The OPEN (Online Pain Education Network) website is now live — marking a major milestone in the rollout of a new national training initiative designed to upskill healthcare professionals in the recognition, assessment, and management of chronic pain.
Backed by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, OPEN is a fully online program created by leading pain experts and people with lived experience. It was developed to meet a pressing need: despite the prevalence of chronic pain in Australia, many clinicians report feeling underprepared to manage it — leading to inconsistent care and poorer outcomes for patients.
OPEN provides practical, evidence-based training that can be applied in real-world settings. It is designed for all healthcare professionals, including GPs, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, pharmacists, and students. The self-paced, interactive format makes it easy for busy clinicians to access high-quality education in their own time.
The learning materials — which include four CPD-accredited Awards — will officially launch in September 2025. Each Award focuses on a key area of contemporary pain care, from understanding the latest science to supporting people to live well with pain.
By building confidence and capability in pain care across the health workforce, OPEN aims to make a real difference to the lives of the one in five Australians living with chronic pain.