Leading pain specialists welcome release of key report for National Pain Week
The Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM) of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) has welcomed the 2026 National Pain Report: Pain Lives Here which underscores the ongoing impact of chronic pain on individuals, families and the broader health system.
Drawing on responses from over 6000 Australians living with chronic pain, Chronic Pain Australia’s report highlights delays in diagnosis, difficulties accessing appropriate care, financial pressures and the significant effect of pain on mental health, employment and quality of life. Faculty of Pain Medicine Dean Professor Michael Veltman says the “national pain gap” highlighted in the report reinforces the need for greater investment in pain education and multidisciplinary, evidence-based care.
“The survey confirms what our fellows already see every day in clinical practice. Chronic pain is a major public health issue affecting one in five Australians and remains one of the leading causes of disability, yet too many people continue to experience barriers to appropriate assessment and treatment.
“Persistent pain is complex. Improving outcomes begins with ensuring health practitioners have the knowledge and skills to recognise, assess and manage pain using contemporary, evidence-based approaches.”
Professor Veltman says the release of the survey report during National Pain Week (26-31 July) comes at an important time for healthcare professionals, policymakers and the wider community.
“National Pain Week provides a critical opportunity to increase awareness of chronic pain, challenge misconceptions and highlight the importance of improving access to high-quality pain care across Australia, and the faculty stands with Chronic Pain Australia and the broader pain sector for chronic pain to be recognised as a condition in its own right”
The Faculty of Pain Medicine recently launched the Australian Standards for Health Practitioner Pain Management Education – the first nationally consistent framework designed to guide pain management education across all health professions and stages of clinical training.
Developed through extensive consultation with clinicians, educators, universities, consumers and professional organisations, the standards aim to improve the consistency and quality of pain education delivered to Australia’s future and current health workforce.
“The new standards provide a practical framework to strengthen pain education across disciplines,” Professor Veltman explains.
“They recognise that every health practitioner – not only pain specialists – needs the skills to assess and manage pain effectively, communicate compassionately and work collaboratively with patients and multidisciplinary teams.
Professor Veltman said the report also highlights the importance of strengthening national pain data collection.
"Alongside surveys such as the National Pain Report, Australia needs robust outcomes data and clinical registries to better understand what treatments work, improve the quality of care and measure outcomes for people living with pain, including those receiving pain device therapies."
“Better education and dedication to clinical data registries leads to better clinical decision-making, more consistent care and ultimately better outcomes for people living with pain.”
For more information, contact the Faculty of Pain Medicine
During National Pain Week, the Faculty of Pain Medicine will participate in two webinars, with representatives contributing to the State of Pain panel discussion on Monday 27 July and Pain Lives in Practice: Setting the standard for better pain care on Wednesday 29 July.
