Media release: Pedalling towards better care for chronic pain on the North Coast

People living with chronic pain, their families and local health professionals across the North Coast will have opportunities to learn more about chronic pain and recovery when the 2026 Pain Revolution Rural Outreach Tour visits the region from 15-23 October.

The Tour will bring a team of dedicated pain researchers, health professionals and people with lived experience of chronic pain who will cycle more than 780km from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie – stopping at nine towns in between – to hold free community events that share practical, evidence-based information to help people better understand and manage persistent pain.

The Tour is supported by a $50,000 Primary Care Impact Grant from Healthy North Coast, with the investment delivering lasting benefits beyond the event itself. This funding has supported the development of local Pain Ambassadors and strengthens the capacity of local allied health professionals to deliver evidence-based chronic pain care across the region.

Chronic pain affects around one in five Australians and is one of the country’s leading causes of disability.

Luke Elias, Director of Primary Health Programs & Partnerships at Healthy North Coast, welcomed the Rural Outreach Tour to the region and was excited by the inventive way of raising awareness about an important health topic:

“Chronic pain has a significant impact on people’s daily lives, their families and their ability to participate in work and community life.

“Nearly half of people living with chronic pain also experience depression or anxiety, so building local knowledge amongst health professionals and community members is particularly important in regional areas like ours, where access to specialist services can be challenging.

“I’d encourage everyone to get along to one of these free community events to develop their skills, knowledge and to learn about the support that’s available to them.”

Pain Revolution CEO and world-renowned pain expert, Adelaide University’s Professor Lorimer Moseley AO, is among the contingent of riders and is excited to bring chronic pain education to the North Coast:

“Chronic pain remains one of Australia’s greatest health burdens, but it’s often misunderstood, mismanaged, and undertreated.

“We now know far more about how pain works than we did even a decade ago, and that knowledge can genuinely change lives.

“If this ride helps more people understand that pain doesn’t always mean damage, and that there are practical things they can do to get their loves back on track, every kilometer will be worth it.”

Daniel Sutherland, a rider on the Tour and a person with living experience of chronic pain, said:

“Chronic pain controlled my life for most of my 20s. Every day I woke to questions like, ‘How far will I be able to walk today?’. Thanks to pain education, like the kind provided by Pain Revolution, I gradually moved back to the life I thought I lost.

“I’m extremely excited to join the tour to spread hope and awareness, and to continue breaking my past beliefs about how far I can go.”

Nick Aitcheson, another rider and participant, added:

“I was 19 when I tore tendons in my right hand and wrist, giving me complex regional pain syndrome, which put me in a dark place for four years. Over this time, I gradually realised that this was a pain system sensitivity issue that could be retrained, and I slowly got my life back.

“Modern pain science carries a message of hope and possibility for the 20% of our population who suffer from chronic pain.

“The Rural Outreach Tour is an amazing initiative that helps to spread this knowledge throughout Australia with face-to-face community events where people can meet international researchers, expert clinicians, educators, and people with lived experience of chronic pain.”

The Pain Revolution Rural Outreach Tour reflects a shared commitment to making evidence-based pain education more accessible, strengthening local health services and ensuring people across the North Coast have opportunities to improve their understanding of pain and explore support for recovery.

All events are free. For exact times, locations and to register, visit painrevolution.org/tour.

• Friday 23 October – 5pm, The Westport Club, Port Macquarie
• Thursday 15 October – 5pm, Twin Towns Conference & Function Centre, Tweed Heads
• Friday 16 October – 5pm, Murwillumbah Services Club, Murwillumbah
• Saturday 17 October – 4pm, Adam Gilchrist Pavillion, Oaks Oval, Lismore
• Sunday 18 October – 4pm, Riverside Function Centre, Ballina RSL, Ballina
• Monday 19 October – 5pm, Yamba Bowling & Recreational Club, Yamba
• Tuesday 20 October – 5pm, Grafton Districts Service Club, Grafton
• Wednesday 21 October – 5pm, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour
• Thursday 22 October – 5pm, Slim Dusty Centre, Kempsey

Media contacts:

• Healthy North Coast | Sam Brunning | sbrunning@hnc.org.au | 0439 968 437
• Pain Revolution (Adelaide University) | Tracy Jones | tracy.jones@adelaide.edu.au | 08 8302 2454