Pain Foundation Ltd - Australia

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Pain Foundation Ltd - Australia

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Pain Foundation Limited helps raise funds for chronic pain research and education There are three pillars to the Pain Foundation organisation:
1.

Basic research, involving scientists, medical specialists and research assistants, developing new techniques including the neurophysiology of pain.
2. Clinical research in consultation with various pain clinics around Australia and overseas, conducting trials and publishing results.
3. Education, including post graduate diplomas and degrees focused on pain management.

19/10/2026

💙 Living with chronic pain can affect every part of life, and 3.6 million Australians know that feeling all too well.

Our 2026 Impact Report is here! It shares how the Pain Foundation and the Pain Management Research Institute are working to lift the burden of chronic pain, from brain research that could lead to new non-opioid treatments, to exploring how diet affects pain, to supporting breast cancer survivors with simple text messages.

You'll also meet the researchers and clinicians making it happen, like physiotherapist Ashleigh Simpson, who says: "It's amazing to watch people rebuild their confidence and realise they can live a life meaningful to them despite pain."

Every person living with pain deserves the chance to live a fuller, more meaningful life. 🌱

📖 Read the report:https://painfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/261009-Pain-Foundation-Impact-Report-2026-A4.pdf
🙏 Donate today. Fund research. Transform lives.

Questions? Email us at [email protected]

10/10/2026

Living with pain can feel isolating. Professor Claire Ashton-James wants to change that. 💙

Claire is a social psychologist at the University of Sydney's Pain Management Research Institute, and her research looks at something often overlooked: how our relationships and connections shape the way we experience pain.

One of her projects uses simple text messages to support people while they recover from things like surgery, rib fractures, car accidents and breast cancer. Those messages offer information, encouragement and a reminder that they're not alone. She's also helping doctors and health professionals respond to patients' emotions with strengthened skills in empathy and understanding.

The goal? To help people in pain feel supported, build confidence and live well.

Research like this is only possible with your help. A donation today, big or small, helps bring better, more compassionate pain care to people who need it. ❤️

👉 Donate now at https://painfoundation.org.au/donate/

Photo: www.alamy.com

27/09/2026

💙 Better pain care. Better lives. A future without barriers.

What if everyone living with chronic pain could access the care they need, regardless of where they live, their cultural background or their financial circumstances?

This is the vision driving the remarkable work of Dr Saurab Sharma, an internationally recognised pain researcher working to make effective pain care accessible to all.

Based at the University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital, Dr Sharma leads Equitable Pain Care Globally – EQUIP-ALL, a research program focused on improving care for people living with chronic pain, low back pain and osteoarthritis, particularly those in underserved communities.

🌏 His research is helping address inequalities in pain care in Australia and around the world.

🔬 With more than 145 peer-reviewed publications and 16,000+ citations, Dr Sharma is making a significant contribution to our understanding of pain and how it can be better treated.

Behind every research breakthrough is the potential for a better life: less suffering, improved access to care and more hope for people living with chronic pain.

You can help make this possible.

Your donation to the Pain Foundation supports the vital work needed to advance pain research, improve understanding and create a better future for people affected by chronic pain.

💙 Please donate today. Together, we can help change lives.

👉 https://painfoundation.org.au/donate/

21/09/2026

Imagine waking up every day in pain - and not knowing when it will end.

For people living with chronic pain, ordinary things can become difficult. Working. Sleeping. Seeing friends. Spending time with family. Simply getting through the day.

Chronic pain can continue even after an injury has healed, and its impact can reach far beyond the physical, affecting wellbeing, relationships, work and quality of life.

Professor Paul Glare AM is working to change that.

As Director of the Pain Management Research Institute at the University of Sydney, Professor Glare leads research into better ways of understanding and managing pain. His work includes cancer pain, pain experienced by cancer survivors and new approaches to supporting people with chronic pain.

Researchers are also exploring the brain mechanisms behind chronic pain, seeking to understand why pain can persist and how this knowledge might lead to better treatment in the future.

Behind every research project is a person hoping for a better future.

Your donation to the Pain Foundation helps support the vital work of pain researchers who are searching for better answers.

