Black Swan Health’s Persistent Pain Program, Turning Pain into Gain educates and empowers people living with persistent pain to better understand their condition. This free program teaches strategies for active self-management and offers the most up-to-date information on persistent pain from experienced health professionals.
The program is designed so participants can explore a range of different strategies for living well, despite pain. It aims to help people to have a better understanding of their pain condition and make proactive decisions based on their healthcare needs to enable a more coordinated and efficient use of health services in managing their condition.
The program provides a six month self-management education program and up to 12 months of clinical case management and allied health support.
To be eligible for referral, patients need to:
- Be aged 16 or over
- Have experienced ongoing pain for more than three months
- Be suitable and able to commit to participation in group education
- Agree to their data being collected for evaluation purposes and;
- Be fluent in English well enough to understand course material, as much of the program relies on the participant’s ability to understand educational information.
Participants are not eligible for the program if they meet any of the following exclusions:
- Require surgical or urgent pain specialist intervention
- Terminally ill
- On workers compensation
Program activities
Group programs are based in Midland and Wanneroo. Online (telehealth) options are also available.
The program provides a combination of group sessions and individual pain management meetings.
All participants take part in a six-month group education program, with participants meeting once a month for a two-hour session. The sessions are run by healthcare professionals with an interest in pain management such as a Pharmacist, Physiotherapist, Registered Psychologist and Dietitian.
Topics covered include:
- Knowing pain
- Understanding medicines and medical investigations
- Movement, exercise and pacing
- Food and pain
- Sleep and pain
- Challenging thoughts and perceptions to improve pain
A Clinical Facilitator with expertise in pain management provides individualised case management, assists with health service navigation and supports clients to achieve their pain management goals through regular face-to-face meetings.
Eligible clients will be able to access support from a multi-disciplinary, allied health team with expertise in pain management. The Clinical Facilitator will engage in regular case conferences with the team to ensure that the continuum of care is maintained.
Clients actively engaging in the program may be able to access three additional allied health services, which will be funded as part of the program. Eligibility will be discussed with the Clinical Facilitator.
Program costs
There are no costs to participate in this program.
Meet our team
Raymon Horley
Simone Berzen
How to access the program
Referrals can be made by GPs, Specialists and Allied Health Professionals.
Please send completed referral forms via fax (9201 0033) or email pain@blackswanhealth.com.au
Download the referral form here.
If the Clinical Facilitator and participant identify that there is a need to refer to an allied health professional/s within the multidisciplinary pain team, they will recommend that the client seeks a GP referral under a GPMP and TCA to the Persistent Pain Program.
The Persistent Pain Program is supported by funding from the Australian Government under the PHN program, delivered by Black Swan Health Ltd, using the Turning Pain into Gain, Painwise Program, © Joyce McSwan.
