need for randomised trials, but now there is just so much information that we’re not capturing. It feels like such a waste to have all this healthcare being delivered and for us not to learn anything from it.
And we’re already doing this on a smaller scale. For example, the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry collects outcomes from something like 90% of people who have a hip or knee replacement in the country. So, it’s possible, but I’d like to upscale that to every healthcare intervention we deliver. Let’s take it further.
Finally, what’s something that people might not know about you? Do you have any interesting hobbies or secret talents?
I think anyone that knows me probably knows this already, because I think I talk about it too much, but I have an interest in sustainable and healthy building practices – so much so that my husband and I are currently building our own home using these practices. It’s better for the environment because a lot of the materials used in this way of building are carbon negative, and the building techniques prevent the house from growing mould and leaking air, which makes it much easier for the house to passively maintain its temperature.
Matt, my husband, is a tradie and has done 99% of the work, and I serve as a struggling, non-qualified and unofficial apprentice helping with the other one percent. We’re about 80 or 90% done, and we can’t wait to show people our healthy, sustainable home when it’s finished. There’s lots of great information on the Australian Passivhaus Association website, and I encourage anyone who is interested to check that out.
Dr Lincoln Tracy is a senior research fellow at Monash University and freelance writer from Melbourne, Australia. He is a member of the Australian Pain Society and enthusiastic conference attendee. You can follow him on X (@lincolntracy) or check out some of his other writing and interviews on his website
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painSTAR Delegate Report
Marina Vygonskaya
Marina is a PhD Candidate at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland, working on neuroimmunology of neuropathic pain (basic research); former neurologist from Russia, specialising in chronic pain.
painSTAR 2024 Report:
painSTAR 2024 was an intensive and immersive program designed for clinical, early-, and mid-career pain researchers. Hosted by the Australian Pain Society, the event took place from November 10-14 in the picturesque Barossa Valley, Western Australia. The program provided an invaluable opportunity to expand networks, accelerate research translation, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. I participated as a PhD candidate studying pain as a basic researcher. Having previously worked as a neurologist specialising in chronic pain in Russia, I was not only eager to connect with researchers but also to understand how the entire pain management system operates in Australia.
Personal goals for attending painSTAR
When I first heard about painSTAR, I was excited but unsure of what to expect. My primary goal was to expand my professional network, gain insights into research translation, and explore opportunities for collaboration within the Australian pain research community. I was particularly interested in learning how to bridge the gap between clinical and basic research perspectives. Looking back, I can confidently say that painSTAR far exceeded my expectations.
Program highlights
painSTAR 2024 was structured yet dynamic, blending academic and social experiences in a
way that made every moment meaningful. Some of the standout aspects included:
• Networking and presentations: One of the most valuable moments was our introductory presentations. Each of us had a chance to introduce ourselves, share our research focus, and explain whether our work was more clinical or lab-based. This made networking feel much more personal and productive right from the start.
• Senior researcher insights: The sessions led by experienced researchers were eyeopening. Discussions ranged from how to build a successful research career to the real challenges of translating findings into clinical practice. The mix of clinicians and researchers from different fields provided a comprehensive overview of the research translation process.
• Social activities: Living outside the city in the Barossa Valley created an immersive environment that encouraged deep interactions. Beyond academic discussions, we bonded over shared experiences— whether it was painting, morning walks, or simply unwinding over dinner. These moments helped build friendships that I believe will last far beyond painSTAR.
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Project work and team collaboration
One of the most challenging and rewarding aspects was the team-based project. My team consisted of researchers from completely different backgrounds, and at first, it felt like we were speaking different languages. The initial sessions were frustrating as we struggled to find a common ground and agree on a topic that allowed all of us to contribute. We went from one extreme to another—initially attempting a light-hearted, humorous presentation, then shifting to a very serious approach. Eventually, we found our rhythm by letting go of rigid expectations and focusing on teamwork. We embraced each person's strengths, creating a well-balanced final pitch. Winning the competition was incredibly rewarding, but more than that, I walked away with a deeper understanding of true interdisciplinary collaboration. The experience left a lasting impression, teaching me the importance of adaptability and openmindedness in teamwork.
Impact on my research and future collaborations
Spending several days together gave us countless opportunities to discuss our work in depth. I gained fresh insights, new ideas, and a better understanding of how my research fits into the broader landscape of pain science. While I haven't yet started any formal collaborations or new projects, I took a great deal away from networking. The presentations
from senior researchers not only provided theoretical knowledge but also demonstrated how to put collaboration into practice. This experience was an incredible gateway into the Australian pain research community, making me feel more connected and engaged than ever before.
