Northern Health Allied Team shines at Australian Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting

Our very own Laura Prendergast, Health Psychologist with the Broadmeadows Persistent Pain Management Service, and Tom Collins, Advanced Practice Physiotherapist at Northern Hospital Epping, demonstrated exceptional organisational and public speaking skills at the recent Australian Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting (APS ASM) held in Melbourne this April.

Their involvement provided a strong conclusion to Northern Health’s impressive Allied Health contributions to the conference. These efforts complemented the valuable input from our medical, nursing, and pharmacy teams throughout the event.

Laura played a pivotal role in organising the Psychology Pre-Conference Workshop: Navigating the Complexity of Neurodivergence and Pain. This thought-provoking session brought together a multidisciplinary panel and offered attendees critical insights into the assessment and management of pain in individuals with neurodivergent conditions.

Later in the program, Tom Collins presented alongside colleagues from medicine and nursing on non-pharmacological approaches to acute pain management in the Emergency Department, further showcasing Northern Health’s commitment to innovation in pain care.

Laura’s leadership within the Australian Pain Society was also on display when she hosted a plenary session in her role as President-Elect. The session featured esteemed speakers including Adjunct Professor Ian Olver, Dr Caitlin Jones, and Professor David Bennett. Discussions spanned a range of topics, from telemedicine in supporting cancer survivors with chronic pain, to emerging treatment targets for neuropathic pain. Laura’s thoughtful facilitation fostered a dynamic and engaging Q&A session.

“As a Northern Health employee, it was so motivating to see colleagues contribute to the APS ASM program,” said Jessica Hill, Physiotherapist, Persistent Pain Management Service. “I’m already looking forward to seeing what Northern Health will bring to next year’s APS ASM in Adelaide.”

Pictured in featured image (L-R): Dr Caitin Jones (APS Rising Star Award Winner, USyd), A/Prof Ian Olver (University of Adelaide), Dr Laura Prendergast (Northern Health), and Professor David Bennett (Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences).