Local Pain Educator and
Collectives Program

The Local Pain Educator (LPE) Program is a community-based health promotion initiative offered by Pain Revolution. The program is designed to train and empower health professionals to lead pain education efforts in their local communities. In the first year, participants focus on foundational training in pain science and education. The second year provides training and support to help LPEs establish Local Pain Collectives (LPCs) within their communities, furthering the impact of their education and outreach efforts (see more about LPCs below). This initiative forms part of the Return of Service obligation for LPE scholarship recipients.

A Local Pain Educator (LPE) is a health professional specialising in persistent pain, who has completed Pain Revolution’s LPE Program. As part of the training, participants undertake the University of South Australia’s Professional Certificate in Pain Science & Education, alongside additional training workshops tailored to developing the specific knowledge and competencies required to become an LPE. The program is designed to enhance the capacity of rural communities by embedding knowledge & skills around best practice pain care.

As part of the return of service agreement, LPEs will establish Local Pain Collectives in their communities. These collectives encourage discussions around our understanding of pain and what to do about it.

Research consistently demonstrates that a deeper understanding of pain and effective strategies for managing it is essential, yet often inadequately provided. Globally, there is widespread recognition of the urgent need for comprehensive pain education for all members of the community. Local Pain Educators (LPEs) are highly trained in both contemporary pain science and the methods of educating others about current knowledge and best practices. LPEs are addressing this critical gap and driving meaningful change, backed by a collaborative network of interdisciplinary experts dedicated to improving pain management.

The Local Pain Educator (LPE) Program costs $10,000 for self-funded applicants, subsidised from the original $15,000. Payment plans are available, allowing the cost to be split over two years, and the program contributes to CPD points. We encourage and accept applications Australia-wide.

The LPCs will consist of cross-disciplinary health care professionals from within your community who work in some capacity with persistent pain consumers and who want to be part of a LPC that meets to learn and discuss best practice pain care. The LPC will meet for 5 sessions within a timeframe that works best for you and your community. You will act as the Facilitator for the group and will deliver a session on a key Pain Education Concept followed by group discussion. The group will learn from each other whilst also building valuable professional and inter-disciplinary networks. The culmination of your LPC will be delivering a public Whole of Community Event in your community. You will facilitate this event; however, you will also have the input and help from everyone within your Collective. You will decide together what would be of most benefit to your community and deliver the event together.

Professional Certificate in Pain Science, delivered online by the University of South Australia: Unit 1 – Pain Science: September 2025-November 2025 Unit 2 – Pain Education: February 2026 – April 2026 12-month Mentor Program, each LPE is paired with a clinical or education expert in pain and its management. Resources and support to establish and deliver a Local Pain Collective (LPC). Access to a national network, including webinars, peer support, and educational resources. Skill-Building Workshops to enhance practical competencies in pain education

For our scholarships, we are seeking General Practitioners (GPs), Pharmacists, Nurses, and Allied Health Professionals based in Northern NSW and the Mid North Coast of NSW, the Limestone Coast of SA, Western VIC and Far North QLD, who are passionate about improving pain care. Ideal candidates will be motivated to bring contemporary pain knowledge & management skills to their local communities. You’ll have the opportunity to join a national network of like-minded professionals dedicated to transforming the way we approach care for individuals living with persistent pain.

The aim of the program is to build local capacity in rural and regional communities, ensuring the delivery of evidence informed practices for the prevention and treatment of persistent pain. It also seeks to enhance the broader community’s understanding of pain and its most effective management strategies. Local Pain Educators (LPEs) will play a key role in establishing Local Pain Collectives (LPCs) within their communities. These collectives will foster discussions to update current knowledge on persistent pain, while collaboratively developing sustainable pain education and self-management strategies that can be embedded within the community.

The schedule is subject to change and is provided as a guide only - to help you determine whether the time commitments required are reasonable for you. July 2025: Orientation workshop (2hrs) Sep - Nov 2025: Pain Science UniSA (10 weeks: 10hrs pw) Nov 2025: National Pain Collective event (1.5 hrs) Feb - Apr 2026: Pain Education, UniSA (8 weeks:10hrs pw) May 2026: LPE Immersion workshop (1/2 day Online, Saturday) Jun - Jul 2026: Mentorship, community action plan (1-2hrs pw) Aug 2026: Q & A with Prof. Lorimer Moseley online 1 hr Aug 2026: Face-to-face weekend workshop Sep - Nov 2026: Develop and establish your LPC (1-2hrs pw) Feb 2027: Whole of Community Event Training (1hour) Oct 2027 - June 2027: Delivering 5 Collective sessions (2-4hrs p/event), Oct 2027 - Jun 2027: Delivering several community Pain Events (10-15hrs pm) July 2027: Graduation Workshop- (1 day: Online/Face to face TBD)

Scholarships are available for successful applicants from Northern NSW, the Mid North Coast of NSW, the Limestone Coast of SA, Western VIC and Far North QLD. Applicants from outside these designated regions will be required to secure their own funding through grants or scholarships, or alternatively, self-fund their participation in the program. Please note, there is only 1 scholarship place remaining for this year's cohort.