Welcome

On behalf of the Local Organising Committee and Scientific Program Committee, it is a great pleasure to invite you to Sydney for the 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting, a combined conference of the Australian and New Zealand Pain Societies, from 8 – 11 April 2018.

The conference invites you to Collaborate. Educate. Disseminate.  Collaborate with the many professions that are involved with pain and pain management; educate alongside clinicians and researchers across many different aspects of pain management; and leave the conference enabled to make a difference in your sphere of work.

The Scientific Program Committee has put together a diverse range of speakers.  Confirmed international speakers are Professor Stephen McMahon (Kings College, London: neuro-immune processes), Professor Lisbet Goubert (Ghent University, Netherlands; inter-personal relationships in chronic pain) and Dr Tonya Palermo (University of Washington; paediatric pain); all are highly engaging presenters, and true experts in their fields.  Plenary lectures will also be given by outstanding speakers from across Australia and New Zealand, covering topics such as neuromodulation, rehabilitation and psychological approaches to pain management, placebo, pain across the ages, indigenous pain management (and much more!).

Sydney is a truly international city, one of the top ten most liveable cities in the world (2016). Come and find out why!  Arguably the world’s most famous harbour city, with top rate theatre, sports, artistic pursuits, beaches, dining and even a most surprising array of bushwalks close to the city.  The conference venue is the newly completed International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour, tremendously located to enjoy all those offerings.  Come for the conference, and stay for longer to enjoy all Sydney has to offer.

The conference will offer a delightful social program, both showcasing our beautiful city and enabling great networking opportunities (and a little dancing!).

We welcome you to Sydney and look forward to sharing the conference with you.

Tim Austin,
Local Organising Committee Chair and Conference Convenor