Cannabis Council Australia proud to support the launch of the National Pain Alliance
Summary
The launch of the Australian Pain Alliance, held at Parliament House on March 30 2026, marked a pivotal moment for pain advocacy in Australia. This landmark event, proudly supported by Cannabis Council Australia, brought together people with lived experience, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to formally unite under a shared national voice — focused on improving pain policy, care, and outcomes across the country. Led by Chronic Pain Australia, the Alliance represents millions of Australians affected by pain and the professionals who support them.
One in five Australians lives with chronic pain, making it the leading cause of disability, yet the condition remains largely invisible within the nation’s health policy and data systems. The event featured a keynote from Assistant Health Minister Hon. Rebecca White MP. Attendees the heard from a panel featuring:
- Kimberley Grima, Pain Peer Mentor, sharing what she sees every day in the community
- Laura, a Kids in Pain advocate, and her mum Michelle, speaking to the reality of growing up with chronic pain
- Rohan Greenland, CEO of MS Australia, reflecting both on the challenges of chronic pain in the MS community but his personal experience as a carer of his wife who endured debilitating pain
- Dr Mike Freelander MP, reinforcing the urgent need for better recognition, particularly for children
The National Pain Alliance has been established to change that – bringing together organisations representing Australians living with chronic pain across a wide range of diseases and conditions.
Without reform, the annual cost of chronic pain is projected to rise from $139.3 billion in 2018 to $215.6 billion by 2050. Cannabis Council Australia was proud to attend and support this important initiative.
