September is Pain Awareness Month. So, for this month, start more conversations and gain more understanding about what is happening nationally with pain by checking out the action-packed newsletter for you all. Our next APS 2026 conference will be held in Adelaide (yay, my hometown!). As a starter, abstract submissions are still open. Also get your nominations in now for the rising star and distinguished member awards.
Travel grant applications are also open. Check out the inspirational articles by Emily Walker, Harrison Hansford, and Pauline Jubin on the benefits they gained from being awarded an APS travel grant. Such inspirational stories from many first-time attendees.
While spring has sprung, weeds, and the grass are rising, take a break from the gardening and start reading about what the Basic Pain Research SIG have provided for us all. It is useful to be able to review these summaries of complex papers and the critical perspectives provided are worthwhile and considered.
We also have three new publications for you all to check out, one is a retrospective analysis on longitudinal data about treatment attrition from paediatric chronic pain clinics. The other is an exploratory analysis on ePPOC data exploring if health outcomes following pain service utilisation vary for young people experiencing chronic pain according to pain phenotype. The third publication is an editorial which invites you to reflect on what lens are you using in conversations about pain.
It is great to be able to showcase some new publications by our APS members in this newsletter. It is such a fabulous opportunity to be able to communicate on recent publications by our members, and our readers are asked to please be mindful to share their articles as they come to hand as well.
Check out our multitude of invites to participate in research and share your knowledge.
Stay warm and keep sharing your stories.
Until next time, take care, Joanne Harmon
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President’s Report A Month of Reflection, Innovation, and Stewardship
Last month, the Australian Pain Society (APS) Board gathered in Sydney for our first face-to-face Strategic Planning Meeting since before COVID. At the heart of our discussions was one simple question: how can APS invest in the Society to deliver what our members and the sector truly value? The weekend was an energising mix of reflection, innovation, and forward-thinking stewardship, focused on securing financial sustainability, fostering innovation, and making bold, purposeful decisions so APS can continue to grow and make a lasting impact.
A standout strategic project from the meeting was the commitment to a major investment in APS branding and a new website. This is far more than a facelift, it’s about creating a modern, userfriendly platform that makes it easier for you to connect, learn, and engage with the Society. It will also provide the foundations for future strategic initiatives that were committed to that strengthen our services and ensure APS continues to serve members and the sector for years to come.
This investment has only been made possible by the success of our recent conference in Melbourne. My sincere thanks go to the dedicated team at DC Conference & Association Management (DCC&A), our Secretariat, the Scientific Program Committee (SPC), and of course, the APS community, for delivering such a profitable and energising event. Your hard work ensures we can reinvest those proceeds directly into initiatives that benefit you, our members, and the broader sector.
I look forward to sharing more of our strategic projects in the next newsletter—but I could not resist giving you a preview of this exciting step forward with the website.
Facing Reality and Thinking Boldly
While we acknowledged the realities of rising costs to operate a society, our focus was not solely on cutting back but on responsible stewardship, finding smarter, more efficient ways of working, and embracing innovation so that more resources can flow directly to members. This shift in mindset opens new opportunities to deliver value, strengthen the APS, and build resilience for the future.
With the collective wisdom of past Presidents, input from stakeholders, and the voices of our members guiding us, APS is well-placed to strengthen our impact, lead with purpose, and support the diverse community of professionals who make up our much-treasured Society.
Thank You, Dinah
The weekend was also tinged with sadness as we farewelled our much-loved Secretary, Dinah Spratt. Dinah has served the APS Board with grace for seven years, first as Tasmanian Director and then as Secretary. Her thoughtful presence, quiet wisdom, and sparkling ideas have enriched our work and will be deeply missed. On behalf of the Board and members, I extend our warmest thanks and very best wishes to Dinah as she enters her next chapter. Of course, we all know there is one place we will continue to find her, lighting up the dance floor at the Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM). Dinah, we look forward to joining you there!
On a personal note, it was a privilege to spend the weekend with such a committed Board and our SPC Chair, Kevin Keay, with the steady support of Kylie Dark, who kept us all on track. The generosity of these individuals, giving their time and energy so willingly, never asking for anything in return (except a meeting that ends on time!) is truly humbling. Their dedication gives me confidence and optimism for the exciting future that lies ahead for our Society.
APS Board Executive. L to R: Dr Laura Prendergast, Mrs Bernadette Smith, Mrs Dinah Spratt, Mrs Joyce McSwan and Dr Duncan Sanders
Alongside our own strategic planning, APS was also proud to contribute to be a part of sectorwide advocacy. We were honoured to be invited and attend Chronic Pain Australia’s landmark event, Pain Takes a Nation, where their White Paper was formally delivered to government. Standing alongside advocates and lived experience voices, we joined the call for chronic pain to be recognised as a national health priority.
It was a powerful reminder of the dedication and persistence that drives effective advocacy, the tireless work required to give voice to those too often unheard. Congratulations to Nicolette Ellis and the Chronic Pain Australia (CPA) team: your commitment continues to inspire. Together, as a pain sector, we can bring about meaningful change for people living with pain.
Building on this momentum, APS also participated in the Pain Sector Strategic Meeting,
This meeting, reignited through the leadership of our Immediate Past President Joyce McSwan, provided a timely opportunity to regroup as a sector following leadership changes at Painaustralia (PA).
The meeting brought together the APS, Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM), PA, CPA, and Australian Pain Solutions Research Alliance (APSRA), generously chaired by PA and hosted at the FPM Canberra offices. It highlighted the unique role of APS in uniting healthcare professionals across disciplines from medicine, nursing, psychology, pharmacy, and allied health to foster better outcomes for people living with pain through education, research, and advocacy.
progress a joint advocacy activity aligned with Goal One of the National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management, an encouraging step toward sector-wide consensus and leadership. While this collective effort may move steadily rather than quickly, it is moving in the right direction. I look forward to sharing the blueprint for the APS advocacy initiatives, alongside our President-Elect, Dr Laura Prendergast, in the next newsletter when we will have more details to share.
Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support, energy, and engagement with this vibrant society.
