APR/MAY24 eNews

Dr Joanne Harmon

Wow, time has passed really quick, who would of thought it is conference time again. Yipee, the 2024 Australian Pain Society 44th Annual Scientific Meeting welcomes you to Larrakia country in Darwin NT. This edition of the newsletter has the links for you to work out your social functions, choose your pre-conference workshop, and book your gala dinner tickets ( note to self- pack dancing shoes!).

There’s an exciting opportunity to be part of the APS mentorship program, providing awesome opportunities for both mentees and mentors like. What a fabulous idea for succession planning and leadership growth. Expressions of interest are now open, for more information see page 23. Thinking of opportunities, keep your eyes peeled for the next painSTAR program to link bench to the bedside and to the board room.

You’ll find some great reading on interventions to support children living with retinoblastoma when undergoing eye examinations. Also check out the FYI section, as the APS has uploaded position statements on Pain Management in Aged Care and The Role of the Psychologist in the Management of Persistent Pain.

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Looking forward to hearing and seeing more from the ASM.

Kind regards

Dr Joanne Harmon

President’s Report from the AGM

Joyce McSwan

As President of the Australian Pain Society, navigating through my inaugural year has been a rewarding journey. Collaborating with a proficient Executive team and dedicated Board of Directors has been enriching. Supported by our diligent Secretariat, we’ve focused on enhancing process efficiency, bolstering profitability, and ensuring the utmost value for our members. We have also continued our commitment to science and research, advocacy and collaborating with our peer organisation partners within the pain sector. Adhering to our Strategic Plan’s six pivotal areas, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, SERVICES AND RESOURCES, MEMBERSHIP and GOVERNANCE, has been instrumental in guiding our endeavors.

Education:

In the forthcoming Annual Scientific Program, scheduled from April 21 - 24 in Darwin, the Scientific Committee, ably assisted by DCC&A, promises an enriching experience for our members.

Among other highlights, the BPR Pain Hour stands out as a free learning and sharing series fostering basic pain research and facilitating networking among researchers, especially nurturing early career researchers.

A significant initiative in pain management for older people is nearing completion. Through collaboration with the National Consortium Pain Education Project, led by Professor Michael Nicholas of the University of Sydney, the APS has spearheaded the ‘pain in Aged Care Training’ (painACT) (previously known as the Aged Care Train the Trainer) program, aimed at educating non-clinical staff within the aged care industry. This project, supported by an advisory board, will be unveiled on the APS website by June 2024. Furthermore, responding to member feedback, the APS is launching its first Psychology in Pain Management Pre-conference workshop at the upcoming Annual Scientific Conference. This addition is designed to cater to the needs of psychologist colleagues within our membership and fulfill the requests for more psychologically focused topics.

Looking ahead, plans for ‘painSTAR’ – Pain School for Translation And Research – are progressing well under the leadership of Professor Anne Burke. The second Pain School is slated for later this year, marking a significant step toward advancing pain research, education and most importantly, the translation of this knowledge. Beyond our shores, I am proud to report our continued dedication to supporting education across Southeast Asia. Through initiatives like sponsoring the APS ASEAPS Best Poster Award and sponsoring candidates from the region to attend the Pain Camp, we’ve fostered essential collaborations. The Pain Camp, championed by APS Past President, Dr Roger Goucke, and Dr Mary Cardosa (Malaysian Pain Society President), has been instrumental in promoting the program Essential Pain Management. Our Southeast Asian colleagues consistently express gratitude for our support, reaffirming the impact of our contributions.

These endeavors underscore our commitment to advancing pain research, education, and awareness, ensuring the wellbeing of individuals affected by pain across various demographics.

Advocacy:

Throughout the year, we dedicated ourselves to advocating to state and federal departments of health and ministers on the importance of the National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management.

One notable event was our participation in the National Pain Week’s ‘State of the Nation’ panel discussion, where we joined esteemed colleagues to address pressing issues surrounding chronic pain. The findings of Chronic Pain Australia’s National Pain Week 2023 Survey underscored the urgency of our advocacy efforts, revealing alarming statistics regarding the prevalence of suicidal ideation among individuals living with pain. Additionally, we remain committed to addressing the pervasive stigma that impedes access to healthcare, particularly for marginalised communities such as women and the LGBTQIA+ population. In December, we received news of the amalgamation of Australian Pain

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Management Australia (APMA) into Chronic Pain Australia (CPA), a development that we believe will strengthen our collective efforts in advocating for better pain management practices.

Locally, our participation in Painaustralia’s ‘Walk My Pain’ event on the 13th September 2023, provided a platform to showcase the APS’s commitment to advancing pain management initiatives alongside national stakeholders. At this event we engaged with members of the ‘Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management’ group, ensuring that our voices were heard at the highest levels of decision-making.

Furthermore, our involvement in the review of the National Strategic Action Plan reaffirmed our dedication to shaping policies that prioritise effective pain management practices. This review also allowed us to highlight on an individual and organisational level the many contributions our APS members are making for the advancement of pain management in Australia.

Our advocacy efforts extended beyond national borders, as we continued to collaborate with colleagues from the New Zealand Pain Society. I am pleased to announce that Erica Gleeson, President of the NZ Pain Society, will be joining us at our upcoming ASM in Darwin, highlighting the collaborative spirit that defines our international efforts.

The APS is well regarded by many of its national peers. In most months we receive requests to complete submissions on various topics. Whilst we choose judiciously on the contributions to which we can add most value, our submissions can be seen on our Advocacy webpage. Topics have ranged from submissions on the NDIS review, to Diversity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), a Senate Inquiry regarding access into medicinal cannabis, workforce related submissions and more recently the New Aged Care Act and South Australia’s Consultation Survey on Low Back Pain. In addition, we have recently been invited to participate in the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program - Technical Advisory Group meeting. I look forward to representing the relevance of pain management within this advisory group.

Research:

The Australian Pain Society (APS) reaffirms its dedication to its PhD scholarship program, a unique initiative among the International

Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) chapters. This year’s recipient, Emily Moore from the University of South Australia, focuses on supporting children with cerebral palsy in pain management and understanding their communication needs. Unfortunately, Emily will temporarily suspend her studies, with plans to resume in February 2025.

Furthermore, the APS is proud to announce the continuation of the APS/CFK Clinical Research Grant for its seventh year. Nicole Pope was awarded this grant for her research on Virtual Reality in Paediatric Chronic Pain Rehabilitation, due to commence early next year. CFK’s commitment to a further two-year grant period reflects their ongoing support. Preparation for selecting the next, and final, CFK #8 candidate will commence in July 2024.

In research achievements, the APS celebrates its acceptance into The Journal of Pain for the publication of “Waiting in Pain II: An Updated Analysis of the Multidisciplinary Staffing Levels and Clinical Activity in Australian Specialist Persistent Pain Services” paper, led by Prof Anne Burke and her esteemed team. This success highlights the dedication of APS members to advancing pain management awareness both locally and globally.

Our ongoing exchange of insights and experiences has proven invaluable, culminating in the adoption of our Waiting in Pain Survey model to aid our NZ neighbors in improving their pain management services. We eagerly look forward to the results of their research.

Looking ahead, APS Board Directors Sinan Tejani and Cindy Wall are laying groundwork for the next “Waiting in Pain” survey planned to commence in 2025 ensuring the continued contribution of current data to the field. These efforts underscore APS’s commitment to fostering research to inform the workforce and decision makers in adequate resourcing of services particularly in public tertiary centres.

In 2023 we have continued to participate actively in the establishment of the Australian Pain Solutions Research Alliance Steering Committee, led by Professor Mark Hutchison alongside esteemed colleagues nationwide. Our Immediate Past President Trudy Maunsell commenced in the steering committee, and I am honored to serve as a founding board member. This alliance signifies a pivotal step in advancing pain management research and advocating for increased national investment in this critical

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sector. Through collaborative efforts, we aim to address the complexities of pain management, enhance patient care, and drive innovation in healthcare solutions across Australia.

