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More and More Fab Women Founders, More and MoreGoodDays
Woohooo! The startup world is beginning to thrive with people who want to impact healthcare using their negative experiences. These people want to help others, change the quality of care and make sure you get better faster. One of these great people is Neala Fulia, and I am excited to have the chance to introduce More Good Days (MGD), a new online digital healthcare company Neala founded dedicated to helping individuals find relief from chronic pain - specifically fibromyalgia. I'm also excited that MGD has become a Friend of My Health Story (MHS), which signifies a shared commitment to improving the quality of care for all of us. It's what we all deserve and what has been so slow in coming.
‘Reading’ books, books and more books
Well, not entirely reading; using my ears instead! Where have I been? Seriously, how did I not get into Audible sooner? You would struggle to get me to switch my daily routine of listening to classical music – I love it and have been doing it for decades. My alarm goes to ABC Classic FM in the morning, and the music filters through our home and my studio until dinner prep time. Classical music does so much for my mind and nervous system, which helps me manage the day. Over the past 16 years, [...]
Chronic Pain Australia National Pain Survey
Yep, it's another call for your lived experience. I know how exhausting and affecting these surveys can be. I approach surveys with a personal mental measure of worthiness and value. In any given week, I can have up to three requests to provide information relating to my lived experience, and although all these requests are for a great cause, I can't manage that many. Surveys and informational calls are often conducted for research purposes, such as determining national agendas, identifying the purpose of a service or organisation, or collecting and validating data. So, I pause to evaluate and [...]
A glorious facade – just look at me!
(Photograph Ivan Kemp) Do you like this picture of me? When I see this photo of myself, I see someone proud and accomplished. My posture reflects inner strength and confidence – I am the gallery director hosting the opening of a very special exhibition and nothing but! It was a long day with a private event for patrons followed by a dinner – I’ve never faced a day like this since my injury in 2007. Fortunately, Theo rarely gets sick and needs my help (damn covid!). So this was an emergency, and I needed [...]
PainAustralia Survey Report: Impact of opioid regulatory reforms on people living with chronic pain
When will patients be understood and listened to?! It’s obviously necessary to have a peak body addressing the needs of the pain community. Still, the frustration of not being taken seriously only exacerbates our pain, not to mention the time it takes for the problems to be identified and addressed. People are suffering in the interim, many paying with their lives. I hope PainAustralia have its pedal to the floor. After speaking with the new CEO Giulia Jones, I am optimistic – she is not one to beat around the bush! PainAustralia is Australia’s [...]
My recent chat with PainAustralia’s new CEO, Giulia Jones – Giulia has quite the agenda!
Making the invisible visible You'll hear this wonderful reference in my chat with Giulia – to make what is invisible visible is one of her four goals while in the position of CEO at PainAustralia. I found Giulia incredibly down-to-earth and easy to connect with. Of course, with six children, you instantly know she understands pain (and is highly able!!), but her admission that she had never thought of the pain she experienced as chronic really struck me.