Paint-n-sip
painSTAR 2024 was more than just a training event—it was a transformative experience. The combination of structured learning, open discussions, and deep personal connections made it a standout event in my research journey. The setting in the Barossa Valley only added to the experience, making it an inspiring and comfortable place to learn and grow. I left painSTAR with a stronger network, a better understanding of research translation, and a renewed passion for collaborative science. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone serious about advancing in pain research.
Declaration
Marina Vygonskaya has nothing to declare.
Would you like to be featured in an APS member spotlight?
Email the APS Secretariat (aps@apsoc.org.au) if you would like to complete a short interview to introduce yourself and your work to the broader membership.
Barossa view
Marina Vygonskaya in lab
painSTAR Delegate Report
Hannah Kennedy
Hannah Kennedy is a clinician researcher at Gold Coast Health’s Interdisciplinary Persistent Pain Centre. She is co-lead PI investigating the impact of using Virtual Reality (VR) to enhance pain science education, and currently leading the implementation of a Virtual Reality Pain Education Program across Queensland tertiarylevel persistent pain management services.
painSTAR 2024 Report:
Four days and four nights in the picturesque Barossa Valley sounds like the opening line to a Wellness Retreat… combine that with leading pain research mentors, consumer experts, guest presenters and eager early career researchers... and you have painSTAR 2024!
painSTAR was a unique opportunity to focus both inwards and outwards on progressing a career in clinical and scientific pain research. Inwards, where we invested time in our own journey, our goals, barriers, and research career needs; and outwards, where we learnt about broad issues and opportunities such as research translation, working with industry, and connecting with the supportive pain research community.
Highlights were plenty, carefully crafted in the jam-packed timetable which included a combination of workshops, Q&A sessions with mentors, group pitches, skill development, and scattered with bushwalks, paint and sip, dinner under the stars, and maybe a touch of karaoke.
For me, painSTAR enabled an opportunity to connect with peer researchers, learn from mentors, expand my own knowledge in scientific research, practice that pitch, and leave with fresh ideas and inspiration for continuing along a clinician researcher path.
The painSTAR 2024 cohort were beyond grateful for the time and investment of the painSTAR faculty in each and every moment of the 4 days and 4 nights. If you are currently engaged in a research pathway or career, this opportunity is highly recommended (…better than a Wellness Retreat!).
Declaration
Hannah has nothing to declare.
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L to R: Jules Richards, Jay Whittem, Hannah Kennedy, Tasha Stanton: Faculty and Jeffrey Mogil: Keynote Speaker
Dinner with a view
L to R: Dilip Kapur: Speaker/sponsor-FPM, Hannah Kennedy and Fiona Blyth: Speaker/sponsor-IASP
Pain Revolution
By Tanushka Alva and Dianne Wilson
Tanushka Alva
Tanushka has been involved with Pain Revolution since 2019, first as a scholarship recipient to become an LPE and then as co-ordinator and Manager of the Local Pain Educator Program. She is currently working as a Senior Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist at the Launceston General Hospital. She has recently completed her MScMed (Pain Management) through University of Sydney
Dr Dianne Wilson
Dianne has worked as a physiotherapist in private practice, managing patients with complex chronic pain. Following completion of a PhD she now works as a Research Associate, focussing on the translation of pain science into meaningful messages to assist people with chronic pain to self-manage and work towards recovery. Pain Revolution provides the ideal opportunity to achieve this, and she is currently the coordinator of Education events for the Rural Outreach Tour.
Pain Revolution is a not-for-profit initiative with a vision that all Australians have the knowledge, skills and access to local support to prevent and overcome persistent pain. The alignment with the Australian Pain Society (APS) vision, that all people will have optimal pain management throughout life, is clear. Established in 2017 by a small gaggle of researchers, clinicians, consumers and advocates, and ably led by Professor Lorimer Moseley AO, Pain Revolution has continued to influence countless lives across the country through three initiatives - The Rural Outreach Tour, the Local Pain Educator (LPE) Program and its partner the Local Pain Collectives.