Services and Resources:

A comprehensive literature review of the Pain in Residential Aged Care Facilities e-book has recently been finalised and updated, representing a significant milestone. Special commendation is extended to Dr Roger Goucke, Trudy Maunsell, Esther Dube, Andrew Watson, Anne Burke, Dinah Spratt, Katherine Brain and Jo Harmon and for their invaluable contributions to this review. Notably, the e-book has emerged as a cornerstone reference within the ‘painACT’ Train-the-Trainer program, as highlighted in our Education section. We continue to have confidence in the relevance of this resource, while acknowledging the need for a forthcoming 3rd Edition, which shall be strategically planned and budgeted for in due course.

To ensure currency for pain management health navigation, in August 2023, we updated the APS website’s search directory to the National Health Services Directory.

A new committee called the Growth Committee, was established post-August 2023 Strategic meeting. Its role is to support the APS Board in guiding future paths by maintaining process efficiency, enhancing membership loyalty, and expanding stakeholder relationships. The committee collaborates with various APS bodies, such as DCC&A and the membership committee, to maximise growth potential of the APS.

Our membership continues to enjoy the newsletter in its weblink, and PDF formats and feels the frequency is just right. It is with thanks to our editorial team, led by Dr Lincoln Tracy and supported by Dr Joanne Harmon, for their wonderful production and all the contributing authors over the course of the year. Not only does it have readership amongst our members, but in my travels, I have often had ad hoc commendation from overseas partners, in particular from neighbouring Chapters.

The APS position statement regarding The Role of the Psychologist in the Management of Persistent Pain is into its 4th Edition. This was revised under the leadership of Dr Laura Prendergast, and this will be presented to the membership for ratification at tonight’s meeting. We will be presenting our new Pain

Management in Aged Care, 1st Edition position statement. Thanks to our Immediate Past President, Trudy Maunsell for her efforts and also to Dr Roger Goucke for his review on this as well.

Membership:

It is imperative to highlight the invaluable asset that the membership of the APS represents. Our members are repositories of vast knowledge and expertise, an invaluable resource that transcends monetary quantification. Through our membership survey, we gain insights into your needs and preferences, enabling us to tailor our offerings to maximise value.

The APS Mentorship Program, set to launch at the upcoming Scientific Conference and commence in July 2024, is a pivotal pilot initiative crafted by several members of the Board of Directors to enhance the member experience. This innovative program fosters connections among peers, facilitating support, peer-to-peer learning, and capacity building. By engaging mentors and mentees across diverse disciplines within the APS community, the program aims to cultivate a collaborative environment conducive to professional growth and development. Through personalised guidance and shared expertise, participants stand to benefit significantly, gaining invaluable insights, expanding networks, and bolstering their skill sets. Ultimately, the Mentorship Program enriches the multidisciplinary fabric of our society, empowering members to thrive collectively.

The upcoming launch of our mentorship program, driven by the significant interest expressed by 45% of members, underscores our commitment to meeting your needs. Moreover, initiatives such as the Relationship Committee, Special Interest Groups, Scientific Program Committee, painSTAR Committee and Growth Committee ensure that members are actively involved, and their expertise is duly acknowledged.

The doubling of our student membership reflects our dedication to nurturing future professionals. Additionally, the overwhelmingly positive feedback from our survey, with 75% of respondents expressing a willingness to recommend APS to colleagues, underscores the strong loyalty we inspire.

Our Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) remains a cornerstone of our recruitment strategy, offering competitively priced registration rates

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to incentivise society membership. In essence, our commitment to our members remains unwavering, with a focus on growth, inclusivity, and sustained value creation.

Our state based Social Networking events have continued to be organised by each of the State Directors. These events are invaluable opportunities for members to connect, and collaborate, and they underscore the importance of community and support in the field of pain management. They are usually attended by APS members however these meetings are excellent opportunities for members to also bring their colleagues and introduce them to the APS.

Governance and Operations:

We prioritise good governance as a cornerstone of our risk management strategy. Vigilant monitoring of TGA infringements safeguards our partnerships with industry allies. Recent board skills assessments underscore our commitment to continual improvement, with plans for training and upskilling of our directors. Policy and bylaw reviews, led by our Secretariat and directors, ensure our organisational

integrity. We thank the service providers of our invaluable secretariat services, DCC&A, which helps us to maintain and strengthen our internal processes, ensuring efficiency and future readiness. We commend Tracy Hallen and Kylie Dark for their exemplary work amid transitions, sustaining our operational excellence.

Finally, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the APS board and office bearers for their unwavering dedication, emphasising their pivotal role in achieving the progress highlighted. I extend thanks to our members for their inspiring engagement and support throughout the past year.

The APS proceeds with a solid strategic plan and continues to refine our organisational processes and explore our growth capabilities. In the year ahead, we will be well-positioned to embrace the future with optimism, eagerly anticipating what lies ahead.

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Joyce McSwan President 2023-2025 Australian Pain Society

2024 HCF Research Foundation Health Services Research Grant

Applications for the 2024 HCF Research Foundation Health Services Research Grants program have now opened.

Our 14th annual call for research projects will deliver funding to the research community from 1 January 2025.

This year’s Grant Round will involve an Expression of Interest (EOI) stage prior to full Application. Expressions of interest are invited to be submitted if your health services research project addresses one of the following areas:

1. Co-design approaches to develop and evaluate innovative solutions and models of care that optimise the existing healthcare workforce capacity to improve patient outcomes and experience.

2. Strategies for the identification and remediation of bias in healthcare provision.

3. Addressing the challenges of implementing and sustaining viability of new alternatives to hospital care.

More information can be found here

Applications for this research grant will close on Monday 6 May 2024 (AEST).

UNDER 3 WEEKS TO GO!

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 that difference in your sphere of work.

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Register Now!

Registrations will increase slightly from 17 April 2024.

Register before 11.59 PM AEST Tuesday 16 April to save $50 on your registration.

Plan your conference experience today:

Program Overview

Keynote Speakers

Pre-Conference Workshops

Social Program

Panel Discussion: Outback Pain Management

Topical Sessions

Trainee Session: You can’t ask that!

Additional Social Activities

For further information please visit the conference website.

Should you have any queries about the conference, please contact the Conference Secretariat. We look forward to welcoming you to Larrakia country/Darwin, NT!

APS To-Do List

Already registered for APS 2024? 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 Darwin Convention Centre.

Don’t forget to…

Pay all outstanding balances or call the APS Conference Secretariat at +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 2024, make sure you’ve ticked these boxes too…

Save presentation onto 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 tricks (Free Paper Presentation Guidelines)

Should you have any queries about the conference, please contact the Conference Secretariat.

We look forward to welcoming you to Larrakia country/Darwin, NT!

2024 Social Program Update

Network, socialise, relax, enjoy!

The APS 2024 program has been adjusted to provide delegates time to explore Larrakia country. The exciting social program includes multiple opportunities to meet and connect with peers and build upon professional networks.

Sunday 21 April

Welcome Reception

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Venue: Exhibition Hall, Darwin Convention Centre

Time: 6.00 – 7.30pm

Cost: Included in registration fee for full delegates

Join us for a first look at the exhibition hall and a chance to catch up with colleagues and delegates you haven’t seen since Canberra!

Basic Pain Research & Pain in Childhood SIG Dinners

Venue: Wharf One

Time: From 7.30pm

Cost: $90 per person, guests welcome

Enjoy a few 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 22 April

Social Activity

Venue: The Precinct Tavern

Time: From 5.30pm

Delegates will receive a complimentary drink card in their registration pack, no reservation is required.

Only metres from the Darwin Convention Centre and with uninterrupted views of the Darwin Waterfront, The Precinct Tavern is a local pub that offers a sense of familiarity.

With a dedicated reserved space outdoors for APS delegates, join colleagues to wind down and recap on the days learning over a complimentary wine or beer.

