Kids in Pain Week 2026
1 in 5 kids in Australia lives with chronic pain. Kids in Pain Week 2026 (21–27 September) makes childhood pain visible and calls for earlier diagnosis, better care and support for young Australians.
Why Kids in Pain Week Matters
chronic pain
Chronic pain, lasting longer than 3 months, affects 1 in 5 children, according to 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis of 119 studies involving over 1 million children.
Chronic pain doesn’t just hurt kids physically. It steals their smiles, their sleep and their school days.
Pain Lives Here Too
Pain lives in childhood, families, classrooms, clinics and everyday moments — often unseen, but deeply shaping how children learn, connect, participate and grow.
Pain Lives Here Too is Chronic Pain Australia’s 2026 hero campaign, sharing the lived experiences behind the data and making invisible pain visible across homes, schools, workplaces, relationships and communities.
Because pain lives here — but early recognition and support can change the future for Kids in Pain.
Make Pain Count
Children living with pain deserve to be recognised in conversations about healthcare, research and support. By adding your voice, you can help call for greater recognition of childhood pain and better understanding of the children and families living with it.
2026 Family Stories
Bria & Theresa
Bria was diagnosed with hypermobility spectrum disorder just before she turned three. Now 11, she lives with daily pain that can affect her ankles, hips, wrists, shoulders, knees, back and neck — but she is also a dancer, a hockey goalie, and a child with dreams, determination and joy.
In Kids in Pain Week 2026, Bria and her mum Theresa share what it means to grow up with pain that is not always visible, and why early recognition, family support and care that believes children can change the course of a life.
Sheridan & Sebastian
Sebastian’s story reminds us that children do not all communicate pain in the same way. For Sebastian and his mum Sheridan, chronic pain sits alongside neurodivergent communication needs, masking and the challenge of being understood by the people around them.
Their story highlights why listening must go beyond words, why parents and carers are often vital communication partners, and why children’s pain must be taken seriously even when it does not look or sound the way adults expect.
Ambassadors
Meet Cooper,
a 15-year-old adventurer
Meet Cooper, a 14-year-old adventurer traveling across Australia with his family, Maggie the dog, and his assistance cat, Frankie. Despite living with chronic pain, Cooper has found his passion in fishing, which he uses as a powerful tool to navigate life’s challenges.
Through his social media profiles and online stories, Cooper shares his exciting fishing adventures, the beautiful places he visits, and the interesting people he meets along the way. His goal? To raise awareness about chronic pain in children while inspiring others to pursue their passions.
Meet Laura,
a 15-year-old dreamer
Laura has been living with Chronic pain for the past 5 years and has learnt to live her best life with chronic pain. Chronic pain can bring unplanned challenges, but Laura has learnt to make the most of the opportunities she has each day and to appreciate the good times with those she loves.
Laura hopes to be able to help others on their journey through pain and one day travel the world.
Meet Eliza,
a 18-year-old trailblazer
Meet Eliza, an 18-year-old who’s spent the last five years navigating life with chronic back pain, a challenge that began at 13. Despite the hardships, she’s grown into a thoughtful, considerate, and mature young woman, embracing life’s opportunities with a fresh perspective.
While chronic pain has been part of her journey, it’s not the whole story.
Eliza is grateful for a second chance to take on the world, armed with the strength and wisdom gained from her experience.
Upcoming Webinars
Panel Discussion: The State of Kids in Pain 2026 Panel Discussion
Chronic Pain Australia will officially launch the Kids in Pain Report 2026: Pain Lives Here Too, with our State of Kids in Pain Panel Discussion recorded live on stage .
The panel will bring together lived experience, clinical expertise, research and industry leadership to explore what childhood chronic pain means for children, young people and their families—and what Australia must do to change the trajectory.
Online Webinar: Pain Lives in the Expression – The Role of Speech Pathology in Supporting Kids in Pain
Speech pathologist Tina Evans explores how communication can help children and young people express their pain, energy and capacity. Moving beyond traditional pain scales, Tina introduces accessible approaches such as spoon theory and explains how parents, teachers and healthcare professionals can better recognise changes, respond consistently and support participation when capacity fluctuates.
Online Webinar: Pain Lives in the Conversation – Why Kids’ Lived Experience Must Be Central to Research and Clinical Practice
Jennifer Norton, Dr Bec Fechner, Jess Coventry, and Eliza and Kim Lawrence explore why the lived experience of children, young people and families must be central to paediatric pain research and clinical practice. The session highlights how meaningful conversations between young people, families, clinicians and researchers can shape more responsive research, improve care and create better outcomes.
Kids in pain need answers
Join us for Kids in Pain Week
21 September to 27 September 2026
Finding the right answers starts with asking the right questions. Register for access to all webinars & events.
Register for All Events
Listen to Our Podcast
Factsheets for Families, Carers, Teachers & Healthcare Professionals
Parenting Through Pain
Imagine your child waking up in pain every day for months or years. As any parent knows, when your kid is in pain, you are too. Parenting is tough enough already – it becomes extremely difficult when your child lives in chronic pain.
Neurodivergence & Pain
The Kids in Pain Survey highlights a strong overlap between chronic pain and neurodivergence, with 73% of children with chronic pain having at least one neurodivergent diagnosis. This can make diagnosis and treatment more complex, highlighting the need for flexible, empathetic and individualised support.
Learning Through Pain: A Parent’s Guide to Managing School for Kids in Pain
This guide helps parents navigate the challenges of education when their child lives with chronic pain. It offers practical strategies to support learning, social connections, and wellbeing at school, and explores flexible options like distance or home education.
A Pharmacists Guide to Supporting Kids in Pain
This guide equips pharmacists with practical tools and language strategies to better support children in pain. It covers recognising and responding with empathy, explaining pain through simple analogies, supporting families with daily life strategies, and navigating other complex presentations.
Being Your Child’s Voice: A Parent’s Guide to Advocating for Your Child in Healthcare Settings
Designed to empower parents, this resource provides clear steps for advocating in healthcare settings. From preparing for appointments to building the right care team, it gives you the tools to ensure your child is heard, understood, and supported.
Kids in Pain Report 2026
1 in 5 kids in Australia lives with chronic pain, which limits their quality of life, their education and their future. It’s time to break the silence on kids in pain.
Download Our Digital Toolkit
Packed with ready-to-post social graphics
and key messages.
You’re Not Alone
Support is available for children, families and the people caring for them.
Living with pain can be challenging — and knowing where to turn can make a difference.
Kids in Pain Week 2026
Your voice can help create greater awareness, understanding and support for children living with pain.