The Rural Outreach Tour
The Tour is Pain Revolution’s marquee event: a community outreach tour accompanied by a peloton of people with skin in the game
– researchers, clinicians, recovered patients, carers – who pay their costs and raise money to support Pain Revolution’s initiatives. The Tour involves free community events, professional development sessions, radio and newspaper appearances, and meetings with community leaders. Always in rural regions, usually where LPEs are already on the ground establishing their Local Pain Collectives, the Tour raises awareness and provides an initial window into the opportunities for better lives that are presented by modern pain science and guidelinebased approaches to care. It’s an intense and transformative week, not only providing a great cycling and educational experience, but also a strong sense of community - of belonging to group of kind and community minded people bound together with a common cause – to improve outcomes for people challenged by pain and the communities in which they live.
The Outreach Tour incorporates an intensive education program. A team of highly trained educators (all graduates of the LPE program), present a free event in each of the towns through which the cyclists travel. Events are bookended by ‘the marketplace’, with interactive, engaging and fun activities, information stalls, and links to free online resources. Participants are encouraged to increase their expectations of, and demands for, high value evidence-based care. In 2025, Pain Revolution is bringing the tour to the Sunshine Coast from 22-30 August.
The Local Pain Educator Program and Local Pain Collectives Project
The Local Pain Educator Program is our two-year capacity building program open to rurally based health professionals. Year one of the program involves the Professional Certificate in Pain Science and Education offered by the University of South Australia. Year two focusses on skill development through workshops, training and a mentoring program that assists the LPE’s to develop a Local Pain Collective in their area and deliver a professional development program, culminating in a ‘Whole of Community’ public outreach event.
The interdisciplinary Local Pain Collectives elevate pain-related knowledge and skills, facilitate referral pathways, collaborative and co-ordinated care, and improve connections between the LPEs and their professional and community networks. Professor Lorimer Moseley, AO recognised the power of networks to foster community-wide change: “by collaborating with rural communities, Pain Revolution taps into the beautiful networks that are already in place– to see rural health professionals equipped and empowered to be leaders in their community around chronic pain; there are so many stories of LPEs impacting pain-related outcomes in their place, in a sustainable and enduring way”.
A Snapshot of Pain Revolution’s Impact
1. 93 Local Pain Educators in six states across rural Australia.
2. About 80 pain-focussed free professional development or community events per year
3. Our programs have been supported by over $700,000 of fundraising by Tour cyclists and their donors.
Providing evidence-based care can be challenging in certain healthcare settings with limited peer support. Supporting LPEs through these challenges is part of Pain Revolution’s ethos. “This stuff really makes a difference in the real world – not just in research papers. I now work in a persistent pain team and am seeing firsthand how beneficial pain education can be,” says Tim Bagshaw, Physiotherapist on the Sunshine Coast, QLD. The LPE Program was singled out in the National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management as a program exemplar for building health care capacity and disseminating
contemporary pain science to the broader community. It is also the only international recipient of the American Pain Society’s Prize for Public Service. Pain Revolution’s model of building local networks of pain-informed and skilled health professionals is being replicated in the UK and Europe.
Research and community collaboration
In 2021 Pain Revolution was part of a successful bid to undertake a Commonwealth-funded project led by the University of Sydney. Funding to Pain Revolution was used to create six extra Local Pain Collectives and evaluate the impact on health professional confidence, knowledge and practice. The results were encouraging and presented at the 2024 APS conference in Darwin. Further evaluation of Pain Revolution’s impact is ongoing, using realist and non-realist qualitative methods. Finally, Pain Revolution’s LPE and Local Pain Collective programs form the first phase of the MRFF-funded EQUiPP Project, which is taking a micro-community precision approach to co-designing and delivering a pain-specific public messaging program. Co-design workshops are underway.
Pain Revolution partners with Primary Health Networks, other government and community groups and industry with a strong rural presence. We are always seeking partners with a passion for stronger rural and regional communities and for better pain-related outcomes. To learn more about Pain Revolution and its initiatives, visit www.painrevolution.org
Declaration
DW and TA are both employed by UniSA to deliver components of Pain Revolution
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‘I want to know that it’s worth me attending’: A qualitative analysis of consumers’ decisions not to attend their chronic pain group education session
Thank you to APS members Amelia Searle, Cindy Wall and their colleagues Celia Tan and Peter Herriot for sharing the following recent publication.
Article first published online: February 24, 2025
Journal Reference: Searle, A. K., Wall, C. L., Tan, C., & Herriot, P. (2025). ‘I want to know that it’s worth me attending’: A qualitative analysis of consumers’ decisions not to attend their chronic pain group education session. British Journal of Pain, 20494637251322977.