Bernadette Smith, President
L to R: Kylie Dark, Alison Sim, Heather Gray, Laura Prendergast, Sinan Tejani, Bernadette Smith, Dinah Spratt, Karla Wright, Jacintha Bell, Joyce McSwan, Connor Gleadhill, Amelia Searle, Kevin Keay, Duncan Sanders and Anjelo Ratnachandra
L to R: A/Prof Mick Vagg (FPM), Ms Martina Otten (FPM), Mrs Joyce McSwan (APS), Ms Nicolette Ellis (CPA), Senator Helen Polley, Dr Bruce Willett (RACGP QLD), Ms Fiona Hodson (CPA), Mrs Bernadette Smith (APS), Prof Mark Hutchinson (APSRA)
L to R: Mrs Joyce McSwan (APS), A/Prof Mick Vagg (FPM), Ms Martina Otten (FPM), Hon Rebecca White MP, Ms Nicolette Ellis (CPA), Mrs Bernadette Smith (APS), Prof Mark Hutchinson (APSRA)
Pain Sector Strategic Meeting. L to R: Dr Dilip Kapur (Dean, FPM), Ms Monika Boogs (CEO, PA), Mr Simon Corbell (Chair, PA), Mrs Bernadette Smith (President, APS), Ms Nicolette Ellis (Chair, CPA), Mrs Joyce McSwan (Immediate Past President, APS) and Ms Martina Otten (Executive Director, FPM)
Chronic Pain Working Group: Collaborative Efforts to Raise Awareness
By Clinical Associate Professor Kylie Bailey
In June 2022, a Chronic Pain Working Group was established through a collaboration between the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) and the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNE LHD). The group brought together a diverse team of local general practitioners, HNE LHD staff, a physiotherapist, a nurse and pain physician from a public pain clinic, a dietitian, psychologists from two private pain clinics, Exercise Physiologist, and a nurse with lived experience of chronic pain.
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Over a two-year period, the group met every few months to develop strategies aimed at improving chronic pain awareness and management. One of the key outcomes was the creation of a series of four short educational videos designed for both health professionals and people living with chronic pain. Three of the four videos are inclusive of two people with lived experience of chronic pain, who discuss their experiences and perspectives.
These videos were officially launched during National Pain Week (21–27 July 2025) and aim to highlight the real-life impacts of chronic pain while promoting a multidisciplinary approach to care. As September is International Pain Awareness Month, it is timely to share the video series with you.
The Video Series
1. Living with Chronic Pain
This video explores the distinction between acute and chronic pain, featuring two individuals who share their personal experiences of living with chronic pain. It also addresses the stigma often associated with chronic pain.
2. The Biopsychosocial Management of Pain
This video emphasises the importance of applying both a biopsychosocial and multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain. This video includes insights from a GP, exercise physiologist, nurse, psychologist, and two people with lived experience. It highlights how collaborative care improves outcomes.
3. Changing How We Think About Chronic Pain
Aimed at health professionals, this video encourages a shift away from only offering medication and surgical interventions. It underscores the value of allied health involvement, particularly in movement / exercise and psychological care to build on coping strategies.
4. Effective Management of Chronic Pain
This final video is aimed at clinicians. It offers practical guidance on recognising chronic pain, addressing stigma, setting goals, and developing GP Management Plans. It also reinforces the importance of utilising a biopsychosocial model and team-based approach that includes allied health.
Watch and Share
The full video series is available here
We encourage you to view and share these videos with your patients and professional networks to help raise awareness and improve chronic pain care in our communities.
Declaration of Interest
Clinical Associate Professor Kylie Bailey was a member of the Chronic Pain Working Group and collaborated on the development of the Chronic Pain Video Series.
Important Dates for Your Diary
Tuesday 7 October 2025
Rising Star Award Applications Close
Tuesday 28 October 2025
Free Paper/Poster Abstract Submissions Close
Tuesday 18 November 2025 Registrations Open!
Sunday 30 November 2025
All Travel Grant Applications Close
Save The Date
APS 2026 will be held from 19 - 22 April 2026 at the Adelaide Convention Centre, SA
Please visit the conference website here: www.dccam.com.au/aps2026
If you have any questions, please contact the APS Conference Secretariat
RISING STAR AWARD APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!
This award showcases rising star pain researchers in Australia. The Rising Star may be awarded annually, subject to the application of suitable candidates.
The Rising Star winner will receive a return domestic airfare, accommodation, and complimentary registration to attend the 46th Annual Scientific Meeting. At the ASM the Rising Star will give a plenary presentation to showcase their work and ideas.
The deadline for Rising Star Award submissions is: Tuesday 7 October 2025
Please click here to view the Rising Star Award Submission Guidelines.
To submit an application, please complete the form online here.
Should you have any queries regarding your submission or the process, please contact the Conference Secretariat
We look forward to receiving your submission.
ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN!
Submissions opened: Tuesday 1 July 2025
Abstracts will be accepted for Free Communication and Poster presentations. Opportunities to participate in the Rapid Communication Sessions are also available.
The deadline for Abstract submissions is: Tuesday 28 October 2025
Please click here to view the Abstract Submission Guidelines
Please note the following points regarding the submission process:
• If your abstract is accepted, either as a free paper or poster, there is an expectation that you will attend the conference to present this abstract
• The submitting author MUST be the main author and the person who will present the work at the ASM
• Expressions of Interest (EOI) for travel grant applications are also being collected as part of the submission process
See below for the three Abstract Submission Portals.
Clinical Practice & Service Delivery Abstract Guidelines
Case Reports Abstract Guidelines
ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN!
EOI for Travel Grant Applications APS Members only
Delegates wishing to apply for a travel grant must be the major contributor and submitting author of the abstract. Only delegates who have ticked 'yes' to the Travel Grant section of the abstract submission process AND completed the associated application form will be considered.
There are two travel grant opportunities available for APS Members.
For further information on available APS travel grants and eligibility, please refer to the following webpages: Travel Grants
Professor Michael Cousins AO Travel Grant - Allied Health Professionals only
Should you have any queries regarding your submission or the process, please contact the Conference Secretariat
We look forward to receiving your submission.
Nomination for Australian Pain Society Distinguished Member Award – 2026
The Board of Directors is seeking nominations from all Australian Pain Society (APS) members for candidates to be considered for the Distinguished Member Award(s). The award will be presented to the recipient at the APS 46th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in Adelaide (19 - 22 April 2026).
Eligibility criteria:
Candidates must be APS members who have had a lengthy career in the field of pain and:
• Made major contribution1 towards the Society, and
• Significantly contributed to the science of pain management, and/or
• Played a significant clinical, educational or research role in the field of Pain Management in Australia
1 Major contributions include, but are not limited to:
• Scientific Program Committee involvement
• Pain research
• APS projects
• Subcommittee involvement
• Board liaison
• Contributions to ASM presentations
Nomination Guidelines:
• A ‘Nomination for Distinguished Member Award’ form must be completed.
• It is desirable that nominees have held continuous APS membership for over 10 years.
• Nominations must include an 800-900 word biography of the nominee. The Board will not consider incomplete nomination forms.
• Unsuccessful nominations are not automatically carried over to subsequent years. A new submission is required for each nomination cycle.
• The nominator must be prepared to present a brief summary of the Distinguished Member biography in the ASM program, or arrange a suitable alternate for the presentation segment.
Submission
• All nominations to be submitted to the APS Secretariat by 31 October 2025.
Notification:
• The APS Board will notify successful nominees by 31 December 2025
• Distinguished Member recipients are actively encouraged to attend the Annual Scientific Meeting in order to receive their award in person from the APS President.
The nomination form and a listing of past recipients of the Distinguished Member Award, including their biographies, can be found on the APS website.
