Chief Investigator
Dr Jenny Setchell
Institute for Urban Indigenous Health. Dept of Data and Research.
Award and Funder
Arthritis Australia National Research Program Project Grant (2025)
Funded by The Estate of Gladys Irene Benjamin
Plain Language Summary
What problems did you try to solve, or gaps in knowledge did you try to fill?
We wanted to understand whether a community‑led persistent pain service could provide better access, more culturally grounded care, and better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living with ongoing pain. There has been very little research looking at how pain services can be designed around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander priorities.
What did you discover during the course of the grant?
Clients told us they felt seen and respected as people, with strong relationships, shared learning, and humour playing an important part in navigating pain. Flexibility, timely support, and access to a multidisciplinary team all helped them manage their pain.
The quantitative results showed that the new service significantly improved access, was acceptable to clients and helped maintain or improve health outcomes. Overall, the service achieved its aims and aligned well with community strengths and priorities.
Have the findings of the research already benefited people with persistent pain?
Yes. The findings have already been used to refine the pain service, including improving continuity of care, strengthening communication, and supporting more flexible, culturally safe approaches. The improved access, lower non‑attendance rates, and stable or improved clinical outcomes show that clients with persistent pain are already experiencing real benefits.
How might the findings inform further research to help sufferers in the future?
The results show that a community‑led, closer‑to‑home model can improve access, reduce costs and travel burdens, and maintain or improve health outcomes. This provides a strong early evidence base for testing similar approaches in other Aboriginal community‑controlled settings, and exploring how these models could strengthen care for a broader group of people with chronic musculoskeletal conditions.