DOI: 10.1177/20494637251322977
Abstract
Introduction
Pain education programs have been shown to increase self-management and self-efficacy, and reduce pain clinic wait times. Consequently, many pain clinics encourage/mandate attendance at introductory group pain education sessions. Despite high non-attendance rates, it is unknown why some consumers fail to attend pain education, and it appears no studies have examined consumer-reported reasons for nonattendance. Thus, this study aimed to better understand why consumers at a large tertiary pain clinic fail to attend their pain education session.
Design
Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews using a cross-sectional cohort design.
Subjects
Participants (n = 10, 60% female, mean age of 41.98 years) were non-attendees of an adult tertiary pain service’s mandatory pre-clinic group education session (the Flinders Medical Centre Pain Management Unit in South Australia).
Methods
Semi-structured interviews conducted via telephone by two researchers assessed participants’ preconceptions of the pain unit from the point of referral up until their group
education session invitation, and subsequent nonattendance. Audio-recordings were transcribed verbatim and subject to thematic content analysis.
Results
Non-attendance was linked to multiple reasons (with the specific reasons differing across participants). ‘Attendance barriers’ themes highlighted the complex lives of non-attendees. Pain prevented them from leaving their house, deterred them from travel to, and sitting through, the entire session. Competing responsibilities including other medical appointments and comorbidities were commonly mentioned. Most explicitly stated their dislike for the group format. Other factors included fear of the unknown nature of the session, not wanting education, and wanting a doctor’s appointment. Several participants expressed a distrust of medical professionals, and perceived the benefits of attending as not exceeding the perceived time, money and pain associated.
Conclusions
Pain management may not be every individual’s main priority, and consequently, attendance may only occur when other personal issues are addressed. Mandatory attendance may present an insurmountable barrier in consumers’ alreadycomplex lives, and significant non-attendance rates may be unavoidable. Findings could be used by Pain Units to shape patient and GP communications regarding such programs, as well as program content and format, to improve patient acceptance and program attendance, and potentially engagement with self-management. It is important that invitations explain the education sessions as necessary, but also novel, and using very clear messaging and language. Providing additional session detail may reduce misconceptions and allay concerns. Educating referring GPs may assist consumers to make an informed decision regarding attending. Online sessions may address various barriers and prove a more cost-effective alternative.
Declaration
All authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
The effectiveness of peer support interventions for community-dwelling adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials
Thank you to APS members Monique Wilson, Tasha Stanton and their colleagues Felicity Braithwaite, Sophie Crouch, Emily Moore, John Arnold, Alrun Heil and Kay Cooper for sharing the following recent publication.a.
Article first published online: 25 June 2024
Journal Reference: Wilson, Monique V; Braithwaite, Felicity A; Arnold, John B; Crouch, Sophie M; Moore, Emily; Heil, Alrun; Cooper, Kay; Stanton, Tasha R. The effectiveness of peer support interventions for communitydwelling adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials. PAIN 165(12):p 2698-2720, December 2024.
DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003293
Abstract
Background
This systematic review and meta-analysis critically examined the evidence for peer support interventions to reduce pain and improve health outcomes in community-dwelling adults with chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain.
Methods
A systematic search (inception—January 2023) of electronic databases and grey literature was undertaken to identify relevant randomised controlled trials, with risk of bias and GRADE assessments performed on included studies. Metaanalyses used a generic, inverse-variance, randomeffects model, calculating mean difference (MD) or standardised mean difference (SMD).
Results
Of 16,445 records identified, 29 records reporting on 24 studies (n = 6202 participants) were included. All evidence had unclear/high risk of bias and low-very low certainty. Peer support interventions resulted in small improvements in pain (medium-term: MD −3.48, 95% CI −6.61, −0.35; long-term: MD −1.97, 95% CI −3.53, −0.42), self-efficacy (medium-term: SMD 0.26, 95% CI 0.16, 0.36; long-term: SMD 0.21, 95% CI 0.07, 0.36), and
function (long-term: SMD −0.10, 95% CI −0.19, −0.00) relative to usual care and greater self-efficacy (medium-term: SMD 0.36, 95% CI 0.20, 0.51) relative to waitlist control. Peer support interventions resulted in similar improvement as active (health professional led) interventions bar long-term self-efficacy (MD −0.41, 95% CI −0.77, −0.05), which favoured active interventions. No point estimates reached minimal clinically important difference thresholds. Pooled health service utilisation outcomes showed unclear estimates. Selfmanagement, quality of life, and social support outcomes had mixed evidence.