Monday 22 April & Tuesday 23 April

Qi Gong at Sunrise

Venue: Peninsula Lawns, Darwin Waterfront Time: 7.00 - 7.30am

Dress: Comfortable, swimmers optional

Cost: All welcome, no registration required

Join Professor Zhen Zheng from RMIT University for a 20 minute Qi Gong session on the Peninsula Lawns, followed by the opportunity to throw yourself into the saltwater lagoon while the sun rises over Larrakia country. What a perfect way to start your morning.

Tuesday 23 April

Gala Dinner

Venue: Frangipani Place, Darwin Convention Centre

Time: 6.30 - 10.30pm

Dress: Smart/Cocktail

Cost: $150 per person, guests welcome

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!

Tuesday 23 April & Wednesday 24 April

Crocosaurus Cove

Venue: Crocosaurus Cove, 58 Mitchell St, Darwin City

Time: From 3.30pm. Closes at 6.00pm

Cost: Adult: $32 per person | Child (4 - 15 years): $20 per person

Crocosaurus Cove, located in the heart of Darwin city, allows visitors a unique, up close and personal view of Australia’s iconic Saltwater Crocodiles. Delegates to make own way, guests & children welcome.

RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility, including Bombing of Darwin Harbour experience

Venue: RFDS Darwin Tourist Facility, Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin City

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Time: From 3.30pm. Closes at 5.00pm

Cost: $25.50 per person, guests & children welcome

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A short stroll from the Darwin Convention Centre, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum tells two iconic Territory stories. The RFDS started Territory operations in 1939, the Museum also tells the tale of the bombing of Darwin Harbour during WWII. See, experience, and learn through the wonder of technology as this facility brings history to life.

Wednesday 24 April

Charlie’s of Darwin, Gin Tasting

Venue: Charlie’s of Darwin, 56 Smith Street, Darwin City

Time: 4.00pm - 5.00pm

Cost: $40 per person, guests (18+ only) welcome

A tropical oasis in the middle of Darwin City, once you’ve found Charlie’s you’ll want to settle in and not go anywhere else. What better way to end the ASM by joining other delegates for a private tasting of the 3 Charlie’s gins. Let staff walk you through their distinct flavour profiles, while you enjoy locally produced gin that uses almost uniquely Territory ingredients.

For full details on the APS 2024 social program, visit the conference website.

Secure your place at these enjoyable and entertaining social functions by registering today!

Should you have any queries about the conference, please contact the Conference Secretariat

21-24 APRIL PAIN IN CHILDHOOD

2024

2024 AUSTRALIAN PAIN SOCIETY

44TH ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING

In the

DARWIN CONVENTION CENTRE, NT

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP

Managing acute and chronic pain for vulnerable children

8.30am - 12.30pm, Sunday 21 April 2024

Darwin Convention Centre, NT

Registration Fees starting from $160 WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

This multidisciplinary workshop commences with evidence showing links between sensory modulation and pain and treatment options, followed by research focused on pain experiences of children with cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities.

The second section of the workshop explores procedural pain; initially considering improving procedures for children who have experienced medical trauma. Finally, we will open general multidisciplinary discussion of Australian and international procedural pain management experiences to inform the development of future procedural pain guidelines.

For further information: www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2024

Questions? Please email us at apsasm@dcconferences.com.au

21-24 APRIL

2024

DARWIN CONVENTION CENTRE, NT

PSYCHOLOGY IN PAIN MANAGEMENT PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP

Diving into the connections between trauma and complex chronic pain

8.30am - 12.30pm, Sunday 21 April 2024

Darwin Convention Centre, NT

Registration Fees starting from $160 WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

This workshop provides an opportunity for discussion of the broader psychological issues in pain management, including understanding mechanisms of behavioural change, prevention of chronicity, and the challenges of managing the complexity of mental health comorbidities.

For its inaugural event, the 2024 workshop will focus on the complexity of managing chronic pain and trauma, and will aim to provide a deeper understanding of this relationship to more effectively inform clinical decision-making. It will teach a set of foundational principles from pain neuroscience and a trauma-informed perspective to effectively guide the assessment and management of those with pain and trauma

For further information: www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2024 Questions? Please email us at apsasm@dcconferences.com.au

21-24 APRIL

2024

FUNDAMENTALS OF PAIN PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP

8.30am - 12.30pm, Sunday 21 April 2024

Darwin Convention Centre, NT

Registration Fees starting from $160 WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

This will be a succinct overview of the physiology, clinical assessment, and clinical management of pain. The workshop is aimed at the general practitioner, specialist, allied health clinician or psychologist looking for an introduction to, or update on, persistent pain management. This workshop is grounded in a biopsychosocial understanding of pain mechanisms and developing a mechanism-based approach to pain assessment and management. And will compliment those with an interest in attending one of the afternoon sessions on pharmacology, psychology or physiotherapy.

For further information: www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2024

Questions? Please email us at apsasm@dcconferences.com.au

For timings, registration fees and further information on the Pre-Conference Workshops visit: www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2024/Pre-Conference_Workshops

21-24 APRIL

2024

BASIC PAIN RESEARCH PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP

1.30pm - 5.00pm, Sunday 21 April 2024

Darwin Convention Centre, NT

Registration Fees starting from $160 WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

This workshop will showcase the latest in Australian basic pain research from early to mid-career and senior researchers and provide a forum to discuss mechanisms of nociception and pain across all levels of investigation: from molecular and cellular analyses to studies in animals and humans (pre-clinical or clinical). The workshop is open to all interested in mechanisms of nociception and pain, including basic and clinical researchers, health professionals and students at all levels.

For further information: www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2024 Questions? Please email us at apsasm@dcconferences.com.au

21-24 APRIL

2024

2024 AUSTRALIAN

DARWIN

PHYSIOTHERAPY IN PAIN MANAGEMENT

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP

Cross-cultural opportunities and challenges in pain management

1.30pm - 5.00pm, Sunday 21 April 2024

Darwin Convention Centre, NT

Registration Fees starting from $160 WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

This workshop will present an overview of opportunities and challenges in pain management in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. A considerable proportion of the workshop will be spent identifying, discussing and practising culturally-informed strategies, including the Clinical Yarning model of clinical communication, to enable attendees to develop their skills in working with this population group. This workshop will be highly practical, appropriate for any clinician who deals with patients in pain. The specific skills practiced in this workshop will be able to immediately implemented into clinical practice.

For further information: www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2024

Questions? Please email us at apsasm@dcconferences.com.au

For further information:

21-24 APRIL

2024

PHARMACOLOGY IN PAIN MANAGEMENT

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP

1.30pm - 5.00pm, Sunday 21 April 2024

Darwin Convention Centre, NT

Registration Fees starting from $160

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2024 Questions? Please email us at apsasm@dcconferences.com.au DARWIN

This interactive workshop will focus on the latest pharmacological evidence to manage pain in complex patients with end stage kidney disease and palliative care. Practical tips will be discussed and emerging trends in pain management will be presented. This includes the emerging role of medicinal cannabis for pain management and how real time prescription drug monitoring programs can be used to optimise pain management strategies. Practical cases studies will be presented to ensure members from a variety of healthcare settings can implement the latest principles for pain management.

For timings, registration fees and further information on the Pre-Conference Workshops visit: www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2024/Pre-Conference_Workshops

ACUTE PAIN DAY PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP

8.30am - 5.00pm, Sunday 21 April 2024

Darwin Convention Centre, NT

Registration Fees starting from $160 WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

This workshop aims to be engaging and practical with a focus on managing acute pain and the challenging cohort with co- existing chronic pain. In keeping with territory strengths we will explore strategies to engage Indigenous Australians. There will be a session focusing on pelvic pain and a third session with world class speakers from physiotherapy and psychology sharing strategies for the acute pain round and finish the day with some topical, cutting edge pharmacology.

The workshop is divided into two half days and we encourage attendance at both.

