- Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide. This burden is increasing and is expected to continue to worsen.
- Back problems are the second most common reason Australians seek care from their general practitioner, and one of the top five presentations to emergency departments.
- Early appropriate management of acute pain can reduce the chance of developing chronic low back pain.
Your Host
Ms Geraldine Doogue AO
Journalist and Broadcaster
Geraldine Doogue is a renowned Australian journalist and broadcaster with a distinguished career in news and current affairs. She is presenter of the ABC National Radio program Saturday Extra and ABC Television’s Compass. Prior to this, Geraldine was the presenter of ABC Radio National’s Life Matters.
Expert speakers
Associate Professor Liz Marles
Clinical Director, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
and General Practitioner, Hornsby-Brooklyn GP Unit
At the Commission, Liz provides strategic leadership on work related to primary and community health care. She guided the development of the Low Back Pain Clinical Care Standard and chaired the Topic Working Group. She is also leading the development of the Stillbirth Clinical Care Standard and provides expert advice to the Commission’s work on aged care. As a GP, Liz has a special interest in chronic disease management, mental health and Aboriginal health, and a strong focus on holistic and preventative care.
Professor Michael Nicholas
Director, Pain Education Unit, The Kolling Institute, University of Sydney; Director, Pain Management Programs, Royal North Shore Hospital
Michael is a Clinical Psychologist and Director of Pain Education (Sydney Medical School) and Pain Management Programs at the Pain Management Research Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital. He is internationally renowned in the field of pain, as a clinician, researcher and educator, and has been on the executive of the Pain Management Network of the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation since 2011.
Professor Peter O’Sullivan
Professor of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, Curtin University
Peter is a John Curtin Distinguished Professor at the School of Allied Health Sciences at Curtin University and a Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist. He is internationally recognised as a leading clinician, researcher and educator in musculoskeletal pain disorders. Peter’s passion is to bridge the gap between research and practice, to empower clinicians and people in pain.
Dr James Edwards
Director, Emergency Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Medical Lead, NSW Health Vaccination Centre
James is Director of the Emergency Department at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. His research on low back pain care in the ED influenced the successful SHaPED trial which has led to innovations in care for acute low back pain in EDs in NSW, QLD and Singapore. In 2021, he was made Fellow of the NSW Health Education and Training Institute (HETI) - their highest recognition – for his significant contribution to prevocational training in NSW.
The standard will be launched by Professor Villis Marshall AC, Chair of the Board of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
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