THE AUSTRALIAN PAIN SOCIETY
- E: Contact us
- T: +61 (2) 9016 4343
Postal Address
APS Secretariat
c/- DC Conference &
Association Management
PO Box 637
North Sydney NSW 2059
Australia
Head Office
Secretariat Office
c/- DC Conference &
Association Management
Suite 103, Level 1
3 West Street
North Sydney NSW 2060
Australia
Pain in Childhood Special Interest Group
This Special Interest Group (SIG) is formally consituted under the By-Laws of the Australian Pain Society Constitution, adopted 10 April 2019.
Purpose Statement
The purpose of the Pain in Childhood Special Interest Group (SIG) shall be to share and improve professional and scientific knowledge regarding pain in childhood to the benefit of children, their families and communities.
To achieve this, the SIG shall:
- Promote communication and collaboration among scientists and multidisciplinary health professionals with special interests and knowledge in pain in childhood;
- Encourage education and research in pain in childhood;
- Provide focus within the Australian Pain Society for matters relating to pain in childhood;
- Promote awareness and advocate for the needs of children in pain.
Childhood includes all phases of human development from birth through transition to adulthood.
Pain in Childhood includes pain experienced or witnessed during childhood, and includes the experiences of families and those who care for young people with pain.
Pain in Childhood SIG Membership Information:
Must have current APS membership to join the SIG. Annual SIG Fee: $35
Benefits of joining the Pain in Childhood SIG include:
Education
Please refer to the APS Calendar of Events for Seminars and Symposiums specific to Pain in Childhood.
Communication
Keep up to date via our regular "Journal Watch" segment in the APS eNewsletter and the Pain in Childhood SIG blogs.
| Name | Description | Link/Download |
| Pediatric Pain Mailing List | An international internet forum for informal discussion of any topic related to pain in children. There are currently over 800 members on six continents. | Link |
Clinical Research Grant
The Australian Pain Society (APS) 
is proud to announce the Clinical Research Grant program sponsored by a partnership with Cops For Kids (CFK). For further details please refer to the APS/CFK Clinical Research Grant webpage.
Travel Grant
From 2017, a single dedicated PhD student Travel Grant of $500 will be made available to a Pain in Childhood SIG member. SIG members must apply through the APS Travel Grant process.
Collaboration
Access to leading clinicians and researchers in the area of Pain in Childhood.
Executive Roles and Terms
Although they will be constituted separately, it is anticipated that the Australian and New Zealand Pain in Childhood SIGs will share common objectives and meetings. Therefore, the following SIG Executive structure and logistics are proposed:
| Role | Membership | Term |
| Australian Chairperson | APS | 2 years |
| Australian Immediate Past Chair | APS | 1 year |
| New Zealand Chairperson | NZPS | 2 years |
| Honorary Secretary | 1 each | 2 years; can stand for up to 6 years |
| Communication Officer | Either | 2 years; can stand for up to 6 years |
| A representative from each Parent Pain Society Board | 1 each |
To be determined by the respective Pain Society Boards. |
Current Office Bearers
| Australian Pain Society Pain in Childhood SIG Executive for 2024-2025 | |
| Chair | Dr Cate Sinclair |
| Immediate Past Chair | Dr David Sommerfield |
| Secretary | Ms Christine Onishko |
| Communications Officer - Documents & Social Media | Ms Nicole Pope |
| PICH Down-Under Representative | Ms Nicole Pope |
| New Zealand Pain Society Pain in Childhood SIG Executive for 2023-2024 | |
| Chair | Dr Paul Vroegop |
| Deputy Chair | Ms Jessica Mills |
| Secretary | Ms Kirsty Ross |
Functions and Operational Notes
- The Australian Pain Society Pain in Childhood SIG and the New Zealand Pain Society Pain in Childhood SIG Annual General Meetings (AGMs) shall be held separately.
- Members of each SIG can attend the other SIG's AGM and in so doing shall be considered invited visitors in the minutes.
- Where matters concern both countries, consensus shall be sought.
- Where matters are relevant exclusively to one of the partner countries, only the SIG members from that country will vote in relation to those matters.
- The Honorary Secretary shall manage official correspondence, agendas and minutes.
- The Communication Officer shall manage relevant website content, communications with members and external partners (with consent of the parent Pain Society Board as required).
- A member of the SIG Executive shall represent the SIG on the Scientific Program Committee of each National Pain Society ASM.