ASM Travel Grants
The Australian Pain Society (APS) is pleased to announce the availability of several Travel Grants for members to present their research at our Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM).
Travel Grants are awarded as follows:
• PhD students (up to the value of $500)
• A single dedicated Travel Grant for a Pain in Childhood (PinC) SIG member ($500)
• A single dedicated Travel Grant for a Basic Pain Research (BPR) SIG member ($500)
• If funds permit, further travel grants may be offered to nurses, allied health professionals, and other post-graduate students.
This Travel Grant program is designed to encourage contribution to, and participation in the ASM, and is made possible through an allocation of a capped pool of APS operating funds.
Full eligibility criteria and Terms and Conditions are available on the Travel Grants webpage.
Professor Michael Cousins AO Travel Grant
In honour of Professor Michael Cousins AO, the APS is pleased to announce a single, dedicated Travel Grant for an Allied Health Practitioner (AHP) member to present their research abstract at our Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM).
The Professor Michael Cousins AO Allied Health Practitioner Travel Grant includes:
• Complimentary ASM registration at the relevant early bird rate
• $500 towards ASM travel and accommodation expenses
To be considered for any Travel Grant:
a. an EOI for a Travel Grant must be indicated when your abstract is submitted; AND
b. a Travel Grant Application form must be submitted to aps@apsoc.org.au by 5pm AEDT on 30 November 2025 – no exceptions.
Annual Scientific Meeting Travel Grant Recipient Report
Emily Walker
Emily Walker is working on her PhD at University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), with her research focusing on chronic low back pain. Clinically, she works as an exercise physiologist in a multidisciplinary clinic, primarily seeing people with pain, osteoporosis, and other musculoskeletal concerns. Emily is also an Associate Lecturer at UNSW, where she is involved in teaching subjects on research methods, musculoskeletal health and exercise across the lifespan.
Reflections on the 2025 Australian Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting
Receiving the Travel Grant made it possible for me to attend the 2025 Australian Pain Society (APS) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) and fully participate in what continues to be a deeply valuable professional experience. Without this support, the financial barriers of travel, registration, and accommodation would have limited my ability to contribute and engage. I am very grateful to the Society for enabling my involvement.
This year, I had the opportunity to present in the Empowering Patients: Innovative Approaches to Chronic Low Back Pain Management free paper session. My presentation was titled "Mechanisms of Patient-Led Goal Setting and Pain Science Education in People with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Mediation Analysis." I shared findings from a mediation analysis exploring how pain self-efficacy, kinesiophobia, and health-related quality of life may mediate the impact of a combined intervention of goal setting and pain education on pain intensity and disability. This research sits within a broader body of work aiming to centre patients more meaningfully in their care and enhance engagement in chronic pain management.
This was my second time attending the ASM. I was fortunate to attend last year, where I particularly appreciated the strong Indigenous focus and the critical conversations it encouraged. While this year’s lens was different, I welcomed the variety. The conference struck a good balance between clinical, research, and systems-level perspectives. I valued the continued commitment to equity and implementation.
Two of my favourite sessions this year were the workshops titled:
• The IASP Global Year through an Australian Lens: Research and Action to Address Pain Inequities; and
• Rural Realities vs Urban Ideals: Breaking the Metro Mould of Pain Management in Rural Australia.
Both workshops highlighted how inequities in access, service design, and broader social determinants shape people’s pain experiences and the care they receive. They offered practical strategies and challenged us to think critically about how we can adapt models of care to better reflect and respond to the diversity of people’s lives, particularly those in rural and remote communities. Networking was another highlight of the conference. I connected with researchers and clinicians from across the country and from different professions. These informal and formal conversations often sparked ideas for collaboration and left me feeling energised about the future of pain research and care. One individual who left a lasting impression was a clinician working in a rural setting whose patient-centred, communityinformed approach provided a fresh perspective on implementation challenges I have been exploring in my own work.
I also enjoyed engaging with the poster sessions and learning about the broad scope of projects being undertaken. The Gala Dinner was a great opportunity to connect in a more relaxed setting, sharing stories, laughs, and dance moves with people who are equally passionate about improving care for people in pain.
Attending the ASM reinforced how important it is to create spaces where clinicians, researchers, and people with lived experience can come together to share ideas and challenge each other. The sessions I attended and the conversations I had pushed me to think more critically about the structural and social contexts of pain care and reminded me why patient-centred, equity-focused approaches matter.
I am already looking forward to next year’s meeting, continuing to build on the relationships I have formed, sharing further insights from my PhD research, and learning from others doing impactful work in the field.
Declaration: Emily Walker has nothing to declare.
Annual Scientific Meeting Travel Grant Recipient Report
Harrison Hansford
Harrison is an NHMRC Postgraduate Scholar in the final year of his PhD at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and the School of Health Sciences at University of New South Wales (UNSW). His PhD focusses on improving the evidence-based management of musculoskeletal conditions, with a focus on surgical interventions for back pain. He is also interested in improving research reporting and quality to help improve trust in science more broadly.
2025 Australian Pain Society (APS) Annual Scientific Meeting
I was grateful to receive the APS Travel Grant this year, which covered my travel and accommodation in Melbourne, without which I would not have been able to attend. I presented in a multidisciplinary workshop that I helped organise on surgery for back pain, which ended up generating a lot of interest and great discussion around the role of surgery in managing back pain. I felt the session was well received and there was a lot of discussion in the room, which was insightful for myself, and I hope the rest of the audience.
The conference program had a great mix of clinical, preclinical, and implementation science which made for a really engaging few days. I met several researchers doing spine surgery research in Australia who I had not crossed paths with before, and I am hoping to collaborate with them in the future.
One of the highlights for me was the workshop on implementing evidence-based care for back pain, led by Professor Christine Lin. The session left me feeling optimistic about where the field is heading. The workshop had a clear, practical focus and it was great to engage in a priority setting activity at the end of the workshop.
I am already looking forward to the next APS meeting in Adelaide. It is a great city, and I am sure the local organising committee will do an excellent job with the program. APS always does a great job at bringing people together across disciplines, and there is something special about the energy at these meetings that keeps me coming back.
Declaration: Harrison Hansford has received funding from the NHRMC for a postdoctoral scholarship, Neuroscience Research Australia for a top up scholarship and a PhD Pearl sponsored by Mrs Sandra Salteri.
Annual Scientific Meeting Travel Grant Recipient Report
Pauline Jubin
Pauline is a final-year PhD student at Western Sydney University, School of Medicine. Her research focuses on the molecular pathways of pain, using mass spectrometry to analyse plasma from healthy individuals and those suffering from sustained and chronic pain, with the aim of identifying proteins involved in the development and persistence of pain.