For further information: www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2024 Questions? Please email us at apsasm@dcconferences.com.au

For timings, registration fees and further information on the Pre-Conference Workshops visit: www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2024/Pre-Conference_Workshops

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For timings, registration fees and further information on the Pre-Conference Workshops visit:

www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2024/Pre-Conference_Workshops

Australian Pain Society 2024 Rising Star Award Winner:

A Conversation with Dr Jane Chalmers

Jane Chalmers, PhD, is a senior lecturer in pain sciences and the leader of the pelvic pain theme under the Innovation, Implementation And Clinical Translation in Health (IIMPACT) research concentration at the University of South Australia. Her doctoral research focused on exploring the clinical aspects of provoked vestibulodynia, a condition characterised by unexplained vaginal pain. Chalmers was recently announced as the Australian Pain Society’s Rising Star for 2024, an award showcasing up-and-coming researchers.

As the Rising Star Award winner, Chalmers will deliver a plenary lecture focusing on understanding pain science education for women with persistent pelvic pain at the upcoming 44th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) of the Australian Pain Society, which will be held in Darwin from April 21-24, 2024. In the leadup to the ASM, Chalmers spoke with Lincoln Tracy, a researcher and writer from Melbourne, Australia, about her journey to becoming a pelvic pain researcher, what winning the Rising Star Award means to her, and a recently launched project that combines art and sexual health education. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

You trained as a physiotherapist prior to moving into a PhD – what first drew you to this line of work?

I think I was the same as a lot of other people when I was younger. I loved playing sport, and I was interested in helping people. I thought, maybe I could do medicine – but I wasn’t cut out for blood and all the other gory stuff that comes with medicine. I was about 10 or 12 years old when my aunt, who I adore, said ‘why don’t you become a physio?’ and since then I was hell bent on being a physio. I always thought I was going to be a sports physio and get to travel around with teams and do fun things, but luckily, I realised there were lots of other things we could do outside of working with sports teams.

How did you transition from working clinically to starting your PhD and moving into research?

It all started when I did my honours degree with Lorimer Moseley and David Butler, which

focused on motor imagery in people with low back pain. I didn’t know anything about that topic when I started, but I quickly became interested in the research I was doing – but also pain more broadly. Lorimer and David really sparked my passion for research. Then when I started working clinically, I realised a lot of the people we see present to us with pain, regardless of what stream of physiotherapy you’re working in. I was the only female physio in the practice I was working at, so anything that came up in the pelvic region in females was sent to me. I started delving into the research and realised what a neglected area it was, so I went back to Lorimer after working clinically for a few years and asked if he would take me on as a PhD student looking at pelvic pain.

Were there any other factors that contributed to your interest and curiosity about pelvic pain?

I’ve had a history of awful period pain since I was 11 or 12. And growing up in Alice Springs, my ability to access healthcare for my period pain was severely limited. I think I’ve always been interested in pelvic pain because I know how hard it is to get the help that patients need. But despite living with the pain for years, it took me until I was doing my physio degree to acknowledge that I needed to see someone about it and get help. The degree also sparked a passion to help other women in similar situations to get the help they need earlier than when I realised I needed help.

What are some of the similarities and differences between pelvic pain in men and pelvic pain in women?

This is quite a common question, and it’s funny because I think a lot of clinicians are quite scared by pelvic pain – they think it’s different from other kinds of persistent pain. But it’s not that different, and it’s important to highlight some of the similarities to make pelvic pain a little less scary. And there’s also a lot of overlap between pelvic pain in women and men.

We know they’re both influenced by biopsychosocial factors, but I think there’s more sociocultural factors around pelvic pain in

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women that makes it difficult for them to talk about. Pelvic pain is also far more common in women than in men, especially if you include period pain – around one in 12 men compared to nine in ten women.

The trajectory of pelvic pain is also different. In men it tends to start later in life, particularly if it’s prostate related, but in women it starts at the other end of life. We see a lot of young girls and women starting to develop pelvic pain, particularly around the time of menstruation. Some will grow out if it but others won’t.

Given the fear and misconceptions about pelvic pain, is there a particular book or paper you recommend researchers and clinicians should read to gain more of an understanding about pelvic pain?

I’m working a lot in the endometriosis space at the moment, which is going to influence my answer, but there’s a researcher at the University of Oxford – Associate Professor Katy Vincent – who was involved in a 2017 review about the mechanisms of pain in endometriosis I think it’s a great summary of the various mechanisms, which is important because there is a prevailing myth in endometriosis that if you cut the endometrial lesions out the person will get better. And I think we, as a whole health and medical profession, have an unhealthy obsession with doing laparoscopies on women with endometriosis and expecting it to be a panacea – but we know that’s not true. Many women will have a laparoscopy and then either not see any changes in their pain or will report their pain getting worse. Vincent’s review goes through the peripheral and central mechanisms and looks at the role of the nervous and immune systems and how everything fits together. I think they’re going to keep doing laparoscopies for the time being because that’s how you diagnose endometriosis. But if we can look further and see that endometriosis is more than just lesions, we can then start thinking about the other things we could be doing around the surgery to help the patient.

You are the Australian Pain Society’s Rising Star Award Winner for 2024. What does winning this award mean to you?

Professionally, I am honoured to receive the award and to be recognised for the work that I’m doing. It’s amazing because research is a bit of a murky journey – particularly in the current

climate – and there’s no real map to guide you. Awards like this confirm you’re doing good things and are on the right path. It’s also a fantastic opportunity because I’m really excited about getting to go to Darwin and continue the conversation about pelvic pain.

But then personally, 2023 was a tricky year for me. I had returned from maternity leave after having my first child and was finding it tricky to juggle the work-life balance as a new mum. Then I fell pregnant again – which was planned – but had some health issues which made things a little tricky. I had also been applying for a lot of grants and awards and not having a lot of success, which made me start to question who I was as a researcher and even as a human being, and whether I was on a path that aligned with my values. The award came at an amazing time and provided a lot of reassurance to show I am on the right path and doing good things.

What do you hope attendees will take away from your presentation at the ASM in Darwin?

There are probably three things. The first one is an understanding of how big a problem of pelvic pain is. The second is understanding some of the similarities and differences between pelvic pain and other persistent pain conditions we see in women. And the third thing is a bit of a confidence boost to go away and start tackling the problem of pelvic pain in whatever they’re doing, whether that’s research or working clinically.

What has been the most interesting paper or research project you’ve been involved in?

I’ve been very fortunate to work on some awesome projects with great people over my career thus far, so it’s hard to choose just one. But the one that particularly springs to mind is one of the papers from my PhD, where we developed a new outcome measure for pelvic pain after I realised many of the existing outcome measures were fairly limited. I’m particularly proud of this paper because I was doing this project in the midst of packing up and moving from Adelaide to Sydney to take a full-time lecturing job at Western Sydney University.

It was absolutely chaotic and at the same time I was trying to focus on a new concept and methodology. We ended up getting published in PAIN and the questionnaire has since been implemented in several clinical practices and research trials across the world. Knowing the

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work I do is making a difference from a clinical perspective has been a really nice boost.

If you had an unlimited bucket of money to fund your dream research project, what question or problem would you like to tackle?

A key part of what I want to achieve in my career is to help women with pelvic pain access good treatments. But there are a lot of steps to that – you could poke a stick at almost anything and do it because we don’t have much research in this area. I’m really interested in finding out what we consider the optimal treatment for women with pelvic pain, so I guess if I had all the money in the world, I would design a project that would help understand what treatments are available, what treatments work, and who they work for, and why.

If we could identify factors that make clinical decision making a bit easier – like learning more about which people would respond to certain types of treatment – that would be really nice, because at the moment we just throw a lot of stuff at the wall and see what sticks for each patient. This means patients are going through a lot of unnecessary treatments and spending a lot of time getting treatments that are suboptimal for them. The Victorian government has recently launched a year-long inquiry into women’s pain, which I’ve written a piece for The Conversation about, which will hopefully start us on a path of looking at how healthcare services operate in this space. But I wonder what else we could be looking at, and what else we could be doing for these women.

What’s something you feel all early career researchers, clinicians, and trainees should know?

