The Australian Headache Society as a member of the International Headache Society (IHS) pursues a mission to work with others to reduce the world burden of headache. Membership is open to all who are professionally engaged or interested in the study of headache disorders and have university or equivalent qualifications in any relevant field including medicine, surgery, psychiatry, medical or biological science, psychology, nursing, physical therapy, social work, pharmacy or medical ethics or law.

Headache Australia is the only organisation in Australia that aims to support the more than 5 million Australians affected by headache and migraine. Headache Australia is an initiative of the Brain Foundation.

The Brain Foundation was established in 1970 by members of the Australian Association of Neurologists and the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia to reduce the incidence and impact of brain, spine and nerve disorders, diseases and injuries through the provision of support, community education and research.

Professor James Lance AO CBE, one of the founding members of the Brain Foundation, and his associates and successors have devoted themselves to the understanding and treatment of migraine and other headaches since 1965. Headache has always been a vital part of the work of the Brain Foundation. In 1996 the Brain Foundation established the Migraine Foundation of Australia and from this has evolved Headache Australia.