In an important advance for persistent pain and the self-management of chronic diseases in Queensland, a Self-Management Expert Advisory Panel has been established by the Queensland Self-Management Alliance (QSMA) and begun operations. APMA President Wendy Caldwell, a member of the panel, said the decision to involve APMA as the voice of people living with pain sent an important message to Government and Queensland Health.

“We have argued long and forcefully that a truly integrated and effective delivery of pain management services must include community based services and a focus on self-management” she said. “However, to date Queensland Health and other State Health Departments have consistently refused to recognise persistent pain as a chronic disease or a self-management priority. But the tide is turning. In NSW persistent pain services are part of the chronic disease branch of the department, and the Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research the Hon. Jillian Skinner is preparing to seek support from the Council of Australian Government Council of Health Ministers for the recognition of persistent pain as a chronic disease. Tis new panel shows that practitioners on the ground also recognise the preferable and most effective approach to managing persistent (chronic) pain.”

The QSMA is committed to strengthening self-management and self-management support across Queensland. It works at a state-level to provide leadership, advice, support and advocacy to ensure self-management is embedded in practice and integrated into systems which support the prevention and management of chronic conditions.

The  independent Expert Advisory Panel was established to bring together a wide range of expertise across chronic conditions and self-management support. The Expert Advisory Panel will

• provide advice, expertise and direction specifically toward Chronic Disease Self-Management and Self-Management Support.
• support QSMA through effectively ensuring evidence based practice is applied across program deliverables
• comment on and provide expert advise on specific program areas and deliverables where necessary

The EAP is chaired by Dr Ian Williams (QSMA Clinical Adviser, President of the South East Alliance of General Practice (SEA-GP) Brisbane and Deputy Chair of the Greater Metro South Brisbane Medicare Local), and include experts from the Australian Pain Management Association Inc. (APMA), Arthritis Queensland and the Respiratory Network of QLD. It will also include representatives from Queensland Health, NEHTA (the National E-Health Transition Authority), the Queensland Aboriginal Islander Health Council (QAIHC) and the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland Chronic Disease program.