2025 Australian Pain Society 45th Annual Scientific Meeting
Thanks to the generous support of the Australian Pain Society (APS) Travel Grant 2025, I had the opportunity to attend the APS Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) for the first time. This was not only my first APS conference, but also my first time attending a conference entirely dedicated to pain. As someone relatively new to the pain field, this experience was both eyeopening and inspiring.
The ASM provided a unique environment, bringing together researchers, clinicians, and professionals from across Australia and beyond. It was great to see both basic science and clinical aspects of pain represented throughout the conference. I really appreciated the chance to hear from researchers and clinicians alike, and to learn how scientific discoveries connect with realworld pain management.
A highlight of the experience was being able to attend the Sunday pre-conference workshop “Pain Basic Research”. This session was directly aligned with my current research interests and allowed for a deeper dive into emerging techniques and findings in pain. The grant made it possible for me to stay longer and attend this extra session, which turned out to be both really informative and closely related to my research.
Along with the invaluable academic learning I was also able to attend the different social events, giving me networking opportunities
throughout the conference. These social events offered a more relaxed setting to connect with other attendees, including earlycareer researchers, clinicians, and some of the leading speakers. These informal conversations provided fresh perspectives and often sparked spontaneous discussions about collaborative opportunities or shared challenges in the field.
I found the talks throughout the conference exceptional. From keynote presentations to concurrent sessions, I found myself constantly engaged and curious. Many of the talks not only deepened my understanding of pain mechanisms and treatments but also left me genuinely excited to continue exploring new questions in my own research. Some sessions introduced me to entirely new areas of pain research which made me even more curious about the field.
As someone still building their knowledge in pain science, the APS conference was an invaluable opportunity to broaden my horizons. I returned with new ideas, increased motivation, and a stronger sense of connection to the wider pain research community.
The exposure to diverse viewpoints and methodological approaches was an incommensurable opportunity.
I also felt very fortunate to present my research on pain-related proteins through a poster at the conference, and I am grateful to everyone who took the time to read it, ask questions, and engage in meaningful discussions.
I am extremely grateful to have received the Travel Grant, and I left the APS 2025 conference with a renewed sense of purpose and excitement for what lies ahead, and I am already looking forward to APS 2026, in Adelaide, and the new insights and collaborations it will surely bring.
Declaration: Pauline Jubin has nothing to declare.
Pain Management, Research and Education in Low - and Middle -Income Settings 2025 Global Year
For more information
Australian Pain Society www.apsoc.org.au
New Zealand Pain Society www.nzps.org.nz
Faculty of Pain Medicine, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists www.fpm.anzca.edu.au
International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) www.iasp-pain.org
Dr Tiê Yamato in paediatric on musculoskeletal conditions. She is a Research Fellow at the School of Health Sciences, the University of Sydney. She has published over 90 research articles and >4,500 citations. Her research has influenced clinical practice guidelines globally and advanced the understanding of the global burden of musculoskeletal conditions, particularly in low and middle-income countries.
Advancing pain care where it is needed most: Insights from Brazil
At the recent Australian Pain Society (APS) meeting, we have discussed the 2025 International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Global Year which aims to look at pain management, research, and education in all manner of low- and middle-income settings, such as low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), Indigenous people, culturally diverse groups, and refugees in high-income countries.
I have presented my work in Brazil, highlighting the often-overlooked challenges
the need is great.
Why Brazil? A window into global health disparities
Brazil, the world’s sixth most populous country, offers a striking lens through which to examine health inequities. With over 160 million people relying solely on the overstretched public health system, and only 20% of doctors responsible for 75% of the population, access to evidence-based pain care remains limited. This is aggravated by educational gaps, socioeconomic disadvantage, and one of the highest crime rates globally.
Yet, as presented, people living in low-resource settings are not the minority – they are the global majority. This makes research in these settings not only necessary but urgent.
What does the research say?
Findings from a series of studies conducted in Brazil bring visibility to an under-researched area: musculoskeletal (MSK) pain in children and adolescents.
In a survey of over 2,600 schoolchildren, 27% reported disabling MSK pain, with the back being the most affected area. A follow-up cost analysis revealed an estimated national burden of over US$1 billion annually. Longitudinal studies (KITE and BRINCA cohorts) offered insight into the development and recovery from pain in young people, providing early predictive models for clinical outcomes.
Lessons from the field: Research in LMICs
Conducting health research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Brazil is not without difficulty. Infrastructure is inconsistent, data collection is complex, and basic resources are often unavailable. But, as noted, "research thrives here not because of money, but because of people". Motivation, collaboration, and creativity drive progress, even in the absence of funding. There is real importance of designing research “from the ground up”, adapting methods to context rather than importing models from high-income settings. Key strategies include flexibility, community engagement, and a willingness to work with what is available.
A global vision for equity in pain care
I take the opportunity to extend a call to action that resonated well beyond the walls of the APS conference in Melbourne. I strongly suggest researchers, funders, and policymakers to:
• Advocate for equitable, context-sensitive care;
• Support local research and education efforts in underserved regions;
• Strengthen international collaboration to ensure that global pain care includes (not excludes) those in low-resource settings.
Echoing the IASP vision, I believe we all agree that access to effective pain care is a human right, not a privilege. And to fulfill this, we must listen to and work with communities around the world.
Declaration: Tiê Parma Yamato has received funding from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) to conduct the studies cited in this report (Process Number 2017/17484).
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Announcing the APS/CFK Clinical Research Grant #8
The Australian Pain Society (APS) is a multidisciplinary association whose purpose is to advance pain management through education, research, and advocacy for transformational improvements in clinical care. Our vision is that all people will have optimal pain management throughout life.
Cops for Kids (CFK) is a South Australian based charity focused on supporting initiatives that strive to improve the lives of children in that state. Part of the CFK mandate includes the provision of funds for research to assist in the care of sick children and/or enhance the life quality of a child.
APS is pleased to announce our partnership with Cops for Kids is continuing with an eighth Clinical Research Grant Program
In brief, the award is to enable clinical research meeting the following criteria:
• Achieve a meaningful conclusion in one year
• Conducted in Australia and must be relevant to the South Australian population
• The applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• The applicant and their supervisor (if applicable) must be members of the Australian Pain Society and its Pain in Childhood Special Interest Group
• The funded project can be related to any aspect of a childhood pain complaint - including theoretical, mechanistic, diagnostic, treatment, epidemiological and/or sociological approaches; and
• The grant funding of $40,000 (inclusive of GST) will be paid quarterly in arrears upon the submission and acceptance of a combined Progress Report-Acquittal Form
Further information about the Clinical Research Grant can be obtained from the APS Secretariat.
Clinical Research Grant Application forms are available online and must be submitted by:
5pm AEST on Wednesday 10 September 2025.
BPR Pain Hour: Consumer Engagement in Research
Wednesday 29 October 2025, 3-4pm AEDT (via Zoom)
The purpose of our Basic Pain Research Special Interest Group (BPR SIG) is to share, improve, and promote scientific knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms of nociception and pain. Our focus spans all levels of investigation, from molecular and cellular analyses to preclinical and clinical research.
This forum will provide an informal platform to promote and share our research and insights, from early career researchers (ECRs) (including students) and senior colleagues.
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Session 14: Consumer Engagement in Research
Summary:
In pain research, consumer engagement is essential for ensuring studies address the realities that matter most to people living with pain. This session explores how researchers and consumers can collaborate to shape priorities, co-design studies, and translate findings into meaningful change, while building trust, relevance, and impact.
Join us for an engaging session featuring two presentations:hes to analysing behaviour and facial expressions, offering new insights into pain research.
Consumer Advocacy perspective on engaging with researchers
Mr Michael Ebrey, a longstanding patient at the Flinders Medical Centre Pain Management Unit, who has lived experience with chronic pain. Michael also has extensive experience working with consumers. As a consumer representative, he has given talks to nurses/police on bloodborne viruses, facilitated support groups, and sat on Workcover committees to provide patient experience. He is currently a Consumer Advocate on a biomarker project looking to develop a blood test for the diagnostic assessment of chronic pain conditions.
If Mr Ebrey is unavailable an equally suitable consumer representative will join us.
The Consumer Connection: Building and Sustaining Partnerships in Research
Dr Grundy, a mid-career discovery scientist, and head of the NeuroUrology Research Group and Ralph Ernst Fellow in Bladder/Prostate Cancer at Flinders University. Dr Grundy’s research is at the intersection of neuroscience, urology, and oncology, where he seeks to identify novel therapeutic targets and develop the next generation of treatments for debilitating bladder pain associated with the side effects of treatment for cancer. He has secured over $2 million in research funding and published 50+ peer-reviewed works, including in Nature, Pain, JCI Insight, Scientific Reports, and the American Journal of Physiology.
The invited speakers:
• Mr Michael Ebrey, Adelaide, Flinders Medical Centre Pain Management Unit, SA, Australia
• Dr Luke Grundy, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
All are welcome to attend, including postgraduate students.
Please be advised that the speakers and most of the audience may not have clinical or healthcare backgrounds. Therefore, they may not be able to provide advice about managing pain from a healthcare perspective.
We look forward to seeing you there, please register here.
Better Pain Care Starts Here.
OPEN (Online Pain Education Network) is a new, online training program funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care, alongside philanthropic partners TDM Foundation and Hearts and Minds Investments (HM1)
Developed by leading pain clinicians and researchers from the University of Sydney and Curtin University, OPEN equips healthcare professionals with practical, evidence-based skills to better support Australians living with chronic pain It's available to GPs, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, allied health professionals, care workers and students.
Grounded in real-world experience, OPEN reflects a person-centred, interdisciplinary approach shaped by clinicians and people with lived experience Proceeds are reinvested into pain education and research, supporting continuous improvements in care — and advancing the goals of the National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management.
WHY GET INVOLVED
Chronic pain affects 1 in 5 Australians, and this
number will grow as our population ages. OPEN offers a unique opportunity to:
“When I was given the tools to manage my own pain, it was like a dream come true.”
Joe, 35, managing chronic back pain
Autoantibodies in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome
Seefried S, Barcic A, Grijalva Yepez MF, Reinhardt L, Appeltshauser L, Doppler K, Üçeyler N, Sommer C. PAIN 166 (2025) 1922-1933.
Reviewers: Marie Amigo, Final year PhD candidate, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University
A/Prof Peter Shortland, School of Science, Western Sydney University
DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003535
Review of article
Study group
The study analysed sera from 184 patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), 30 disease controls (polyneuropathy, small fibre neuropathy, myositis, and a small cell lung carcinoma), and 25 healthy controls. FMS diagnoses were confirmed by both a rheumatologist and a neurologist using the 1990 or 2010 American College of Rheumatology criteria. Binding of sera to L4/L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) from adult female Sprague Dawley rats was performed.
Aims
To characterise the antigens targeted by FMSassociated immunoglobulin (IgG) and their binding specificity to rodent DRG neuronal subpopulations and satellite glial cells (SGC) and correlated to pain scores.
Methodology
Indirect immunofluorescence staining was employed to evaluate IgG binding to DRG tissue, using patient sera and commercial antibodies targeting the wellcharacterised rodent neuronal subpopulations: neurofilament NF200 positive for myelinated afferents, peptidergic and non-peptidergic for nociceptors, and the SGC marker fatty acid binding protein 7, FABP7. Quantification of fluorescent imaging was carried out with a Leica Thunder Imager, and colocalisation
was analysed in ImageJ. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, and preabsorption assays were performed to help identify potential antigens. Findings were correlated with clinical measures, including the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), current pain intensity (NRS) and intraepidermal nerve fibre density.
Results summary
37% of FMS patients were seropositive, showing selective IgG reactivity against DRG cell types, including neurons (i.e. NF200, TRPV1, CGRP, PV) and SGCs whereas none of the healthy or disease controls showed binding. Certain IgG binding patterns, such as to NF200, TRPV1 and FABP7, correlated with paraesthesia, burning pain and stabbing pain, respectively. Interestingly, seronegative patients showed higher global pain scores (FIQ and NRS), suggesting distinct FMS subgroups. Female FMS sera bound more often to parvalbumin (PV) neurons and to SGCs than male sera. FABP7 and PV staining also (weakly) correlated with NRS.
Conclusions
Clinical symptoms, including pain, in people with FMS may correlate with an immune activation against certain DRG proteins. This immunoreactivity was only observed in FMS participants, suggesting that immunemediated mechanisms may contribute to fibromyalgia pathophysiology. However, these results seem to depend on the individual rather than being associated with FMS, reflecting patient heterogeneity. Additionally, this study suggests that certain antigen targets might be associated with specific types of pain, offering a new perspective on pain mechanisms and management.
Reviewers’ critique & take-home message from the article
Critique
The broad inclusion criteria with milder FMS types and high disease heterogeneity make it difficult to conclusively validate any of these candidates as a pain or disease trigger as only around a third of FMS patients expressed autoantibodies and there was an inverse correlation between the presence of IgG and pain severity. Stratification by antibody profile may guide future personalised therapeutic strategies and biomarker development.
Classification based on histological antibody staining also has some limitations. The authors state that NF200 labels low threshold sensory afferents, but it also stains high threshold A-beta afferents which comprise up to 30% of rodent DRGs and A-delta high threshold
mechanoreceptors. PV stains proprioceptive DRG neurons who have large diameter cell bodies, not GABAergic neurons as stated in this paper. Careful inspection of figure 1 shows colocalisation of PV with sera in predominantly small sized DRG neurons, similar to colocalisation with the nociceptive markers TRPV1 and IB4. There is very little colocalisation with NF200, so interpretation of colocalisations with specific subgroups should be interpreted with caution.
Take home message
The study shows that sera from some FMS patients contain IgG autoantibodies and may play a role in FMS pathophysiology by binding to subpopulations of DRG cells with receptors known to be involved in nociception.
Declaration
The reviewers declare no conflict of interest.
Perspectives on Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WAD) Classification Systems: A Survey of Clinicians, Researchers, Insurance Personnel, and Consumers
This study aims to gather insights into how the current QTF WAD classification system is being used, as well as explore opportunities for improvement. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete; your perspective would be incredibly valuable to this study and future patients’ care.
Who Can Participate:
o Practitioners / clinicians
o Researchers (any discipline) whose research is related to WAD
o Insurance personnel (e.g., case manager, clinical panel)
o People with lived experience of whiplash injury, WAD, or their family/carers
Scan here to participant:
Deep and unbiased proteomics, pathway enrichment analysis, and protein-protein interaction of biomarker signatures in migraine
Woldeamanuel YW, Sanjanwala BM, Cowan RP. Deep and unbiased proteomics, pathway enrichment analysis, and protein-protein interaction of biomarker signatures in migraine. Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease (2024), 15: 1-21.
Reviewers: Pauline Jubin, Final year PhD candidate, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University.
A/Prof Peter Shortland, School of Science, Western Sydney University
DOI: 10.1177/20406223241274302
Review of article
Aim
Using untargeted proteomics on serum and CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) from humans with episodic (EM) or chronic migraine (CM) and healthy control (HC), this study aimed to identify biomarker signatures of migraine for diagnosis, subclassifying migraine types (e.g. episodic or chronic) and predictive treatment response.
Method
26 EM and 26 CM patients, as well as 26 HC were recruited and underwent a twoyears longitudinal study. All participants completed multiple questionnaires to assess their symptoms and the co-occurrence of psychological and behavioural conditions, as well as serum and CSF collection, at the beginning and at the end of the study. Proteins were isolated from serum and CSF and subjected to removal of the most abundant proteins in serum (albumin, immunoglobulins) and contaminants in CSF (haemoglobin, carbonic anhydrase, peroxiredoxin and catalase). Obtained proteins were digested into peptides then identified using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Statistical analyses were
applied on the dataset to identify the proteins that were differentially expressed between EM, CM and HC. The identified proteins were then linked back to their corresponding gene and analysed using multiple databases to explore their corresponding pathways.
Results
A total of 405 CSF and 229 serum proteins were identified as differentially expressed between EM, CM and HC. The biological processes involved were the complement activation (classical pathway), humoral response and lymphocyte-mediated immunity. Analysis of CSF and serum top protein differentially expressed in EM/CM compared to HC were involved in metabolism and lipid function, disruption and repair of the brain-blood barrier (BBB), inflammation, oxidative stress, trigeminal nociception, neural plasticity and regeneration (upregulated) and immune response (downregulated). Using KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis, the top significant pathway was the complement and coagulation cascade. Protein-protein interactome revealed nodes that were upregulated in glucose metabolism and downregulated coagulation in serum, as well as upregulated nodes in oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange in erythrocytes, complement cascade and regulation of IGF (insulin-like growth factor) in CSF of migraine patients. These results showed an activation of various pathways, mostly associated with disruption of the immune response, complement and coagulation cascade, alteration in glucose metabolism, oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange in red blood cells and insulin-like growth factor regulation.
Conclusion
The identified proteins revealed a possible dysregulation of biomolecules associated with neurovascular decoupling, immune response
oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, bloodbrain barrier disruption, neuroplasticity, and sensitisation of trigeminal nociceptors in patients with migraine compared to control. These results correlate with previous studies observations on proteomics and metabolomics in migraine, but also other chronic pain conditions, such as trigeminal neuralgia, Familial Hemiplegic Migraine, and preclinical models of migraine and neuropathic pain. Further analysis of the identified proteins will deepen our understanding of migraines and involved mechanisms, and facilitate diagnosis, management and treatment of the condition.
Reviewers’ critique & take-home message from the article
Critique
Blood was drawn while most of the CM patients had ongoing headache, whereas most EM patients did not. Similarly, CSF was collected during ongoing headache in CM
and headache-free periods in EM. Data were analysed by comparing CM, EM and HC, but it was not specified whether headache state was considered. Sampling serum and CSF during ongoing headache and headache-free periods for all participants and comparing the different state of the condition could have led to the identification of proteins specifically associated with migraine attacks, potentially enabling their prediction.
Take-home message
This study highlighted clear differences in the proteome of migraine and healthy populations. Serum and CSF analysis revealed similar pathways activation, showing that invasive procedures such as lumbar puncture are not necessary to classify pain conditions. This demonstrates that diagnosis could be possible using blood samples alone.
Declaration
The reviewers have nothing to declare.
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Chronic motoneuronal activation enhanced axonal regeneration and functional recovery after brachial plexus injury
Lv S., Wu Z., Huang Y., Wu P., Shao J., Wu J., Zhong K., Zhou L., Wu W. Journal of Orthopaedic Translation (2025) 52: 40-54.
Reviewer: Peter Shortland, A/Prof Human Anatomy, Western Sydney University
DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.jot.2025.02.007
Review of article
Study group
Adult female mice were subjected to unilateral C5-7 dorsal root transection, C5, C7 ventral root avulsion and C6 ventral root crush (VRC) to study the effects of chemogenetic activation of motoneurons on axonal regeneration.
Aims
Brachial plexus avulsion in humans produces a characteristic pain syndrome that is often intractable. Interestingly, ventral root implantation ameliorates the pain by mechanisms that are not well understood but likely involve motoneuron survival and motor axon regeneration. This study used excitatory design receptors activated by the engineered drug (DREADD) chemo-genetics to infect motoneurons with the hM3Dq gene to enhance motoneuron axon regeneration and improve forelimb functional recovery.
Methodology
Healthy adult mice were intraspinally injected with AAV9-hM3Dq-GFP or AAV9-GFP virus into the C6 ventral horn one week prior to surgery. Mice were split into three groups: 1) sham group (AAV-GFP injection and sham surgery), 2) AAV9-hM3Dq-GFP or 3) AAV9-GFP followed by C6 VRC. All animals were subjected to weekly intraperitoneal injection of the DREADD ligand chlorpyrimidine-N-oxide (CNO, for four or eight weeks). Mice were assessed for recovery of motor function using the Catwalk system, the Terzis elbow flexion scale for biceps
reinnervation and electromyography. Mice were sacrificed for histological analysis of the spinal cord, musculocutaneous nerve, and biceps muscles to assess motoneuron number, axon remyelination, neuromuscular junction (NMJ) reinnervation, and muscle atrophy.