Conclusions
Despite low-very low evidence certainty, peer support interventions demonstrated small improvements over usual care and waitlist controls for some clinical outcomes, suggesting that peer support may be useful as an adjunct to other treatments for musculoskeletal pain.
Implications/Discussion
Peer support interventions hold some promise to deliver patient support and education to community-dwelling adults with chronic MSK pain. Future work should seek to optimise peer support interventions by exploring diverse formats, refining behaviour change targeting, and confirming noninferiority compared with health professional-led interventions before implementation.
Declaration
M.V.W. is a PhD Candidate supported by a Research Training Program domestic (RTPd) stipend as a postgraduate student at the University of South Australia. F.A.B. is supported by the John Stuart Colville Fellowship through The Hospital Research Foundation – Arthritis and the Medical Research Future Fund Clinical Trials Activity grant (ID 2023048). E.M. was a PhD Candidate supported by a Research Training Program stipend from The Australian Pain Society. T.R.S. was supported by the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia Career Development Fellowship (ID1141735).
Developed by the Australian Pain Society in collaboration with the National Ageing Research Institute, this FREE ‘train-the-trainer’ pain management program is for use by sta in both residential aged care facilities and organisations that provide aged care in the community, as well as NDIS providers.
Bite-sized 10 minute training modules!
Eight (8) painACT modules: One for the trainer called “How to use the painACT trainer program”, and seven modules for the trainer to train their sta :
Introduction to pain in aged care
Impact of pain on the person, family and sta
Conversations about pain
and non-pharmacological
Source reference: Pain in Residential Aged Care Facilities: Management Strategies, 2nd Edition
Developed by the Australian Pain Society in collaboration with the National Ageing Research Institute, this FREE ‘train-the-trainer’ pain management program is for use by sta in both residential aged care facilities and organisations that provide aged care in the community, as well as NDIS providers.
For more information:
painACT is available on the Australian Pain Society website and consists of: > trainer learning module documents > short training video clips, and > participant handout material apsoc.org.au/painACT-Online-Learning
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> In MAR25 the IASP (International Association for the Study of Pain) launched an updated version of its Pain Education Resource Center (PERC)
Other items of interest for our members:
> Latest opioid data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics: Opioid induced deaths in Australia.
> Australia’s annual overdose report 2024 from the Pennington Institute
> Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation Series: This series explores how healthcare use in Australia varies depending on where people live. It investigates reasons for variation that may be unwarranted, and provides specific achievable actions to reduce unwarranted variation
> ePPOC: electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration: The electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration (ePPOC) is an Australasian initiative that aims to improve the quality of care and outcomes for people who experience chronic pain.
> PainHEALTH: painHEALTH‘s aim is to help health consumers with musculoskeletal pain access reliable, evidence-based information and tips to assist in the co-management of musculoskeletal pain. painHEALTH is an initiative of the Department of Health, Western Australia
> Stanford University CHOIR: CHOIR Collaborative Health Outcomes Information Registry
> Opioid Podcasts for GPs: These podcasts are produced by David Outridge GP, and FAChAM Trainee as a project under the auspices of Dr Steven Kelly Staff Specialist in Addiction Medicine, Kullaroo Clinic Gosford. A weekly series from the Hunter Postgraduate Medical Institute (University of Newcastle)
> Airing Pain: Pain resources via an online radio show produced by Pain Concern, a UK registered Charity
> Indigenous Resources: Webpage on the APS website aggregating Indigenous resources
> Tame the Beast: Free educational tool that aims to inspire research-based action in the treatment of chronic pain
TGA
> Codeine information hub
NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation resources:
> Brainman and Pain Tool Kit translations
> Pain Management Resources
> Quicksteps to Manage Chronic Pain in Primary Care
> Built into Quicksteps: “How to de-prescribe and wean opioids in general practice”
> A list of helpful apps for consumers and clinicians
> Chronic Pain in the ED
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QLD Social Networking Event: 27 February 2025, Brisbane
By Joyce McSwan, Immediate Past President
On 27 February 2025, the Australian Pain Society (APS) hosted a vibrant Social Networking Event at The Charming Squire that brought together dedicated members from across the spectrum of pain management specialties. Despite our modest numbers, the event proved exceptionally fruitful, fostering deep connections and meaningful exchanges among attendees.
