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NSW Parliament House set the stage for an unforgettable evening as Painaustralia and Pain Foundation Ltd held the inaugural Pinnacle Pain Sector Awards Dinner on Wednesday, May 8th, 2024. The event, hosted by the NSW Minister for Medical Research, The Hon David Harris MP (above right), was a resounding success and highlighted remarkable achievements in chronic pain.
Kicking off the evening, Painaustralia CEO Giulia Jones and Pain Foundation Chair Liz Rowell extended a warm welcome to esteemed guests. Despite parliamentary interruptions, masterfully managed by our MC, Dr. Nick Coatsworth, the event proceeded seamlessly.
The spotlight of the night shone brightly on the award presentations, showcasing excellence and innovation in pain care. The winners were:
- Most impactful innovation in pain care: Brain changer/BOOST Recovery – ACT, represented by Tina McIntosh, presented by The Hon David Harris MP.
- Best multi-disciplinary clinical care program: Pain Education and Management – QLD, led by Dean Minchington, presented by Hon Ryan Park MP.
- Best media story: Bella Macey, 11 years old from VIC, featured on ‘A Current Affair’ for her experience with CRPS, presented by The Hon Tim James MP.
- Best consumer awareness program: Chronic Pain Australia NSW, spearheaded by Fiona Hodson, for their ‘National Pain Week’ initiative, presented by The Hon Matt Kean MP.
- Consumer advocate of the year: Lauren Cannell from TAS, recognized for her mentorship in the chronic pain community, presented by The Hon Jodie Harrison MP.
Gratitude is extended to our corporate supporters, including TDM Growth Partners, Hearts & Minds Investments (sponsors of the OPEN Project), Consumer Healthcare Products (CHP), Saluda, Abbott, and Haleon, whose sponsorship made the awards possible.
The evening was further enriched by insightful interviews conducted by Sophie Scott OAM and Sarah Macdonald, which all had a consistent theme of hope, inspiration and courage.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the 150 guests whose presence and participation in fundraising activities contributed to the remarkable achievement of raising over $60,000. These funds will fuel continued advancements in chronic pain care and research, underscoring the collective commitment to alleviate suffering and improve lives.
As we reflect on the success of the Inaugural Pinnacle Pain Sector Awards Dinner, we look forward to a future marked by even greater strides in the pursuit of pain management and well-being for Individuals, families, communities, society and business.
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Note 1: At the commencement of the program, Liz introduced the latest video summarising who the Pain Foundation is and what we do. The 6-minute video may be found THIS LINK.
Note 2: To view the 6-min photo slide show of the event, CLICK HERE.