Results summary
Viral injection labelled ~85% of C6 motoneurons in all groups. CNO activated seven times as many AAV9-hM3Dq-GFP motoneurons compared to AAV9-GFP labelled motoneurons. At four weeks post VRC, hM3Dq+ motoneurons had significantly more retrogradely labelled neurons in the spinal cord compared to AAV-9GFP injected mice, although at eight weeks numbers were similar. Likewise at four weeks, hM3Dq+ treated mice had significantly more axons in the distal nerve, with more myelin and larger axons compared to AAV-9GFP mice, but by eight weeks all groups had similar numbers with no difference between hM3Dq+ and sham control in axon size. For NMJ reinnervation there were no differences between hM3Dq+ and sham at either four or eight weeks but AAV-9GFP had significantly fewer innervated NMJs at both time points. At eight weeks, hM3Dq+ muscle atrophy was similar to sham-treated mice and both were significantly different to AAV-9GFP. This was reflected in the recovery of the EMG where the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) in hM3Dq+ muscles was twice the size of AAV-9GFP CMAP. Terzis scores and catwalk analysis also showed a more rapid recovery of movement with significant differences over weeks two-six of regeneration.
Conclusions
Chemogenetic neuronal activation of surviving motoneurons accelerated axonal growth in the early stages of regeneration, promoting a reduction in muscle atrophy, recovery of function and increased NMJ innervation. At
later stages (two months) although there were no significant differences in anatomical parameters, functional differences were still apparent. Chemogenetic activation may offer a potential new way to treat these injuries.
Reviewer's critique & take-home message from the article
Strengths
This study used anatomical, electrophysiological and behavioural assays to monitor axonal regeneration and functional recovery in mice subject to VRC. They convincingly show that enhancing motoneuronal activation using DREADD technology accelerates recovery, showing the potential of this monotherapy.
Limitations
The crush model does not physically disrupt axons from their distal Schwann cell tubes so regeneration to their original motor targets occurs. In true avulsion injury repairs, motor axons innervate the first muscle they reach so that distal targets rarely become reinnervated and even if axons get there then
they must contend with muscle atrophy. Another limitation is the issue of cell death or if DREADD has any neuroprotective effects, as it did not assess the amount of cell death over time. VRC causes cell death, and this may continue over time limiting regenerative ability. Lastly, only one of three damaged roots was allowed to regenerate so it is unsurprising that some parameters failed to recover to sham levels. This study should be repeated in a root reimplantation model and should be coupled with other strategies such as neuroprotection and rehabilitation to keep motoneurons alive and muscles active until accelerated regeneration occurs.
Take-home message
The study provides a proof of concept that promoting neuronal activation can accelerate axonal regeneration during the early stages of regeneration and that enhancing target innervation is crucial to functional recovery.
Declaration
The reviewer has no conflicts of interest to declare.
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Attrition from Pediatric Interdisciplinary Chronic Pain
Thank you to APS members Kristen Tiong, Greta Palmer and Tiina Jaaniste and their colleagues Andrew Gorrie and David Sainsbury for sharing the following recent publication.
Article first published online: 02 July 2025
Journal Reference: Tiong K, Gorrie A, Palmer GM, Sainsbury D, Jaaniste T. Attrition from Pediatric Interdisciplinary Chronic Pain Clinics: Utilizing the "Paediatric Electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration (PaedePPOC) Database". Clin J Pain. 2025 Jul 2. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40421547.
DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000001302
Abstract
Objectives
Treatment attrition may be defined as a patient withdrawing from a service or discontinuing an intervention before the clinician and patient agree that the treatment is complete. Attrition from paediatric chronic pain clinics limits patients from receiving maximum benefit from evidence-based interventions, with likely persistence of chronic pain, functional and psychosocial impairments. We aimed to determine the prevalence of attrition from interdisciplinary paediatric outpatient chronic pain clinics and identify any associated patient and caregiver factors.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was performed of longitudinal data from patients and caregivers attending 10 interdisciplinary paediatric outpatient chronic pain clinics in Australia or New Zealand contributing to the Paediatric electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration (PaedePPOC) database. Data was retrieved for patient attrition, patient and caregiver factors at treatment commencement and subsequent documentation of the episode end for treatment completers and non-completers. Statistical associations with patient attrition were assessed using logistic regression analyses.
Results
The prevalence of patient attrition was 19.3% in the PaedePPOC cohort (N =1051). Patients
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ending their treatment prematurely presented with longer pain duration (>12 months) (χ 2 (1, n=879)=8.23, p=0.004) than treatment completers. In the regression model, only older patient age (p=0.010) and higher caregiver psychosocial burden (p=0.025) at treatment commencement were associated with attrition. Pain intensity, patient physical and psychosocial functioning scores and caregiver partner status were not.
Conclusions
One in five patients commencing an interdisciplinary paediatric outpatient chronic pain clinic intervention did not complete it. Identifying patients at pre-intervention screening with longer pain duration, older in age and from families with greater reported caregiver burden and providing tailored supports may minimise attrition, therefore optimising efficiency of service provision.
Discussion
There is a need for more accurate documentation and standardisation in reporting of attrition from paediatric pain services to improve our understanding and reliability of clinical attrition estimates.
This study highlighted the potential value of screening patients and families to identify those at greatest risk of subsequent attrition. Prompt identification of urgent or complex family psychosocial issues that may hinder the family’s ability to engage might help determine their capacity to commit to their child’s pain treatment requirements and whether treatment plan modifications or further education regarding treatment rationale are required.
In light of the moderate rates of attrition from paediatric chronic pain clinics, more attention needs to be directed to patient engagement and retention strategies to avoid inefficient use of these finite resources.
Declaration
The authors have nothing to declare.
Do health outcomes following pain service utilization vary for young people experiencing chronic pain according to pain phenotype? An exploratory analysis using the electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration database
Thank you to APS members Dr Robert Waller, Prof Helen Slater and Dr Susie Lord and their colleagues Professors Andrew Briggs and Anne Smith for sharing the following recent publication.
Article first published online: 26 June 2025
variable measure anchors and scoring are defined in the article. Differences in outcomes across pain phenotypes were estimated using logistic regression for binary indicators and clinically significant improvements aligned with ePPOC benchmarks, and linear regression for mean change.
Results
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Journal Reference: Waller R, Slater H, Briggs AM, Lord SM, Smith AJ. Do health outcomes following pain service utilization vary for young people experiencing chronic pain according to pain phenotype? An exploratory analysis using the electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration database. The Journal of Pain, in-press.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105482
Abstract
Background
Young people (defined here as 15-25 years old) experience chronic pain with prevalence rates approaching adult rates. Utilising Australasian electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration (ePPOC) data for young people measured at referral to Australian pain services, we previously derived three distinct pain phenotypes (“low”, “moderate”, “high”), each characterised by an increasing symptom-severity gradient in multidimensional pain-related variables. (Slater et al, 2025) The phenotypes were associated with meaningful differences across clinical and sociodemographic factors, health service utilisation, and medicines use. In our most recent study, we explored whether health outcomes varied by pain phenotype at the end of pain service care.
