Brain Foundation launches national GP education program on migraine

The program is helping GPs recognise and manage migraine earlier, aiming to reach more than 1,000 primary care professionals across Australia in 2026.

For many Australians living with migraine, their GP is the first and most important point of contact with the healthcare system. Giving primary care professionals practical, evidence-based education can support earlier diagnosis, more informed treatment decisions and appropriate referral when specialist care is needed.

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the Brain Foundation, through its Migraine & Headache Australia division, is expanding its education for GPs and primary care professionals in 2026. 

The new national program has been developed in partnership with HealthEd and consultant neurologist Dr Katherine Spira, building on the success of a 2025 education program that attracted more than 900 registrations.

2025 Program Impact

In 2025, the Brain Foundation delivered the Migraine Masterclass for Primary Care Professionals – a series of two CPD-accredited webinars covering migraine diagnosis and management, as well as barriers to effective care.

The program attracted 905 registrations and reached more than 373,000 people through its awareness campaign.

The program achieved significant reach and high participant engagement: 

• More than 98% said they would recommend the education to a colleague.
• 83% of respondents to the first webinar and 78% of respondents to the second said they were likely to change something in their practice as a result.
• Participants consistently rated the content, delivery and expertise of the presenters highly.

Expanding education scope for 2026

Informed by direct feedback from general practitioners, the 2026 curriculum focuses on practical everyday challenges encountered in primary care. This includes:

• recognising migraine and distinguishing it from other headache disorders
• improving acute migraine management
• understanding when to commence preventive treatment
• selecting and reviewing preventive treatments
• recognising and managing menstrual migraine
• using headache diaries to support diagnosis and treatment decisions
• understanding newer migraine medicines and their role in treatment.

The program includes four concise educational presentations, along with dedicated webcasts and on-demand resources.

It aims to reach at least 1,000 GPs and primary care professionals across metropolitan, regional and rural Australia.

First webcast: Acute Migraine Management

The first presentation in the 2026 program was focused on acute migraine management.

Presenter: Dr Katherine Spira, Consultant Neurologist

The next live session will be Choosing the Right Migraine Preventative.

Tuesday 29 September 2026
7:00–9:00 pm AEST
Format:HealthEd webcast
CPD:Available

GENERAL PRACTITIONERS – REGISTER FOR THE WEBCAST HERE

The education program will run from September until at least the end of 2026. Recordings of the live sessions will also remain available on demand, allowing healthcare professionals to access the education at a time that suits them.

Improving outcomes for patients 

Migraine is a serious neurological condition that can have a significant impact on a person’s health, work, family and quality of life. Yet many people continue to experience delays in diagnosis and difficulties accessing effective treatment.

Strengthening knowledge and confidence in primary care is an important part of improving this experience.

“For too long, migraine has been dismissed as ‘just a headache’ – leaving too many Australians to endure a disabling neurological condition without timely, effective care. GPs are central to changing this. By strengthening their confidence to recognise and manage migraine, we can shorten the path to diagnosis, connect patients with the right treatment earlier, and help more people regain control of their lives.”

– Beata Roman, CEO, Brain Foundation

Accessing the education portal 

The migraine education program is hosted within HealthEd’s qualified primary care community. Healthcare professionals will need to create an account and may be asked to verify their professional status. Access may therefore be limited to eligible healthcare professionals.

ACCESS THE MIGRAINE GP EDUCATION PROGRAM

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and delivered by the Brain Foundation through Migraine & Headache Australia in partnership with HealthEd.