KIDS in Pain, an initiative of Chronic Pain Australia, has released a helpful new guide for community pharmacists to support children with chronic pain, estimated to affect one in five aged six to 18 years.
The resource - A Pharmacist's Guide to Supporting Kids in Pain - provides tangible advice and recommendations for community pharmacists, who are often the first port of call when it comes to pain management.
It offers practical tools and language strategies to help pharmacists:
* recognise and respond to childhood pain with empathy and clinical insight;
* educate families on pain neuroscience using child-friendly analogies;
* support daily life strategies including pacing, sleep and appointment preparation; and
* navigate complex presentations including neurodivergence, dysautonomia, and cultural barriers.
"Community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to validate families' concerns, provide safe medicine advice, and connect children to care," said Nicolette Ellis, pharmacist and Chair of Chronic Pain Australia.
"Pain in children is real, complex, and often invisible," she continued.
"Pharmacists can be powerful advocates - especially in rural and underserved communities - by offering both clinical advice and compassionate care."
Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President Professor Trent Twomey explained the guide outlines how community pharmacists can use their skills to support children experiencing pain.
"Simple steps like adapting our language, listening, guiding, and signposting families to additional resources and care will make a huge difference to those living with pain," Twomey said.
The guide was released in tandem with a new report, the 2025 Kids in Pain Report, based on a national survey showing the profound impact of chronic pain on education, friendships and mental health, as well as family life.
"This initiative is so important to raise awareness and get children the help they need as early as possible," Ellis concluded.
The guide is available HERE. KB
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