Setting
68 tertiary and private pain services are represented in the Australian adult ePPOC data registry.
Subjects
Young people aged 15-25 years were included if their pain phenotype was previously derived and they had episode end outcome measures, within a five-year period (2018 to 2022).
Methods
Self-reported global rating of change (overall and physical) was measured at episode end, while pain severity and interference, pain-related worry, emotional functioning and pain self-efficacy were measured at referral and at episode end. The
Of 3,518 young people initially phenotyped from adult service data, 477 (13.6%) had episode end outcomes (pain phenotypes: “low” = 103, “moderate” = 273 and “high” = 101). Generally positive outcomes were reported across key domains, with the proportion of participants reporting meaningful improvement ranging from 24.0%−74.2%. Clinically relevant variation in self-reported outcomes across phenotypes was demonstrated, specifically for global rating of change (overall, physical), pain severity, pain related worry, emotional functioning and pain self-efficacy. The “low” and “moderate” phenotypes reported more global change than the “high” symptom-severity phenotype.
Conclusions
This study represents a unique exploration of whether self-reported outcomes at the end of pain service care vary according to symptom-severity phenotype. The differential outcomes observed by phenotype suggest that care may not be adequately tailored to symptom-severity for each phenotype to derive comparable benefit.
Implications
This evidence supports impetus for health system and service improvements that more equitably and efficiently meet young people’s pain care needs and provide timely, phenotype-informed care.
Declaration
This research, and H.S., A.M.B. and R.W., are funded, in part, by the Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund (MRF2016567) with cofunding from the Government of Western Australia, Department of Health (WA Health). The MRFF provides funding to support health and medical research and innovation, with the objective of improving the health and wellbeing of Australians. Further information on the MRFF is available at www.health.gov.au/mrff. The contents of this published material are solely the responsibility of the individual authors and do not reflect the views of the NHMRC (MRFF).
Pain Gets Misunderstood: New Lenses for Seeing Pain More Clearly
Thank you to APS member Dr Joshua Pate for sharing the following recent publication.
Article first published online: 23 July 2025
Journal Reference: Pate, J. W. (2025). Pain Gets Misunderstood: New Lenses for Seeing Pain
More Clearly. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 55(8), 1-9.
Pain is often misunderstood as a clear-cut indicator of tissue damage, yet recent data reveal a more complex picture shaped by our beliefs, contexts, and perceptions. This editorial introduces a metaphorical framework
of “lenses” to navigate this complexity. It explores how some perspectives can become problematic if held too rigidly (e.g., the “Engineer’s Lens”), while others can foster compassionate understanding and collaboration (e.g., the “Chef’s Lens”). Illustrated with a practical clinical dialogue, this lensbased approach aims to shift conversations from a focus on fixing pain to the shared goal of efficiently and effectively making sense of it. Ultimately, this piece is an invitation for clinicians, researchers, and people in pain to ask a transformative question: What lens am I using now, and what might I see if I chose a different one?
Declaration
JWP has received speaker fees for presentations on pain and rehabilitation. He receives royalties for educational children’s books.
Have you had an article accepted for publication recently?
The Australian Pain Society (APS) is keen to share publications from our members with their colleagues via our eNewsletter. If you’ve had an article accepted or published recently, please contact our Assistant Editor Joanne Harmon via the APS Secretariat (aps@apsoc.org.au) with the title, authors, and reference (i.e., journal, volume, and DOI) of your article and request the submission template. We would love it if you also supply a short commentary (300 words max) to give our readers the gist of the article.
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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
Impact
Conversations
Source
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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EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST ONLINE: www.dccam.com.au/aps2026
Registrations open 18 November 2025
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
Topical Sessions 2 September 2025
Rising Star Award 7 October 2025
Free Papers & Posters 28 October 2025
Early Bird Registration 24 February 2026
INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Professor Yves De Koninck
Yves De Koninck is Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Université Laval
and interdisciplinary approach to study the pathophysiology of neuromusculoskeletal conditions with the ultimate goal to improve management for patients.
For sponsorship and exhibition opportunities or more information please contact the APS Conference Secretariat: DC Conference & Association Management (DCC&A) P: 61 2 9954 4400 E: apsasm@dccam.com.au
NEW!
> Apply for the IASP Collaborative Research Grant (up to USD15,000) by 30SEP25
Other items of interest for our members:
> Latest opioid data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics: Opioid induced deaths in Australia.
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> 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
Calendar of Events
04-06 September 2025
International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
NeuPSIG 2025, 9th International Congress on Neuropathic Pain
Australia & New Zealand Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Network
ANZMUSC 2025 Scientific Meeting
University of Queensland City Campus and Customs House, Brisbane, QLD
08-09 October 2025
National Rural Health Alliance,
Australian Rural Health Education Network & Federation of Rural Australian Medical Educators
10th Rural & Remote Health Scientific Symposium
Alice Springs Convention Centre, Alice Springs, NT
13-15 October 2025
Australian Association of Psychologists Inc
AAPi Conference 2025
Grand Hyatt, Melbourne, VIC
17 October 2025
Pain Nurses Australia
2025 Annual Professional Day - Pain in Vulnerable Populations
Waterview in Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, NSW
23-25 October 2025
Australian Physiotherapy Association Scientific Conference
Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide, SA
24-26 October 2025
Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM)
2025 FPM Spring Meeting
Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle, WA
14-16 November 2025
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
GP25
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, QLD
19-21 November 2025
Australian & New Zealand Spinal Cord Society
ANZCoS 2025: Rivers of Innovation
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, QLD
18-21 March 2026
New Zealand Pain Society (NZPS)
NZPS26 - The Right Fit
Christchurch Town Hall, Otautahi Christchurch, NZ
17-18 April 2026
Pain in Child Health (PICH)
PICH2GO Adelaide 2026
University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA
19-22 April 2026
Australian Pain Society
2026 Australian Pain Society 46th Annual Scientific Meeting
Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide, SA
New Member as at 24 August 2025
Ms Alice Farmer Physiotherapy
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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
Directors
President:
Mrs Bernadette Smith
Psychology Plus
South Burnie TAS
Tel: 03 6431 9959 Fax: 03 6431 9950
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
Treasurer & Interim Secretary
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 0420
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:
Mrs Bernadette Smith
Psychology Plus
South Burnie TAS 7320
Tel: 03 6431 9959 Fax: 03 6431 9950
Newsletter Editor:
Clinical A/Prof Kylie Bailey
Sagacity Services
Mount Hutton NSW 2290
Tel: 0447 905 085
Newsletter Assistant Editor:
Dr Joanne Harmon
School of Clinical and Health Sciences
University of South Australia
Adelaide SA 5000
Tel: 08 8302 1442
Grant Selection
Subcommittee Co-Chairs:
Emeritus Professor Maree Smith AC
Centre for Integrated Preclinical Drug Development