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The gathering provided a unique platform for APS members to not only catch up but also delve into their individual passions within the field of pain management. It was inspiring to witness the diversity of expertise and the shared commitment to advancing pain research and patient care strategies. Discussions ranged from innovative treatment approaches to the latest developments in pain management protocols, reflecting the dynamic nature of our society.
One of the standout features of the evening was the opportunity for members to articulate what being part of APS means to them personally and professionally. Many expressed gratitude for the supportive network APS offers, emphasising how collaboration and shared knowledge enhance their practice and research endeavours. The event facilitated the exchange of valuable contacts and fostered collaborations that promise to enrich future projects and initiatives.
In summary, while our gathering may have been intimate in size, its impact was profound. It underscored the strength of our community and reaffirmed APS's role as a catalyst for innovation and collaboration in the realm of pain management. As we look forward, events like these will continue to be instrumental in nurturing our shared commitment to alleviating pain and improving patient outcomes across Australia.
L to R: Joyce McSwan, Duncan Sanders, Tony Hall and Karla Wright
APS Membership Renewals 2025
Renewal notices for 2025 have been sent by email to members, check your inbox!
Thank you for your continued support and membership of the APS.
Please note:
1. We understand that circumstances change, so each year we ask you to select your appropriate level of membership.
2. This system of self-reporting subscription levels was implemented in 2009 for the benefit and fairness of all members.
3. There has been a small increase applied to the 2025 membership fees.
Please refer to the rates below for your 2025 membership fee:
a. Regular A $130 (was $120)
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Did you know that the Australian Pain Society is a registered charity with ACNC? Your donation will help the Society to promote the prevention and control of diseases in human beings associated with pain.
All donations of $2 or more to APS are tax-deductible.
New Members as at 25 March 2025
Ms Daisy Aitken Psychology
Dr Wayne Burgoine Psychology
Mr Ethan Duff Science Research
Miss Alison Gibson Physiotherapy
Mrs Alison Hartigan Occupational Therapy
Dr Hoang Kim Luong Psychology
Ms Tracey Marshall Psychology
Dr Shaun Pearl Psychology
Prof Andrew Smith Dentistry
Ms Payton Soussa Psychology
Mrs Diana Taylor Nursing
Miss Kristen Tiong Paediatrics
Mr Constantino Toufexis Psychology
Mr Daniel Van Der Laan Physiotherapy
Mrs Michelle Wallace Occupational Therapy
Dr Yanyi Wang Acupuncture
Ms Deb Woods Nursing
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Dr Victor Yi Anaesthesia
Ms Xiuju Yin Acupuncture
Calendar of Events
4-6 April 2025
Spine Society of Australia
2025 Spine Society of Australia 36th Annual Scientific Meeting
Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, Perth, WA
13-16 April 2025
Australian Pain Society (APS)
2025 Australian Pain Society 45th Annual Scientific Meeting
Pullman Melbourne Albert Park, Melbourne, VIC
24-26 April 2025
European Pain Federation - EFIC
EFIC 14th Congress - Comorbidity of chronic pain and mental health disorders: Breaking the cycle
Cite - Centre de Congres, Lyon, France
2 May 2025
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists & Faculty of Pain Medicine (ANZCA/FPM)
2025 FPM Symposium - Diving Deep Pullman Cairns International Hotel, Cairns, QLD
2-4 May 2025
ASEAPS 2025 - 10th Association of South-East Asian Pain Societies Congress
From Pain to Empowerment
Singapore EXPO, Singapore
2-6 May 2025
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA)
ANZCA 2025 Annual Scientific MeetingFutureproof
Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns QLD
17-20 June 2025
International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
International Symposium on Paedriatric Pain (ISPP 2025)
Scottish Event Campus (SEC), Glasgow, Scotland
20-23 July 2025
Rehabilitation Medicine Society of Australia & New Zealand in conjunction with New Zealand Rehabilitation Association
RMSANZ NZRA 2025 8th Annual Scientific Meeting - Building Lives
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, Christchurch, NZ
8-10 August 2025
Neuromodulation Society of Australia & New Zealand
NSANZ 2025 18th Annual Scientific Meeting
ICC Sydney, NSW
23-30 August 2025
Pain Revolution 2025
Rural Outreach and Cycling Tour
Various venues: Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Gympie, Maleny, Noosa, Birtinya, Sunshine Coast, QLD
4-6 September 2025
International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
NeuPSIG 2025, 9th International Congress on Neuropathic Pain
Urania Berlin e.V., Berlin, Germany
17 October 2025
Pain Nurses Australia
2025 Annual Professional Day - Pain in Vulnerable Populations
Waterview in Bicentennial Park, Sydney
Olympic Park, Sydney, NSW
19-21 November 2025
Australian & New Zealand Spinal Cord Society
ANZCoS 2025: Rivers of Innovation
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, QLD
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Vision, Purpose & Priorities
Vision:
All people will have optimal pain management throughout life.