Something that has resonated with me recently, and continues to resonate with me throughout my career, is the saying that comparison is the thief of joy. As I mentioned before, there’s no rules or path in a research career, other than you go from a researcher to a senior researcher to associate professor to professor. We’re in a super tricky space in research at the moment – funding is tight and everything is competitive. Consequently, it’s hard not to look at others and think, ‘I did my undergrad with this person and now they’re doing all these things with their clinic’, or ‘I did my PhD with this person and now they’re doing all this amazing stuff’. I know I get down thinking about this at times.

But you need to remember that everyone’s on their own journey, and as long as everyone is doing something to the best of their ability and aligns with their values based on the resources available to them, then you can forget about the comparison to everyone else. You are doing what you need to do to make a difference. You’re already on the right path.

Lastly, what’s something people might not know about you? Do you have any interesting hobbies or secret talents?

Over the last 12 months I co-founded the Yes Please Collective with two friends – another physiotherapist who is super artsy, and my best friend who has a background in marketing and is a comedic genius. We run paint and sip style workshops where people come and paint an abstract vulva while we provide education and run a discussion around sexual and reproductive health over a glass of wine or three. We’re about to run a couple of events at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, which we’re all very excited about.

My artsy friend runs the art and education part, then I get to run a fun discussion around what we know about the parts of the vulva in terms of sexuality and pleasure. My best friend shares stories of her own experiences with pelvic pain and realising something wasn’t quite right with her vulva. She struggled with pelvic pain for two years before she told me about it, which was funny, because when she finally told me, I was like, ‘you know I have a PhD in this, right?’. And she simply turned to me and said, ‘well, what do people do if they have pelvic pain, and their best friend doesn’t have a PhD in pelvic pain? How long does it take them to talk to someone and seek help?’. And I think that really highlights the crux of the problem – that we don’t feel comfortable talking about it. So, we’re trying to educate and empower women to talk more about pelvic health, one workshop at a time.

Lincoln Tracy is a postdoctoral 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 on his website

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We’re Not in Kansas Anymore:

A Conversation with Professor Cheryl Stucky

Professor Cheryl Stucky is the Marvin Wagner Endowed Chair and Director of the Pain Division of the Neuroscience Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Together with her team, Stucky studies the molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms of sensation, particularly regarding how we sense touch and pain. She is passionate about training and supporting future generations of researchers and has an impressive record of continuous independent funding from the National Institutes of Health.

Stucky is an international keynote speaker at the upcoming 44th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) of the Australian Pain Society, which will be held in Darwin from April 21-24, 2024. In the lead-up to the ASM, Stucky spoke with Lincoln Tracy, a researcher and writer from Melbourne, Australia, discussing her path to becoming a neuroscientist, why she loves being a science mom, and how keratinocytes might be critically important for just about everything in life. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

What was your path to becoming a neuroscientist?

I grew up on a farm in central Kansas, which is basically the centre of the United States, where we grew wheat and raised cattle and chickens. When I was 18, I went to Bethel College, a Mennonite liberal arts school in the nearby town of North Newton. I went there because all my family – I’m talking grandparents, parents, cousins, and brothers – all studied there. I majored in biology with a minor in psychology, and started developing a strong interest in research when I had the opportunity to do a small research project looking at the development of dopamine receptors in the rat brain.

Despite my growing interest in research, I didn’t want to go to grad school straight away and was fortunate enough to get a job at the Psychiatric Research Institute in Wichita, the major city in the centre of Kansas. After two years I moved on to a PhD in neuroscience at the University of Minnesota with Virginia Seybold, which is where I sort of fell into pain research. We rotated through three or four different areas of research, and I really enjoyed the research environment and her teaching method.

Then after I finished my PhD, I was lucky enough to combine two things I really wanted to do: learn how to record from excitable cells using electrophysiology techniques and get to live outside the United States. So, my husband – who I’d met in grad school and who also wanted to do a postdoc overseas – and I moved to Germany where I spent two years working with Martin Koltzenburg learning teased fibre skin nerve preparations. I then went onto Berlin to work with Gary Lewin, where I learned patch clamp electrophysiology and how to record mechanical currents in neurons. After our time in Europe, I basically blanketed the United States – and other places abroad – with job applications and ended up coming to the Medical College of Wisconsin, where I’ve been ever since.

Did you have any Dorothy-esque moments while you were growing up on the farm in Kansas?

Yes, I got caught in a tornado when I was about nine years old. I remember getting off the bus from school that day and looking at the sky, which was this bizarre greenish brown colour. I went inside the house and my mom said we had to go out to the chicken house and move the baby chicks – that were only a few days old – around during the storm because if we didn’t, they would all huddle together so tightly that the ones in the middle would suffocate.

The tornado hit the ground right when we were in the chicken house and lifted us up by about two feet, and fortunately put us back down. We were very lucky because while the tornado only grazed our farm, lifting the chicken coop up and taking the roof off one of our barns, our neighbour’s home and farm a quarter mile away was demolished.

Why were you so keen to learn electrophysiology after you finished grad school?

I’d always been a little envious of some friends of mine down the hall in grad school who were doing these cool spinal recordings from rodents, and in some cases, primates. The techniques were talked up a lot and they seemed like they were the coolest kids on the department block. I also loved the idea of recording from a live, excitable cell and getting to watch them do their

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thing. It’s a big part of why neuroscience was so interesting to me.

And these ideas got me thinking about what space I would start my own career in, and what I would want my niche to be when I started my own lab. And there was this guy, Martin Koltzenburg, who had learned how to do teased fibre nerve recordings in rats from Peter Reeh and was dovetailing it into mice and recording from mouse nerves. This was right at the time transgenic mice were just coming of age and the first knockout models were becoming available. I didn’t know anyone that was doing this technique in the United States. I thought transgenic mice were going to be around for quite a long time, and I also thought there was the possibility we could get other types of transgenic animals, like transgenic rats and partner this with injury or disease models. I figured if I could learn this technique, get good at it, and bring it back to the United States that I could build a career around doing this. And luckily, that turned out to be true.

One of the major areas your lab focuses on is the somatosensory and pain mechanisms underlying Fabry disease – how did this interest come about?

This kind of goes to my core principles as a scientist, where I take a collaborative approach to just about everything that I do. One day a colleague at the MCW, Nancy Dahms, told me about Fabry disease, which she had been working on for years. She told me how the patients have terrible chronic pain and severe episodic pain, and she had just created a transgenic rat with Fabry disease using CRISPR technology.

Nancy asked if we could test whether the transgenic rats had any pain, and we could easily do some of the standard pain testing – mechanical thresholds, heat and cold thresholds, and so forth. The pilot data we were collecting looked really good, and we just kept working on Fabry disease, not only looking at their pain behaviours but also the neurons. In Fabry disease all this garbage collects inside cells – particularly those that don’t turn over, like dorsal root ganglion neurons – because the enzyme alpha-galactosidase-A is non-functional. And the garbage builds up to a point where you can see all this dense, dark matter with the naked eye when you look at a culture of dorsal root ganglia neurons from a Fabry animal.

We eventually had enough data to put a paper together and decided to write a multi-PI R01 NIH grant. We missed out the first time around but got a very good score the second time we put it in, so we had a good feeling it was going to be funded. Then one night I got an email from Walter Koroshetz, who was the head of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the neurological aspect of the NIH. It said our application had been selected for an R37 Javits award, which was four years of funding of at least half a million dollars a year in direct costs to the lab – and if it goes well you can apply for a further three years.

I thought it was a joke because I never asked to be considered for the award. I went and found my department’s chairman and got him to sit in my chair and read the email. He’s from Cambridge in England, and had a great British accent, so it was really funny to watch him read the email and then say, ‘yeah, this is real. You need to say yes’.

We think part of the reason why it was selected for the award was because no other grant on Fabry disease and pain had come through the NIH. There are only a few people across the world working in this space, despite around one in 1600 people having the disease. It’s thought of as a rare disease, but it’s much more prevalent than what people think and there is a real need to do work in this space.

What keeps you motivated to keep doing research?

