By Dr Simone De Morgan and Professor Fiona Blyth
Chronic pain affects around one in five Australians and is one of the most common reasons people seek healthcare. Its impacts extend well beyond physical symptoms, influencing mental health, employment, relationships and quality of life.
As the burden of chronic pain continues to grow, an important question arises: how can we ensure healthcare professionals have the knowledge, skills and confidence to provide contemporary, evidence-based pain care?
Workforce development has been identified internationally and nationally as a key priority for improving outcomes for people living with pain.
“Goal 3: Health practitioners are well-informed on best-practice evidence-based assessment and care and supported to deliver this care.”
Australian Government, National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management (2021)
Why does workforce capability matter?
General practitioners and other primary care providers are often the first point of contact for people living with pain, with around one in five GP consultations involving chronic pain.
At the same time, demand for specialist pain services frequently exceeds capacity. While some people require specialist assessment and treatment, many can be effectively supported within primary care when clinicians have access to appropriate evidence-based knowledge and skills. Strengthening workforce capability in primary care therefore has the potential to improve access to care, support better outcomes and reduce pressure on specialist services.
Moving beyond symptom management
Contemporary pain care involves much more than managing symptoms.
Research has shown that pain is influenced by biological, psychological and social factors. Effective care therefore requires a biopsychosocial approach that considers the whole person and the impact of pain on their daily life.
Importantly, people living with pain consistently identify being heard, believed and understood as essential components of quality care. The Listen to me, learn from me pain care priorities framework highlights the importance of respectful communication, validation, shared decision-making and partnership. These are not simply interpersonal skills; they are core clinical competencies that contribute to better care experiences and outcomes.
Supporting collaborative care
Pain is rarely managed by one healthcare professional alone. People living with pain often engage with GPs, physiotherapists, psychologists, pharmacists, nurses and specialists throughout their care journey.
Effective pain management therefore depends on communication, coordination and collaboration across disciplines. Building confidence in multidisciplinary care helps clinicians recognise when additional expertise may be beneficial and supports more coordinated, person-centred care.
Translating knowledge into practice
Despite advances in pain science, many healthcare professionals report gaps in their education, confidence and skills in pain management. Australian Primary Health Networks have similarly identified a need for greater access to pain education and workforce development opportunities, particularly in regional, rural and underserved communities.
The challenge is not simply increasing knowledge, but helping clinicians translate evidence into practice.
The Online Pain Education Network (OPEN) was established to support this goal through accessible, interdisciplinary education for healthcare professionals involved in pain care. Developed through a collaboration between the University of Sydney, Curtin University and philanthropic partners, OPEN’s Clinical Pain Management Training Program provides flexible, evidence-based learning aligned with contemporary pain science, international education standards and the priorities identified by people living with pain.
As healthcare systems respond to the growing burden of chronic pain, supporting clinicians to deliver high-quality, person-centred care remains an essential part of the solution. Building workforce capability has the potential to strengthen primary care, improve access to best-practice pain management and enhance outcomes for people living with pain.
Professor Fiona Blyth AM is the Clinical Epidemiology Program Director at the University of Sydney.
Dr Simone De Morgan is a Senior Research Fellow/Senior Lecturer at the General Practice Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, at the University of Sydney.
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| The OPEN Clinical Pain Management Training Program is a CPD activity endorsed by the RACGP for 20 Educational Activities hours, under the University of Sydney’s RACGP provider approval. |
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