Purpose:
The Australian Pain Society is a multidisciplinary association whose purpose is to advance pain management through education, research, and advocacy for transformational improvements in clinical care.
Priorities:
In order to achieve our purpose, the Australian Pain Society will provide:
> Membership
> Research
> Education
> Services and resources
> Good governance and operations
> Advocacy
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Directors
President:
Ms Bernadette Smith
Psychology Plus
South Burnie TAS
Tel: 03 6431 9959 Fax: 03 6431 995001
President-Elect:
Dr Laura Prendergast
Persistent Pain Management Service
Northern Health
Broadmeadows VIC 3047
Tel: 03 8345 5166 Fax: N/A
Work days Mon & Thu
Secretary:
Mrs Dinah Spratt
Physiotas Physiotherapy
Shearwater TAS 7307
Tel: 03 6428 7500 Fax: 03 6424 7811
Treasurer:
Dr Duncan Sanders
Pain Management Unit,
Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney / Managing Pain Clinic and E3 Physio
Gold Coast QLD
Tel: 07 5620 1234 Fax: 07 3009 042
ACT Director:
Mr Anjelo Ratnachandra
Beyond Pain Pty Ltd
Belmont VIC 3216
Tel: 0400 202 803 Fax: N/A
NSW Director:
Dr Connor Gleadhill
Department of Health and Aged Care
Primary Care Division
Newcastle NSW 2038
Tel: 0405 203 661 Fax: N/A
NT Director:
Dr Amelia Searle
Flinders Medical Centre Pain
Management Unit
Bedford Park SA 5042
Tel: 08 8204 5499 Fax: 08 8204 5440
QLD Director:
Mrs Karla Wright
Fernvale Priceline Pharmacy
Fernvale QLD 4306
Tel: 07 5427 0695 Fax: 07 5427 0698
SA Director:
Ms Heather Gray
Royal Adelaide Hospital
Adelaide SA 5000
Email: heather.gray@sa.gov.au
TAS Director:
Mr Sinan Tejani
Launceston General Hospital
Launceston TAS 7250
Tel: 0469 967 841 Fax: N/A
VIC Director:
Mrs Alison Sim
10 South Sports Medicine
Geelong VIC 3220
Tel: 0488 988 315 Fax: N/A
WA Director:
Ms Jacintha Bell
Lifeworks Occupational Therapy
Mount Lawley WA 6050
Tel: 0451 178 880 Fax: 08 6323 3329
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Office Bearers
Immediate Past President:
Mrs Joyce McSwan
Gold Coast Primary Health Network
Persistent Pain Program, QLD and PainWISE
Tel: 0412 327 795 Fax: 07 3539 9801
SPC Chair:
Professor Kevin Keay
Department of Anatomy
University of Sydney
Sydney NSW 2006
Tel: 02 9351 4132 Fax: 02 9351 2817
IASP Liaison:
Professor Fiona Blyth AM
Sydney School of Public Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health
University of Sydney
Camperdown NSW 2006
Email: Fiona.blyth@sydney.edu.au
Communications Coordinator:
Ms Bernadette Smith
Psychology Plus
South Burnie TAS 7320
Tel: 03 6431 9959 Fax: 03 6431 9950
Newsletter Editor:
Position Vacant
EOIs: aps@apsoc.org.au
Tel: 02 9016 4343 Fax: N/A
Newsletter Assistant Editor:
Dr Joanne Harmon
School of Clinical and Health Sciences
University of South Australia
Adelaide SA 5000
Tel: 08 8302 1442
Scholarship/Grant Selection
Subcommittee Co-Chairs:
Emeritus Professor Maree Smith AC
Centre for Integrated Preclinical Drug Development
