About the Program
About the program
Our Approach
The Pain Education and Management community-based program, along with local pain clinicians and education team, enables you to access a holistic support network in your local area sooner.
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Your pain education and management program starts with establishing an individualised persistent pain management care plan. Your plan is based on a comprehensive clinical assessment with our multidisciplinary team in consultation with a general practitioner. Following this, you have the option to join our workshop series conducted by professional facilitators, occurring fortnightly, and held in small groups, comprising 14-16 participants.
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With over 20 years of lived experience, we know how persistent pain can change your life. We believe that early intervention, a multidisciplinary team approach, and ongoing education are all critical to better client outcomes.
Painaustralia is Australia’s leading pain advocacy body working to improve the quality of life of people living with pain, their families and carers, and to minimise the social and economic burden of pain on individuals and the community.
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We are proud to share that our pain management program has been formally endorsed by Painaustralia
Rest assured that you are in capable hands. Our clinical outcomes are comparable to or even surpass those of inpatient programs and our program has been awarded the Best Multidisciplinary Care Program at the 2024 Pinnacles Pain Sector Awards
The full pain education and management program runs for approximately 18 weeks in three phases.
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Plan Development
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Ongoing Treatment, with
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Ongoing Support and Discovery
Plan Development - (Awareness)
Our program focuses on providing a community-based solution for clients living with persistent pain. This treatment approach works with local clinical and educational experts while ensuring our outcomes complement existing institutional (hospital-based) options.
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The overall process is managed by Pain Education and Management and is outlined in the infographic below. You can also click on the image to download a copy.
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We also provide helpful information on a multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain management as online learning which can be accessed through our free app.
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These resources also provide a useful reference for you to refer to through your journey with persistent pain.
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Ongoing Treatment - (Application)
Treatment plans and ongoing needs established between the client and clinician will differ for each client.
Advocating for your own health care is empowering and can lead to improved outcomes. We encourage all clients to start by using their pain management plan as a guide to engaging with their health professionals.
Pain Education and Management also strongly support a philosophy of client active self-management.
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One important aim of client active self-management is to collaboratively evolve your pain management plan, with the guidance and support of your health professionals, as your needs change over time.
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As such, we highly recommend participating in the program's facilitated workshop while concurrently engaging with your health professionals for your ongoing treatment needs
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Ongoing Support and Discovery - (Exploration)
Recognising that a pain management plan will evolve as your needs change is essential.
Ongoing support and discovery are provided through community-based facilitated workshops comprising of 14-16 participants. Workshop participation commences shortly following the creation of your initial pain management plan.
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Each professionally facilitated workshop will select a specific element from our pain education and management framework as the topic for the group's discussion; these topics have been carefully chosen to build on your confidence and capability throughout the program, assisting you in optimising active pain self-management and enhancing your quality of life.
You will be encouraged to review your plan with your local allied health professionals and GP based on topics raised in this phase.
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We also recognise that your support person can be a significant part of your pain journey, and as such, they are welcome to attend the workshop presentations with you.
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Acknowledging the constraints of a one-size-fits-all model, we also offer alternative workshop formats such as interactive webinars and self-directed learning, ensuring flexibility for any budget or circumstance
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to complete a Clinical Assessment as part of the Pain Program?
Yes - The clinical assessment is an essential step in the process.
The clinical assessment leads to developing an individualized pain management plan that will help you engage with your health professionals.
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The clinical assessment also helps us consider your specific circumstances when placing you in the most appropriate group for the facilitated workshops.
Are the Workshops compulsory?
No, however, they are highly recommended.
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Pain Education and Management strongly support a philosophy of client active self-management.
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One important aim of active self-management is to collaboratively evolve your pain management plan, with the guidance and support of your health professionals, as your needs change over time.
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As such, we recommend participating in the program's facilitated workshops while concurrently engaging with your health professionals for your ongoing treatment needs.
How much will my copayment be?
The clinical assessment component of the program will cost $440 (incl GST) plus any medical provider gap payments. You can use our Gap Estimation tool as a guide to these gap payments; however, we always recommend confirming with your healthcare provider.
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The workshop component of the program will cost $1400 (incl GST). Subsidies of up to 100% and payment options are available. Ask us about your eligibility.
Are there alternatives to Face-to-Face Workshops?
Absolutely. While face-to-face workshops are recommended, we understand the varied challenges people face, such as work commitments, life pressures, geographical constraints, budget considerations, and physical abilities. To address these, we offer a range of engagement options.
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Our workshop topics are available as interactive webinars scheduled every fortnight, or you can choose self-directed online learning through our membership app.
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No matter your situation, we've designed options to ensure accessibility, flexibility, and relevance, enhancing your pain management journey.
Do you Bulk Bill the Clinical Assessment?
Each of our partnering clinicians has undergone our induction process, is well-acquainted with our procedures and has been approved by us. However, it's important to note that despite our approval, each healthcare practice also operates independently and adheres to its unique policies and procedures, which encompass billing and appointment scheduling, among other aspects.
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There may be additional paperwork to complete and medical provider costs. You may also have to pay the provider upfront and claim any eligible Medicare rebates directly from Medicare. Medicare rebates can vary based on your eligibility and allied health provider allocations made by your GP.
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Below is a guide to the range of likely billing practices you may encounter for each phase of the clinical assessment, however, we recommend checking with your general practice and provider directly to confirm any gap payments and billing options for the clinical assessment consultations.
Activity | Full Fee Billing | MIxed Billing | Bulk Billing |
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GP APPOINTMENT | Yes | Yes | Yes |
MUSCULOSKELETAL EXAM | Yes | Yes | No |
PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSESSMENT | Yes | Yes | No |
PHARMACEUTICAL EVALUATION | No | No | Yes |
CASE CONFERENCE | No | No | Yes |
PLAN REVIEW | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Do I need a Doctors referral?
We can accept referrals from any of your healthcare professionals. You can also self-refer.
The referral process is easy; head to the home page and either book a case review or request a callback. When we receive your enquiry, one of our team will schedule a time with you to call and discuss the program.
There is no obligation following the call to proceed with the program; we are here to help whenever you're ready.
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If you decide to proceed, we will contact your GP and manage everything for you.
Download our Factsheets
Chronic Disease Management Fact Sheet
Mental Health Treatment Plan Fact Sheet