The potential to discover something nobody else knows never goes away. I mean, that’s why a lot of us get into science, right? The pure thrill you get from discovering something that was previously unknown is still so exciting to me. It’s part of why I love being an academic, because it means I get to work on anything I want, as long as I get money or have ways to fund it. I love the freedom of being able to set my own schedule to work on what I want to do.

The second thing that keeps me motivated is the potential to do something that will ultimately help patients one day. I don’t feel like I’ve done that yet, or I don’t see how I have somehow directly done something that’s led to that. But I want to do that, and that’s what keeps driving me to keep doing this translational work, to keep getting closer to working with patient tissues – and eventually patients.

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And the third thing would be my trainees, who give me an incredible amount of motivation. I love mentoring them and lifting them up to be whatever they want to be. I love seeing how they develop and change from the moment they first come into my lab until the moment they’re done. The transformation is different for everyone, but it’s amazing to see their personalities and skills develop over time. It gives me terrific joy to have a past trainee stay in touch with me and to hear how they are doing as partners and families come into play. I love it when they ask me for advice, because it now gives me greater joy to see them succeed than for me to get something for myself. I guess I’m a real science mom deep down.

And is that why you put such an emphasis on creating a positive environment to work in?

where academic life is very family friendly and supportive.

You’ve done a lot of interesting things over the course of your career – is there a paper or project you are particularly proud of?

First, I’m proud of all the work I’ve done over my career because we try to do rigorous research. I always tell my trainees and lab technicians that the outcome is the outcome. If you have been blinded and done everything you can do to ensure the experiment has been done rigorously, then I’m happy with any outcome. It doesn’t matter whether it is positive and supportive of a hypothesis, or whether it refutes the hypothesis. Seeking the truth is far more important than seeking a Nature paper.

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Yes, because what we do is so challenging on a day-to-day basis. It’s challenging for them when things don’t work in the lab because they put in long hours and show incredible dedication to their work. So, it’s paramount to make it a positive atmosphere. Our lab is like a family, and I love the fact they have developed their own culture and hang out together outside work, stay together at conferences, and are extremely collaborative in writing papers and grants.

We only gave ourselves a month to pull together the most recent grant we submitted, which is not a lot of time. But the whole lab was all in, and it was all systems go. They were helping each other get preliminary data, but they were also editing – and in some cases helping to write – different sections of the grant right to the night before it was due. I don’t like leaving things that late, but you’ve got to dot the i’s and cross the t’s to make sure everything fits, and it was amazing to see everyone work together to get the application finished.

I want to create a happy environment for my students and trainees because sometimes academics get a bad rap. I feel like students and trainees feel it’s a hard path to be successful as a scientist and academic, so they can get turned off from pursuing a career in this space. I want to show them that it’s not always challenging, and that they can have a great life and career, that they don’t have to choose between work and family. You need to unplug to be your best. You want to be focused and work efficiently, and then unplug. And we’re lucky to be at a place like MCW,

But I’m particularly proud of the keratinocyte work we published in 2018, which was our first paper where we inhibited keratinocytes with optogenetics in wild-type mice and showed keratinocytes and ATP signalling have a key role in sensory neurons. This work has opened an endless number of possibilities of different disorders, diseases, and pain models you could apply this to.

You could do viral inhibition in models of sickle cell disease. You could take it into the itch field, like what Diana Bautista has done. You could take it into the gut and look at how gut epithelium signals, which is important, because I think epithelial and skin cells are largely ignored despite covering our entire body and playing a role in everything we do. And you could even take it into social touch, because I think keratinocytes are intimately involved in how we sense pleasant touch. I’d bet the farm back in Kansas on that if I had it, but my brother runs it now [laughs]. Imagine all the things we couldn’t do without a sense of touch.

I think this area has a lot of potential. More people are realising this and starting to work in this space. It normally makes me nervous when large numbers of people start getting involved in niche areas of research, but this time I’m happy. Because all the interest can lead to great things.

If you could go back and observe any moment in time, from your life or beforehand, what would you like to see and why?

About 20 years ago my husband Jeff and I had our first son, Nick, who was about three and

half, and we really wanted another child. We’d been trying for a while and had already had one miscarriage. And then this particular week we had a second miscarriage around the 12week mark. We were incredibly sad about that. A few days earlier I’d gotten a very bad grant score – a ‘you suck’ score. And later that week I was supposed to fly to Prague to be a plenary speaker at a pain symposium. I wasn’t ready for the lecture and was incredibly stressed out by everything.

This was the day before the fourth of July, which is a holiday for our Independence Day. I was getting things ready for the trip to Prague and my husband hands me my passport, saying ‘you’re going to need this when you fly’. And as soon as I saw it my stomach just dropped because I realised my passport had expired. I immediately called the consulate in Chicago but there were no appointments available. I was supposed to be flying on July 5th. There was nothing I, or they, could do.

I got to work that day and told my department chair about it and how I felt I was falling apart. He was incredibly supportive and reassured me things would be okay and that we would figure something out. He’d already invited us to go out on his sailboat on Lake Michigan the next day to watch the fireworks, so he told me all I needed to do was get myself to his house around four o’clock to have a drink with him.

I went to pick up Nick from daycare and take him to the east side of Milwaukee to drop him off where my mother-in-law lives, which is right next to the marina. My mother-in law is absolutely lovely, and when she saw my face and asked how I was doing I completely fell apart. I told her about all the horribleness, how nothing was going right, and how I was seriously considering quitting my job and staying home.

And she looked at me and said, ‘no, you are not going to do that. I did that, and I know that if you do it, you’ll regret it. You are not going to do what I did’. She was getting a PhD in education when she got married, and in those days, when women got married, they didn’t finish their degrees. It was an incredible response from my mother-in-law, because when I told my own mother, she said, ‘maybe you should quit’.

I love how much of an impact that moment with my mother-in-law had on me. I love it so much that I hope the next generation of men

and women don’t feel like they can’t have it all. I hope the next person who goes through what I went through has an amazing person in their life to tell them, ‘no, don’t quit’. Because I’ve learned that you can have it all, but you don’t have to – or can’t – have it all at once. You just have to be patient. It will come.

Lincoln Tracy is a postdoctoral 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 on his website.

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Thank you to our retiring QLD Director

Mrs Karalyn Huxhagen

We sincerely thank Karalyn Huxhagen as she steps down from her role as Director for QLD.

Karalyn has served as the Queensland Director for three years from 2021, prior to which she represented the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) on the APS Relationships Committee from 2019 to 2021.

Karalyn provided significant and valuable input into the new APS position statement for Pain Management in Aged Care.

Despite stepping down, Karalyn continues to be an active contributor to APS responses to Department of Health and Aged Care consultation request submissions. She also serves as an APS representative on various technical advisory groups.

We wish Karalyn all the best for the future and are grateful for her continued contributions!

We would like to extend a warm welcome to our newly elected Board Member for QLD

Dr Duncan Sanders, Director - QLD

We are delighted to confirm that Dr Duncan Sanders is the new QLD Director for the Australian Pain Society.

Based on the Gold Coast, Duncan is a Senior Lecturer for the Master of Medicine (Pain Management), Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney, and a Pain Management Physiotherapist. 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, 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.

Clinically Duncan has worked as a Physiotherapist in various settings, including pain clinics, the British Military of Defence, private practice and large tertiary hospitals. He was the Educational Development Physiotherapist and Clinical Specialist in Pain Management at Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London. His main area of interest over the last 15 years has been in multidisciplinary pain management, working in world-renowned facilities including the Michael J Cousins Pain Management & Research Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital and the INPUT Pain Management Unit, St Thomas’ Hospital, London. He is the past Chair and Vice-Chair of the Australian Physiotherapy Association NSW Pain Group.

We would also like to extend our congratulations to Jacintha Bell on their re-election as Director for WA.

The pilot APS Mentorship Program for 2024 will be launched at the APS 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting.

Unlock your potential with the Australian Pain Society Mentorship Program!

Elevate your career in pain management—whether you’re a clinician, researcher, or educator. Gain valuable support and guidance as you navigate new roles. Join us to build an engaged, skilled community and shape the future of pain management together.

