Frequently Asked Questions
What is the organisational and governance structure of OPEN?
Organisational Status
Online Pain Education Network Ltd (OPEN) was registered as an Australian public company limited by guarantee on 1 September 2025 (ABN 95 690 557 236) and registered for GST from 9 September 2025. OPEN is also registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
The company is established and operated as a charitable, not-for-profit organisation, governed by a constitution and overseen by an independent Board.
OPEN Ltd commenced operations on 1 October 2025, with healthcare professionals from across Australia enrolling in the OPEN Clinical Pain Management Training Program.
Governance Structure and Board
Online Pain Education Network Ltd (OPEN Ltd) is governed by a Board in accordance with its Constitution. The Board will meet monthly in 2026.
Advisory Committee
OPEN has established an Advisory Committee, chaired by Professor Fiona Blyth AM, to provide expert guidance on clinical relevance, academic integrity, and alignment with best-practice pain management and education.
Oversight Arrangements and Intellectual Property
OPEN Ltd has secured the intellectual property (IP) for the Clinical Pain Training Program through formal contractual agreements with The University of Sydney, Curtin University, Northern Sydney Local Health District, and all individuals who have contributed academic, clinical, or educational expertise to the program.
IP approvals have been comprehensive and extend to:
- Individual academic and clinical contributors
- Contractors involved in the development of training awards and course materials
- International collaborators
- Photographers and content creators
- Universities and institutions whose materials or resources are cited or incorporated within the program
These arrangements ensure OPEN has the appropriate rights to deliver, maintain, and scale the training program nationally and internationally.
Will OPEN training contribute towards my CPD hours?
Yes – completing each of the 4 open awards will contribute towards your mandatory CPD hours as below:
- Award 1 – 5 hours CPD on completion.
- Award 2 – 6 hours CPD on completion.
- Award 3 – 6 hours CPD on completion.
- Award 4 – 3 hours CPD on completion.
To support learning and CPD, the OPEN Clinical Pain Management (CPM) Training Program includes a series of assessments of learning in the form of quizzes at the end of each OPEN module, which participants will need to pass to continue through the program. There will also be a knowledge quiz repeated before and after each Award. Participants will also be provided with the opportunity to provide feedback about their experience with the program after each Award. This will support ongoing improvement of OPEN to ensure it meets the learning needs of healthcare professionals and care workers.
For more information about how we are evaluating the OPEN Training Program, please see the Participant Information Statement.
What makes the OPEN modules different?
OPEN learning has been developed with input from Australian consumers, carers, and healthcare professionals, and offers self-directed eLearning, which is fully online, accessible, and flexible. OPEN has been designed to enhance the practical skills in pain management for every member of the multidisciplinary health team.
Can any healthcare professional undertake the OPEN online e-learning modules?
Yes – every healthcare professional will receive a certificate of completion at the end of each Award and when completing all 15 of the OPEN modules online, and in your own time. If you work with patients who suffer from pain, including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, pharmacists, and every member of the multidisciplinary health team, then OPEN training is for you.
Who funds OPEN and where do the profits go?
Funding for OPEN was awarded by the Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care, grant (Grant GO2810; 2020 – 2026) Pain Management – Health Professional Education and Training. The grant was awarded for building health workforce capacity and capability in pain management and as a response to supporting implementation of the National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management.
Additional funding to support production, strategic communications and governance for OPEN was provided by philanthropic partners TDM Foundation and Hearts and Minds Investments.
OPEN is a not-for-profit social enterprise with board representation from the University of Sydney, Curtin University, Australian Pain Society and pain sector leaders .
ALL profits from the OPEN program go to further pain research and development of new pain educational resources.
Why is OPEN learning different?
OPEN aims to minimise the impact of pain on patients’ lives by prioritising their voices and needs. As one person living with chronic pain said, “Listen to me, learn from me, and hear what I am telling you.” The OPEN training is revolutionising interdisciplinary chronic pain education and empowering patients with non-pharmacological strategies.