2025 FPM Symposium

Save the date for the Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM) Symposium to be held at the Pullman Cairns International Hotel, on Friday 2 May 2025.

The symposium will be held prior to the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM), from 2-6 May 2025 at the Cairns Convention Centre (CCC). 

In 2025 the FPM Symposium will be held in Cairns, the beating heart of Tropical North Queensland.  A unique location where nature is at its finest with two World Heritage Areas, the ancient Daintree Rainforest meeting the awesome majesty of The Great Barrier Reef, providing a fitting backdrop for our symposium. Cairns is recognised as one of Australia’s premier holiday destinations with a multitude of accommodation and dining options within walking distance of the Pullman Cairns International Hotel. The city is well served boasting both domestic and international airports with frequent and extensive links to major cities across Australia as well as several overseas destinations.   

Our theme for the 2025 FPM Symposium is “Diving Deep”. We consider this event as an opportunity for an in-depth examination into many important aspects of pain management as well as highlighting the importance of equitable access to high quality, evidence-based pain management solutions regardless of gender, ethnicity or geographical location to support a brighter future for our patients.  

We’re so fortunate to welcome two renowned international speakers – Professor Nadine Attal and Professor Allan Finley. Nadine Attal is a neurologist, pain specialist and clinical researcher and is the current Director for the Centre of Evaluation and Treatment of Pain in Ambroise Parѐ Hospital, France. She has published over 128 peer reviewed papers on pain and is an internationally reputed speaker in the field of neuropathic pain.   Professor Allen Finley is a paediatric anaesthesiologist, Professor of Anaesthesia and psychology at Dalhousie University and Medical Director of Paediatric Pain Management at IWK Health Centre in Halifax. With clinical and research interests that span neuropathic pain including the latest treatment modalities for neuropathic pain, paediatric pain management, acute procedural pain management, pain management in first nations populations and resource-limited settings, our international keynote speakers have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with our delegates. 

Other exciting topics that we will explore include newer horizons in pain management including the use of virtual reality and artificial intelligence in pain management, advances in acute pain management, novel approaches to visceral pain and pain in culturally diverse and underserved communities. 

The program and registration will be available in late November. Stay tuned for more information! 

Sincerely,  

Dr Hannah Bennett and Dr Anju Tessa James
FPM ASM Scientific Co-convenors