Useful Links
| Acute Pain in Childhood | Link |
| Integrative (non-pharmacological) therapies in managing acute, chronic and procedural pain in children Dr Stefan Friedrichsdorf, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, USA |
Blog |
| What is Pain? A video produced by the Sheikh Zayed Institute at Children's National Medical Centre, Washington DC. This may be useful for adolescents |
Video |
| Persistent Pain in Childhood | Link |
| SKIP - Solutions for Kids In Pain - Canada | Website |
| Understanding pain - and what's to be done about it in 10 minutes! This YouTube video was developed by the German Paediatric Pain Centre for adolescents with chronic pain unexplained by any chronic medical condition, but it may be of interest to all young people |
Blog |
| Blue Knot Foundation - empowering recovery from childhood trauma | Website |
| Support Kids in Pain (SKIP) - Australia | Website |
| Procedural Pain in Childhood | Link |
| Learning how to manage pain during medical procedures Directed by Dr Jody Thomas for Stanford Children's Health; Produced by Booter Shot Media 2017 |
|
| Be sweet to babies during painful procedures Harrison and Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (2016) Video 1 - Newborn Video 2 - Two month vaccination (Breastfeeding) Video 3 - Six month vaccination (Breastfeeding) Video 4 - Six month vaccination (Sucrose) |
|
| It Doesn't Have to Hurt: Strategies for Helping Children with Shots and Needles Centre for Pediatric Pain Research, Canada #itdoesnthavetohurt 12 month social media campaign launched 21SEP15  |
|
| Reducing and eliminating procedural pain related to needles: The Four essential (non-negotiable) components Dr Stefan Friedrichsdorf, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, USA Includes well produced videos for clinicians and families |
Blog |
| Is pain the same in boys and girls? By Katelynn Boerner, PhD student in Clinical Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. SEP14 Body in Mind Blog |
Blog |
| Reducing pain during vaccine injections: clinical practice guideline Canadian Medical Association Journal, 24AUG15 |
Download |
| For Children and Young People | Link |
| Learning how to manage pain during medical procedures Directed by Dr Jody Thomas for Stanford Children's Health; Produced by Booter Shot Media 2017 |
Video |
| NSW ACI Pain Management Network: PainBytes for youth | Website |
| For Families and Carers | Link |
| Be sweet to babies during painful procedures Harrison and Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (2016) Video 1 - Newborn Video 2 - Two month vaccination (Breastfeeding) Video 3 - Six month vaccination (Breastfeeding) Video 4 - Six month vaccination (Sucrose) |
|
| Siblings Australia website | Website |
| kidshealth.org.nz A joint initiative between the Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation Pain Management section |
Website |
| General Pain in Childhood information | Link |
| APS Pain in Childhood SIG blog page | Blog |
| IASP SIG on Pain in Childhood | Website |
| British Pain Society Pain in Children SIG | Website |
| Paediatric Pain Mailing List Centre for Pediatric Pain Research, Dalhousie University, Canada |
Website |
| ChildKind International Resource Library A global initiative to reduce pain in children |
Website |
| Mental Health Professionals Network - ReachOut for professionals working with children and young people |
Website |
| Pain in Childhood YouTube Playlist Check out the useful videos gathered on the APS YouTube channel |
Videos |
| 8 for a healthy weight Translated information resources for children aged 2 years and older |
English Arabic Chinese-simple Chinese-traditional Hindi Vietnamese |
| PEARL Pain in Early Life: Research and Education |
Website |
| ACAH Academy of Child and Adolescent Health |
Website |
References
| Date | Organisation | Reference | Link |
| 2023 | National Standard of Canada | Canadian Pediatric Pain Management Standards | Download |
| 2021 | World Health Organisation (WHO) | Guidelines on the management of chronic pain in children | Website |
| 2012 | World Health Organisation (WHO) | Superseded version of the WHO Guidelines on the Pharmacological Treatment of Persisting Pain in Children with Medical Illnesses | Download |
| 2012 | World Health Organisation (WHO) | WHO - Persisting Pain in Children: Important Information for Pharmacists | Download |
| 2012 | World Health Organisation (WHO) | WHO - Persisting Pain in Children: Important Information for Physicians and Nurses | Download |
| 2012 | World Health Organisation (WHO) | WHO - Persisting Pain in Children: Important Information for Policy Makers | Download |
Submission of Website Material
If you would like to submit material to share on this webpage please complete the attached form with instructions: Website Submission Form