To launch Pain Lives Here, Chronic Pain Australia’s new podcast, host Melinda Smylie sits down with Nicolette Ellis, Chair of Chronic Pain Australia, for a powerful first conversation marking National Pain Week.
In this episode, Nicolette unveils the results of the National Pain Report 2026 and unpacks what they reveal about the reality of living with chronic pain in Australia – from delayed diagnosis and dismissed symptoms, to financial strain, mental health impacts, workforce exclusion, family pressure and the ongoing fight to be believed.
The episode explores the National Pain Gap: the space between how many Australians live with chronic pain, and how poorly pain is still recognised, measured and prioritised across health systems, policy, workplaces and communities.
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