20/09/2026

One in five children experience chronic pain. Behind that number are children missing school, stepping away from activities they love and navigating symptoms that may be misunderstood, dismissed or left untreated.

Early diagnosis and intervention can change the course of a child’s life, but first, their pain must be recognised.

This Kids in Pain Week, help us make paediatric pain count. Because pain lives here too.

National Kids in Pain Report Key Findings:
♦️ Chronic pain disrupts every aspect of life — 84% of children struggle with sleep, 85% are unable to participate in sport, and 83% experience significant mental health impacts.
♦️ Healthcare fails families — 65% wait more than three years for a diagnosis or receive none at all. Seventy-one percent (71%) are told their pain is due to anxiety, 54% passed off their pain as “growing pains” and 49% were told it was “normal”.
♦️ Schooling suffers — 83% miss school due to pain, 81% reduce participation in activities, and 57% fall behind academically.
♦️ Families pay the price — 46% of parents adjust work hours, 30% take unpaid leave, and 28% reduce working hours, and 19% resign from work entirely, with mothers most often leaving the workforce.
♦️ Neurodivergence is common — Almost three quarters (73%) of children with chronic pain have at least 1 neurodivergent diagnosis, most commonly autism (40%), ADHD (35%), auditory processing disorder (11%) and dyslexia (10%) which complicates diagnosis and treatment.
♦️ There is a gender pain gap — Girls and young women are disproportionately affected, making up nearly six in ten (57%) of children living with chronic pain, compared with just over a third (36%) of boys.

Help conquer chronic pain by donating to the Pain Foundation's innovative pain research, clinical treatment, education and advocacy.

Kids in Pain Week | 21–27 September 2026

30/08/2026

Pain is More Than a Number on a Scale. It can affect sleep, work, relationships, independence, wellbeing and the ability to do the everyday things that matter.

That’s why we’re supporting Painaustralia’s Wear Red for Pain campaign during September's International Pain Awareness Month with the theme, My Pain is More Than a Number.

On 1 September, wear red to show your support for the 4.2 million Australians living with chronic pain – and help start conversations that recognise each person and their experience, not just a pain score.

To find out more about how you can support innovative research, clinical treatment and education focused on conquering chronic pain, please visit the Pain Foundation website.

22/08/2026

Re-thinking chronic pain: what if the next breakthrough starts in the brain? 🧠

Chronic pain affects 1 in 5 people, yet for many, existing treatments provide little or no lasting relief.

At the Pain Management Research Institute (PMRI), Royal North Shore Hospital, the Aubrey Laboratory is taking a different approach: going deeper into the science of chronic pain to understand what changes in the brain and nervous system when pain becomes persistent.

🔬 Why does pain continue long after an injury has healed?
🧠 How do the brain circuits involved in pain and anxiety interact?
💡 Can we restore the brain’s natural ability to reduce pain?

We’ve seen in cancer research how fundamental discoveries can transform treatment, from understanding how cancer interacts with the immune system to developing life-changing immunotherapies.

We believe chronic pain needs the same kind of breakthrough thinking.

Discovery research is the first step towards finding new treatment targets and, ultimately, giving people living with chronic pain more effective, personalised and longer-lasting options.

Your support can help make that research possible.

❤️ Donate today and help fund the next breakthrough in chronic pain research:
painfoundation.org.au

07/08/2026

Meet Ashleigh - Helping People Get Their Lives Back

Watching people regain their independence and seeing the difference healthcare professionals could make inspired Ashleigh to pursue a career in physiotherapy. Throughout her career, she has helped people living with persistent pain reclaim their lives.

For five years, Ashleigh has worked as a Pain Management Physiotherapist, supporting people with chronic and complex pain conditions. Every day is different, but one thing remains constant: her passion for helping people achieve what matters most to them.

“Whether it’s returning to work, spending time with family, exercising again, or simply enjoying everyday activities, helping people reach their personal goals is incredibly rewarding.”

Ashleigh is part of a highly specialised multidisciplinary pain management team, working alongside pain specialists, psychologists, psychiatrists and nurses. Together, they provide evidence-based care that recognises persistent pain is far more than a physical condition, it affects every aspect of a person’s life.

Her days are filled with assessing patients, developing personalised care plans, delivering intensive pain management programs and contributing to research that continues to improve care for people living with persistent pain.