Calling clinicians, researchers, and educators in pain management!

Enhance your skills and join a vibrant pain community. Whether you’re starting or advancing, our program

Why Join the APS Mentorship Program?

For Mentees: Embark on a transformative journey, gain invaluable insights, and foster professional development under the guidance of seasoned professionals.

For Mentors: Share your wisdom, shape the by contributing to the development of the next wave of pain management clinicians.

Spread the Word!

Share this exciting opportunity with colleagues, contribute to the world of pain management.

Embark on a journey of growth, learning, and impactful contributions with the APS Mentorship Program! Let’s shape the future of pain management together!

Expressions of Interest Now Open!

Please forward your EOI to aps@apsoc.org.au by 15 June 2024.

For more information >> apsoc.org.au

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painSTAR 2024

10 – 14 November 2024

The Australian Pain Society is delighted to announce that painSTAR is returning to the Novotel Barossa Valley Resort, Adelaide Hills, from 10 - 14 November 2024.

painSTAR brings together a group of exceptional clinical and early-mid career academic pain researchers to participate in an intensive program focussed on linking the bench to bedside and the boardroom.

Pain Schools foster interdisciplinary collaboration, accelerated translation of research findings to care delivery, and the development of skills to help influence political/health service systems – all topics that are critical for high quality translational pain research but are rarely covered in standard teaching/conference curriculum. Consumer representatives will once again be part of the faculty, providing delegates with exposure to the personal and social consequences of living with persistent pain, and providing inspiration about the importance of translational pain research.

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Applications for painSTAR 2024 will open early April 2024. Please keep an eye on the APS Newsletter and website for further announcements!

Further information coming soon…

Captains on call: A qualitative investigation of an intervention to support children with retinoblastoma undergoing regular eye examinations

Thank you to APS member Karin Plummer and their colleagues Vanessa Rich, Sofia Padhy, Tamsin Barratt, Johnson Tran, Claire Treadgold and Eden G Robertson for sharing the following recent publication.

Article first published online: 29 February 2024

Journal Reference: Rich V, Plummer K, Padhy S, et al. Captains on call: A qualitative investigation of an intervention to support children with retinoblastoma undergoing regular eye examinations. Psycho-Oncology. 2024/03/01 2024;33(3):e6315.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.6315

Abstract

Introduction

Retinoblastoma is a rare childhood ophthalmic cancer that requires frequent eye examinations under anaesthesia and painful or distressing procedures. This can cause significant anxiety for children and their families.

Objective

We evaluated a Starlight Children’s Foundation programme, ‘Captains on Call’, at the Queensland Children’s Hospital, which aims to provide positive distraction and reduce stress, anxiety and pain during the perioperative journey for children in the retinoblastoma treatment pathway. This study examined the impact of the programme on the perioperative experience of the children and their families.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in a paediatric operating suite at a tertiary‐level children’s hospital in Australia. We interviewed

a parent from 20 families (from a cohort of 40 families, including 44 children), whose children received treatment or screening for retinoblastoma, focusing on the programme’s impact on the child and family at various stages during the perioperative journey. We undertook a thematic analysis of transcribed interviews.

Results

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We identified two themes, each with two sub‐themes: (1) the programme positively contributed to the overall treatment journey, by addressing different needs at different times, and helping to reframe a traumatic medical experience, and (2), the programme supported the whole family unit by empowering children through play, and adopting a family systems approach which recognised the impact of cancer treatment on the whole family.

Conclusions

This study highlights the value of the Captains on Call programme in supporting children with retinoblastoma and their families during perioperative visits. The Captains, particularly as non‐medicalised professionals in a healthcare setting, built trust and rapport with the children through play over repeated episodes of care. The interprofessional collaborative approach with a reflective cycle of practice extended it beyond a programme providing simple distraction. Other retinoblastoma services may benefit from implementing a similar approach.

Declaration

Claire Treadgold and Eden G Robertson were both paid employees of Starlight Children’s Foundation at time of data collection and write‐up. No other authors have competing interests.

template. We would love it if you also supply a short commentary (300 words max) to give our readers the gist of the article.

Events

2024

Join us online #auspainsoc www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2024 DARWIN

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EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST ONLINE:

www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2024

Registrations Open 21 November 2023

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

INCLUDING

• National and International Speakers

• Pre-Conference Workshops

• Topical Sessions

• Extensive Industry Exhibition

• Trainee Session

• Welcome Reception

• Conference Gala Dinner

• Additional social activities to help delegates connect and network with like-minded peers

For sponsorship and exhibition opportunities or more information please contact:

APS Conference Secretariat:

DC Conference & Association Management (DCC&A)

P: 61 2 9954 4400

E: apsasm@dcconferences.com.au

INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Professor Christine Chambers, Dalhouse University, Canada

Dr Christine Chambers is the Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Children’s Pain, a Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience and Pediatrics at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a clinical psychologist. She also serves as the Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health.

She is also the Scientific Director of Solutions for Kids in Pain - a national knowledge mobilisation network whose mission is to improve children’s pain management.

Professor Cheryl L. Stucky, Medical College of Wisconsin, USA

Cheryl Stucky is the Marvin Wagner Endowed Chair at the Medical College of Wisconsin where she is also Director of the Pain Division of the Neuroscience Research Center.

Dr Stucky’s lab studies the molecular, cellular and physiological mechanisms of sensation, particularly how we sense touch and pain. The central theme of Dr Stucky’s lab is to study the molecular and physiological mechanisms that underlie somatosensory mechanotransduction in the normal, healthy state and in conditions of tissue injury or disease.

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SAVE THE DATE |

19 - 21 JULY 2024

www.dcconferences.com.au/nsanz2024 Ne

NEUROMODULATION SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

17TH ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING (NSANZ 2024)

Neuromodulation: Can we do it better?

19 – 21 JULY 2024

INCLUDES CADAVER WORKSHOP

Friday 19 July 2024, University of Tasmania

HOTEL GRAND CHANCELLOR, HOBART, TAS BLOG WEB

> Check out the new APS Position Statements, ratified at the recent AGM: https://www.apsoc. org.au/position-papers

Other items of interest for our members:

> Latest opioid data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics: Opioid induced deaths in Australia. https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/opioid-induceddeaths-australia

> Australia’s annual overdose report 2023 from the Pennington institute: https://www. penington.org.au/australias-annual-overdosereport/

> The Third Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation: 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. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/atlas

> Painaustralia eNewsletter latest issue, available online at http://www.painaustralia.org.au/media/ enews

> 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. For more information about ePPOC, refer to the website: http://ahsri. uow.edu.au/eppoc/index.html

> PainHEALTH website: painHEALTH‘s aim is to help health consumers with musculoskeletal pain access reliable, evidence-based information and tips to assist in the comanagement of musculoskeletal pain. painHEALTH is an initiative of the Department of Health, Western Australia. http://painhealth. csse.uwa.edu.au/

> Stanford University: CHOIR Collaborative Health Outcomes Information Registry https://choir. stanford.edu/

> 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 20 week series from the Hunter Postgraduate Medical Institute (University of Newcastle) : http://www. gptraining.com.au/recent-podcasts

> Airing Pain: Pain resources via an online radio show produced by Pain Concern, a UK registered Charity: http://painconcern.org.uk/ airing-pain/

> Indigenous Resources: New webpage on the APS website aggregating Indigenous resources: https://www.apsoc.org.au/Indigenous-Resources

> Opioids: Communications videos: https://www. nps.org.au/opioids-communication-videos

TGA

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> Codeine information hub: https://www.tga.gov. au/codeine-information-hub-how-and-whereget-advice

NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation resources:

> Brainman and Pain Tool Kit translations, SEP15: http://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/ translated-resources

> Pain Management Resources: https://aci. health.nsw.gov.au/networks/pain-management/ resources

> Quicksteps to Manage Chronic Pain in Primary Care: http://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronicpain/health-professionals/quick-steps-tomanage-chronic-pain-in-primary-care

> Built into Quicksteps: “How to de-prescribe and wean opioids in general practice”: http:// www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/healthprofessionals/quick-steps-to-manage-chronicpain-in-primary-care/how_to_de-prescribe_and_ wean_opioids_in_general_practice

> A list of helpful apps for consumers and clinicians now available at: http://www. aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain/healthprofessionals/management-of-chronic-pain

> Chronic Pain in the ED: https://www.aci.health. nsw.gov.au/networks/eci/clinical/clinicalresources/clinical-tools/pain-management/ chronic-pain-in-the-ed

APS Membership Renewals 2024

Renewal notices for 2024 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.

