Affecting one in five Australian adults and children and one in three people aged over the age of 65, chronic pain (ongoing or recurrent pain that continues beyond three months or the expected time for healing) is an important policy issue due to its significant economic and social cost.

This Evidence Brief from the Deeble Institute of Health Policy Research and Painaustralia proposes six actions the Australian Government should focus on as part of a long-term national strategy to reduce Australia’s pain burden on the economy, on productivity and on those who live with pain and their families. 

‘Empowering consumers to understand pain treatment and self-management is critical because when consumers are better educated about pain management and self-management, there is less demand for pain services.'
CEO Painaustralia Carol Bennett