One of the most powerful aspects of her work is facilitating group programs.

“People are encouraged by knowing that they’re not alone. Meeting others who understand what they’re going through, and have a shared experience, can be incredibly empowering.”

These programs teach practical skills that help people better understand and manage their pain. Rather than focusing on eliminating pain altogether, participants learn strategies to build confidence, improve function and continue making progress, even when pain fluctuates.

Chronic pain affects one in five Australians. It doesn’t discriminate by age, occupation or background. It can interrupt education, careers, relationships, mental wellbeing and family life. Yet with the right support, people can learn to manage their pain and regain independence.

For Ashleigh, the greatest reward comes from seeing someone return to doing the things they love.

“It’s amazing to watch people rebuild their confidence and realise they can live a life meaningful to them despite pain.”

Every day, clinicians like Ashleigh help Australians living with persistent pain move from surviving to thriving. Through education, evidence-based care, research and advocacy, Pain Foundation Limited is working to ensure more people have access to the support they need.

Together, we can give more Australians living with pain the opportunity to regain confidence, independence and hope.

Disclaimer: This profile reflects Ashleigh’s experience as a physiotherapist working in Pain Management Units at the time of interview.

04/08/2026

Great to catch up with A/Prof Karin Aubrey, Pain Management Research, Kolling Institute & Medicine and Health - University of Sydney to learn more about how the Pain Foundation is supporting exciting into . Karin's research team is passionate about understanding the link between and and finding innovative approaches to helping conquer pain.

A/Prof Aubrey's research is on how circuits contribute to the experience of pain and neurotransmission, with expertise in electrophysiology, behavioural models, brain circuit tracing and glycinergic neurotransmission.

If you would like to learn more about how you can support vital research, innovative , education and advocacy please visit the Pain Foundation website.

24/06/2026

Rebecca thought her future was over. You can help others like her.
Your EOFY donation can fund vital pain research before 30 June.

"I spent six months in a wheelchair. Today, I'm helping others live active lives."

At just 14 years old, Rebecca's life changed in an instant.
A gymnastics accident left her with a fractured spine and relentless pain. Over the following years, the pain worsened. She was prescribed powerful medications, admitted to hospital, and eventually confined to a wheelchair.

"I couldn't walk 10 metres without pain. From being active and outgoing, I became withdrawn and depressed. I felt like my life had been put on hold."

Then Rebecca found the Pain Management Research Institute (PMRI).

Through evidence-based treatment, education and support, she learned how to manage her pain, rebuild her strength and reclaim her future.

Today, Rebecca is a university graduate, a personal trainer, and living a full and active life.

"My pain hasn't disappeared completely, but I've learned how to live with it. I'm grateful every day for the opportunity PMRI gave me."

Rebecca's story is one example of the life-changing impact made possible through research and innovation funded by supporters like you.

The challenge we face:
🔷 Chronic pain affects one in five Australians. It impacts physical health, mental wellbeing, employment, relationships and quality of life.
🔷 Yet despite its enormous personal and economic cost, many promising research projects struggle to secure funding.

Recently, three important pain research projects were unable to proceed after funding applications were unsuccessful. These projects are focused on:
🔶 New approaches to reducing chronic pain through altruism-based interventions
🔶 Preventing chronic pain following knee reconstruction surgery
🔶 Advanced mapping of brain changes associated with chronic pain

Without support from donors, these projects will be delayed.

Your EOFY gift can help

Before 30 June, your tax-deductible donation can help fund the next breakthrough in pain research and treatment.

Your support will help researchers and clinicians:
✅ Develop new treatments for chronic pain
✅ Improve access to care for people living with pain
✅ Reduce reliance on opioids and other medications
✅ Give hope to thousands of Australians like Rebecca

Please make your EOFY donation today: https://lnkd.in/gja3Zb2e

Every gift, regardless of size, brings us closer to a future where fewer Australians live with the burden of chronic pain.
Thank you for standing with us and helping to conquer pain. ❤️ 💙

Address

Douglas Building, Royal North Shore Hospital
St Leonards, NSW
2065

Telephone

+61411028468

Website

http://www.painfoundation.org.au/donate

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