National Pain Week 24th - 30th of July 2017

'Be bold: let's manage pain together"

Chronic pain – pain that doesn't go away after the injury or illness has resolved, and lasts at least three months – is a significant health issue in Australia, with around one in five people of all ages living with this invisible illness. Figures are even more alarming for our older population, with one in three people over 65 years living with chronic pain.

Chronic pain can have significant impact on a person's ability to work, form relationships, and live an ordinary life. Chronic pain can also have a seriously detrimental effect on sufferers' mental health.

National Pain Week is an annual initiative of Chronic Pain Australia, which aims to destigmatise the experiences of people living with chronic pain, and promote the latest research and information that explains chronic pain to the wider Australian community.

This year's program of events, under the theme of -Be bold: let's manage pain together', aims to reduce the isolation of people living with chronic pain, and bring health care professionals, sufferers, families and friends together to share their experiences and discuss treatment options. Chronic Pain Australia has received consistent feedback that existing pain services are not working for people living with chronic pain, so is very keen for them to share how they envisage their ideal services.

National Pain Week

Monday 24 – Sunday 30 July 2017

Friday 28^th July 2017

Loewenthal Auditorium, Westmead Hospital, Sydney

9am – 1pm: National Pain Week conference

This event will also be live-streamed for those who cannot attend

2pm – 4pm: Co-design workshop between clinicians and people living with chronic pain, to design what a best practice pain management service would look like.

Wednesday 26^th July

Western Sydney University auditorium, Blacktown Hospital, Blacktown

2pm – 4pm: Co-design workshop between clinicians and people living with chronic pain, to design what a best practice pain management service would look like.

People who live with chronic pain who cannot attend the conference or the co-design workshops in Sydney are encouraged to share their experiences and ideas on the chronic pain forum or on social media, using the hashtags #NPW2017, #nationalpainweek, #bebold, #letsmanagepaintogether

For more information about National Pain Week, State-based activities or to register for any of the events, please visit http://www.nationalpainweek.org.au/.

Chronic Pain Australia is a group of volunteers including people in pain, researchers, health professionals and advocates who work towards de-stigmatising chronic pain. Destigmatising chronic pain saves lives. We provide high quality user-friendly research-based information and support that puts you at the centre of our attention. We support a 24/7 forum. If you live with pain we can help you understand and control it. You will find support and connection with others on our forum, and on our Facebook page you can keep in touch with us. http://chronicpainaustralia.org.au/index.php