The Chronic Pain SCN has been established to improve the provision of integrated, multidisciplinary care for people with chronic pain.
South Australia's Pain Research and Innovation Hub
We have launched an online repository of current and completed pain-related projects to enable people to easily connect around shared interests or issues and learn from work that has already been undertaken. We want to help break down silos, reduce duplication of effort and fast-track innovation.
Your voices heard: community shapes optimal system of care for low back pain
We received over 60 responses from the community on the proposed optimal system of care for low back pain. This feedback will now be used to refine the proposal, paving the way for a final model that better addresses community needs.
We’ve launched South Australia’s Pain Research and Innovation Hub to enable the pain community to collaborate to improve care
South Australia’s Pain Research and Innovation Hub is an online collaboration tool to that highlights current and previous pain-related research and innovation projects allowing people to connect with others working on similar projects.
Identifying the enablers to good opioid stewardship
In late 2021, the Statewide Chronic Pain Clinical Network hosted an Opioid Roundtable to discuss how opioids are currently used to manage pain and consider what could be done to ensure they are used safely and effectively.
Using data to identify improvement areas for chronic pain care
The Statewide Chronic Pain Clinical Network lead, Anne Burke, presented on the use of data to identify areas of improvement for chronic pain at the 2023 Australian Pain Society 43rd Annual Scientific Meeting.
We are establishing better care pathways for people suffering low back pain to improve timeliness and appropriateness of treatment. This is being done through greater understanding of relevant clinical and systems factors, as informed by data, current evidence and stakeholder input.
Working with the Office of the Chief Pharmacist, the Safety and Quality Unit in the Department for Health and Wellbeing and local hospital champions, we are helping hospitals meet the new Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care’s Opioid Analgesic Stewardship in Acute Pain Clinical Care Standard. This aims to ensure opioid use is appropriately managed and reviewed to minimise any risk of harm to patients.
Adolescent Pain Services
Supported by grant funding and working with UniSA, Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics and other partners to co-design a community-based, multidisciplinary model of care for adolescents with chronic pain. This will ensure adolescents have better access to care in the community and will act as a pilot that can be used nationally.
Low Back Pain Clinical Care Standard
We are also assisting the Safety and Quality Unit to identify opportunities to help hospitals meet the new Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care’s Low Back Pain Clinical Care Standard, which describes the standard of care people with low back pain can expect to receive.
Upcoming Projects
Pain Management for Older South Australians
We are exploring opportunities to improve chronic pain care for older South Australians.
Hear from Associate Professor Anne Burke about the Chronic Pain Statewide Clinical Network as part of the 2022CEIH Conversation Series
A strong, connected and inclusive community of practice which promotes evidence-informed prevention, early intervention and management of pain across the life span for all South Australians.
Chronic Pain Statewide Clinical Network Goals
The Chronic Pain Statewide Clinical Network has been established to improve the provision of integrated, multidisciplinary care for people with chronic pain. It aims to:
Foster improved recognition and understanding of chronic pain and its effective management in the community
Foster systems development and transparent sharing of data to better support cross-sector service design, delivery and collaboration
Support improvements in community, primary health and hospital settings to ensure timely access to evidence-informed care for all South Australians living with pain
Build an integrated Community of Practice that optimises the experience and outcomes of chronic pain management.
Anne is a registered Psychologist with dual endorsement in the area of Clinical and Health Psychology. With over 20 years of experience in the health service delivery, she has a proven track record of service innovation and clinically focussed research.
Anne is a Past President of the Australian Pain Society (2019−2021) and a Clinical Professor with The University of Adelaide. She is also the Co-Director of Psychology and Allied Health Lead — Surgery 3 in Central Adelaide Local Health Network.
Anne has a strong interest in translational research and is keen for health system information to be leveraged more effectively to support sustainable improvements in healthcare delivery.
Prof Anne Burke
Education, (inter)national advocacy, psychology, public services, research
Dr Jacinta Johnson
Primary care, hospital, medication safety, pharmacy
Dr Jackie Yeoh
Medicine (general practice and hospital liaison), shared care
Ms Julianne Flower
ReturnToWorkSA
Mr Marc Apolloni
Adelaide Primary Health Network
Mr Mark Cox
Physiotherapy, private services, psychology
Ms Mary Wing
Lived experience, pain science education, support groups advocacy
Dr Michael Findlay
Medicine (addiction and pain), prison services
Dr Nicki Ferencz
WCHN Paediatric Pain Service, psychology
Mr Noël Markham
SALHN Pain Service, physiotherapy
Ms Susan (Sue) Edwards
Nursing, pain service coordination, rural
Dr Tim Semple
CALHN Pain Service, medicine (anaesthetics and pain)