Diversity and inclusion

Overview

The Australian Standards for Health Practitioner Pain Management Education recognise that pain can affect anyone, regardless of age, background or identity. Each person’s experience of pain is unique and shaped by their culture, language, life experiences and previous interactions with the health system and health professionals - these differences can lead to unequal experiences of care.

The standards acknowledge that diversity factors have a significant impact on both the way individuals experience pain, and the way they interact with the health system. They also recognise that pain inequities can be exacerbated by the intersectionality of various diversity factors. Therefore, the standards highlight the importance of educating all health practitioners to recognise and respond to diversity. Understanding these differences helps practitioners communicate with empathy and provide care that is culturally and psychologically safe, and free from unconscious bias.

The standards guide health practitioners to respond to diversity as part of best practice in pain management. They focus on:

• Standard 1: Developing and maintaining a strong understanding of the unique and diverse experiences of the individual.

• Standard 3: Using evidence-based practice that fits each person’s goals, needs and circumstances.

• Standard 4: Reflecting on how personal practice influences the experiences of the individual and their diverse factors.

• Standard 5: Communicating clearly and respectfully with individuals and their significant/relevant others.

• Standard 6: Working together with patients, significant/relevant others and care teams

By highlighting the diversity of people who experience pain, the standards seek to ensure that all Australian health practitioners are prepared to deliver safe, fair and high-quality pain care for everyone in the Australian community experiencing pain.