NO INCREASE in membership fees for 2024!

a. Regular A $120

b. Regular B

c. Regular C

d. Retired

e. Student

$230

$370

$65 Concessional Rate

$65 Concessional Rate

Before renewing, please ensure you review and update your member profile online.

Payments can be made by Credit Card, BPAY, or Cheque.

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.

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New Members

New Members as at 26 March 2024

Dr Sibella Bentley Pain Medicine Physician

Dr Victor Birioukov Anaesthesia

Mr Aaron Bowes Exercise Physiologist

Dr John Buckley General Practice

Dr Keith Charlton Chiropractic

Mrs Sophie Dash Nursing

Miss Miriam Dillon Physiotherapy

Dr Mary Ho General Practice

Dr Sophie Jones Nursing

Ms Catherine Kotzur Nursing

Dr Harrison Mihailidis Rehabilitation Medicine

Dr Christopher Papic Exercise Physiologist

Dr Brigitte Phillips Science Research

Ms Natalie Raymond Psychology

Dr Jules Richards Nursing

Dr Erin Ridler Palliative Care

Dr Atieh Sadr Dentistry

Dr Joshua Sandy Pain Medicine Physician

Calendar of Events

5-7 April 2024

Spine Society of Australia (SSA)

2024 Spine Society of Australia 35th Annual Scientific Meeting

International Convention Centre (ICC), Sydney, NSW

https://www.dcconferences.com.au/ssa2024/ home

21-24 April 2024

Australian Pain Society (APS)

2024 Australian Pain Society 44th Annual Scientific Meeting

Darwin Convention Centre, NT

https://www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2024/

2-4 May 2024

Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA)

Research to Practice 2024

International Convention Centre (ICC), Sydney, NSW

https://www.researchtopractice2024.com.au/ event/7b82256c-0d69-4710-96eb-57a8df5fed26/ summary

3-7 May 2024

Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA)

ANZCA 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, QLD

https://www.anzca.edu.au/events-courses/events/ major-events/anzca-national-events/2024-anzcaasm

11-16 May 2024

International Neuromodulation Society (INS)

16th World Congress on the International Neuromodulation Society (INS 2024)

Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, Canada

https://ins-congress.com/

18-21 May 2024

Australian Rheumatology Association & New Zealand Rheumatology Association

2024 Joint ARA and NZRA Annual Scientific Meeting

Te Pae, Christchurch, NZ

https://www.nzra-ara2024.com/

31 May 2024

Dietitians Australia

Dietitians Unite 2024

Doltone House, Pyrmont, Sydney NSW

https://dietitianconnection.com/event/dietitiansunite-2024/

1-6 June 2024

International Society of Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine

ISPRM 2024: Trauma, Technology & Timing

International Convention Centre (ICC), Sydney, NSW

https://www.isprmsydney2024.com/

4-6 June 2024

British Pain Society (BPS)

British Pain Society 57th Annual Scientific Meeting ‘24

East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, UK

https://bpsasm.org/

13-14 June 2024

Occupational Therapy Australia

2024 OT Exchange

Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, Perth, WA

https://www.otausevents.com.au/otexchange2024

19-21 July 2024

Neuromodulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (NSANZ)

2024 Neuromodulation Society of Australia & New Zealand 17th Annual Scientific Meeting (NSANZ 2024)

Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart, TAS

https://www.dcconferences.com.au/nsanz2024/

5-9 August 2024

International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)

IASP 2024 World Congress on Pain

Amsterdam RAI, Amsterdam, Netherlands

https://www.iasp-pain.org/iasp-2024-worldcongress-on-pain/

19-22 August 2024

Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (NSA)

NSA 79th Annual Scientific Meeting

Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin, NT

https://2024.nsa.org.au/

16-18 September 2024

National Rural Health Alliance

17th National Rural Health Conference

Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, Perth, WA

https://www.ruralhealth.org.au/17nrhc/

18-20 October 2024

Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM)

2024 FPM Spring Meeting

Pullman Auckland Hotel & Apartments, Auckland, NZ

https://www.anzca.edu.au/events-courses/ events/anzca-and-fpm-annual-events/fpmannual-events/2024-fpm-spring-meeting

31 October-2 November 2024

Australian Physiotherapy Association

FOCUS24: The business of physiotherapy

Crown Perth, Perth, WA

https://physiotherapy.eventsair.com/focus24

27-29 November 2024

Australian & New Zealand Spinal Cord Society (ANZSCoS)

ANZSCoS 2024

Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, Perth, Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle, WA

https://www.dcconferences.com.au/ anzscos2024/

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:

Mrs Joyce McSwan

Gold Coast Primary Health Network

Persistent Pain Program, QLD and PainWISE

Tel: 0412 327 795 Fax: 07 3539 9801

President-Elect:

Ms Bernadette Smith

Psychology Plus

South Burnie TAS

Tel: 03 6431 9959 Fax: 03 6431 9950

Secretary:

Mrs Dinah Spratt

Physiotas Physiotherapy

Shearwater TAS 7307

Tel: 03 6428 7500 Fax: 03 6424 7811

Treasurer:

Dr Laura Prendergast

Pain Service, Northern Health

Broadmeadows VIC 3047

Tel: 03 8345 5166 Fax: N/A

Work days Mon & Thu

ACT Director:

Dr Andrew Watson

Calvary Hospital

Canberra ACT 2617

Tel: 02 6201 6352 Fax: N/A

NSW Director:

Mr Connor Gleadhill

Department of Health and Aged Care

Primary Care Division

Newcastle NSW 2038

Tel: 0405 203 661 Fax: N/A

NT Director:

Adjunct A/Prof Cindy Wall

Clinical Psychology Assessment & Consultancy

Fannie Bay NT 0820

Tel: 0488 993 210 Fax: 08 6266 3777

QLD Director:

Dr Duncan Sanders

Pain Management Unit, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney / Managing Pain

Clinic and E3 Physio

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Gold Coast QLD

Tel: 07 5620 1234 Fax: 07 3009 0420

SA Director:

Ms Heather Gray

Royal Adelaide Hospital

Adelaide SA 5000

Email: heather.gray@sa.gov.au

TAS Director:

Mr Sinan Tejani

InBalance Physiotherapy

Launceston TAS 7250

Tel: 0469 967 841 Fax: N/A

VIC Director:

Dr Esther Dube

Austin Health

Heidelberg VIC 3084

Tel: 03 9989 1676 Fax: N/A

WA Director:

Ms Jacintha Bell

Lifeworks Occupational Therapy

Subiaco WA 6008

Tel: 0451 178 880

Fax: 08 6323 3329

Office Bearers

Immediate Past President:

Ms Trudy Maunsell

Retired QLD

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:

Mrs Joyce McSwan

Gold Coast Primary Health Network

Persistent Pain Program, QLD and PainWISE

Tel: 0412 327 795 Fax: 07 3539 9801

Newsletter Editor:

Dr Lincoln Tracy

School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine

Monash University

Melbourne VIC 3004

Tel: 03 9903 0288

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:

Em Prof Maree Smith AC

Centre for Integrated Preclinical Drug Development

University of Queensland

St Lucia QLD 4072

Prof Luke Henderson

Anatomy & Histology, School of Medical Sciences

Brain & Mind Centre

University of Sydney

Camperdown NSW 2006

Secretariat:

DC Conference & Association Management Pty Ltd

PO Box 637

North Sydney, NSW 2059

Tel: 02 9016 4343

Email: aps@apsoc.org.au

Website: apsoc.org.au