This section will keep you up to date with news and events in the palliative care community. Please note that links below were current at time of posting, however links may become obsolete as websites update content.
Withdrawing from Dialysis Treatment
The Renal resource Centre has produces a booklet that looks at answers to questions that are most commonly asked about withdrawing from dialysis.
Posted by Admin on 19 November 2008
Home care in Europe. The solid facts
The World Health Organisation's Regional Office for Europe has produced a booklet presenting evidence for health policy- and decision-makers abioout the processes and evidence for effectiveness of ome care for disabled and older people.
Posted by Admin on 17 November 2008
NHMRC Program and EU Collaborative Grants and Fellowships
Over $130 million in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Program Grants and Fellowships, as well as the NHMRC European Union Collaborative Health Research Grants has been announced.
Posted by Admin on 10 November 2008
Organ and tissue donation in Australia
A new web based learning program titled "The facts about organ and tissue donation" is available through PriMed. This program has been developed in partnership with Queensland Health and has been generously funded by the Australian Federal Government through the Department of Health and Ageing. It is free to health professionals.
Posted by Admin on 4 November 2008
Call for IAHPC Directors
The International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) has issued a public call for nominations for six seats on its Board of Directors.The deadline for nominations is 15 November 2008 and new members will be announced early December 2008. 2009
Posted by Admin on 3 November 2008
Hospice creates children's Lymphoedema website
Children suffering from lymphoedema – a debilitating swelling of the limbs – can find out more about the condition on a new web site created by St Giles Hospice.
Posted by Admin on 3 November 2008
National Primary Health Care Strategy
The Health Minister Nicola Roxon has called for public submissions to respond to the new released discussion paper on Australia’s National Primary Health Care Strategy. Responses will be accepted through to February 2009.
Posted by Admin on 30 October 2008
Major Grant Announcements for funding commencing 2009
Over $363 million for research has been announced as part of the National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP). 1103 research projects have been awarded funding as part of the latest Australian Research Council (ARC) funding round.
Posted by Admin on 29 October 2009
Successful NHMRC Grants Applications commencing in 2009
Six hundred and eighty-eight National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants have been awarded to universities and research institutions across the country.
Posted by Admin on 29 October 2008
Learning Modules for GPs delivering palliative care in Aged Care Homes
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has launched a new online learning module to support general practitioners, practice nurses and general practice managers in the delivery of palliative care in aged care homes. These activities have been developed by Palliative Care Australia, with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. The activities are now available through the RACGP’s online education portal gplearning at www.gplearning.com.au and Category 2 QA&CPD points are available to GPs who complete the training.
Posted by Admin on 30 October 2008
Aged Care Nursing Scholarship Scheme: Undergraduate
A number of changes have been made to the Australian Government's Aged Care Nursing Scholarship Scheme following recommendations from the Royal College of Nursing Australia which administers the scheme. Many of the students have highlighted the need for the program to reflect the popularity of part-time study.
Posted by Admin on 26 October 2008
Healthtalkonline
Healthtalkonline provides narratives of other people's experiences of health and illness. This information is based on qualitative research into patient experiences led by experts at the University of Oxford. It incldues a set of interviews about the experiences of living with dying and how bereavement affect many people.
Posted by Admin on 20 October 2008
NHS Shared Learning
NHS Shared Learning (NSL) is a freely available online service developed by NHS Education for Scotland (NES). It hosts, store, describes and organizes quality assured learning resources, including several that have been contributed by different NHS board staff and partners.
Posted by Admin on 20 October 2008
Carers Australia website updated
Carers provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail. Carers Australia has redeveloped their website. Visitors can customise their pages according to the state in which they live and the condition of the person for whom they are caring.
Posted by Admin on 20 October 2008
New initiative to strengthen the role of community pharmacy in palliative care
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, with the support of Palliative Care Australia, will strengthen the role that pharmacists can play in the palliative care of patients with terminal conditions, through the funding of a new research strategy.
Posted by Admin on 13 October 2008
2009 Compassionate Employer Recognition Program Australia
The Compassionate Friends Victoria Inc & The Rotary Club of Geelong Central announce the 2009 Compassionate Employer Recognition Program to be presented in March 2009.They are inviting members of the public to nominate an employer for recognition as a 2009 “Compassionate Employer”
Posted by Admin on 13 October 2008
International Charter of Rights for children with life limiting and life threatening illnesses
The International Children's Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) has published a Charter of Rights for children with life-limiting or life threatening conditions, which they wish to see accepted and ratified by governments and health departments around the world.
Posted by Admin on 12 October 2008
Cancer Learning resources
Cancer Learning continues to add new resources and content to its site. The following materials are now available
Professional Development Pathways in Pharmacy and Nursing: pathways for pharmacists and nurses interested in pursuing or advancing a career in cancer care.
Guide to Clinical Practice Improvement (CPI) Includes a variety of tools and resources developed to assist in successfully managing change, implementing service improvement strategies and assessing the impact of change to ensure the quality and safety of clinical service delivery.
Posted by Admin on 25 September 2008
Palliative Care Research Program: Round Three
The National Health and Medical Research Council and the Department of Health and Ageing have announced the awarding of 16 research grants funded under the Palliative Care Research Program.
Posted by Admin on 24 September 2008
Consumer input to PBS
Australians will be able to comment on medicines being considered for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). PBAC meeting agendas will be publicly available six weeks before each meeting is held. From this time, individuals or groups will be given two weeks to complete an online form to explain how they, their family and carers would benefit from the PBS listing of a medicine to be considered at the next meeting.
Posted by Admin on 24 September 2008
Australian Wellbeing Report
The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index monitors the subjective wellbeing of the Australian population. This report concerns the 19th survey, undertaken in April 2008 and is available from the Australian Centre on Quality of Life.
Posted by Admin on 23 September 2008
National Audit of Cancer Research Projects and Research Programs, 2003-2005
Cancer Australia has completed a National Audit of Cancer Research Projects and Research Programs, 2003-2005. The report can be found on the Cancer Australia website.
Posted by Admin on 23 September 2008
Cancer survival and prevalence in Australia: Cancers diagnosed from 1982 to 2004
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released national cancer data on relative survival and prevalence in Australia for invasive cancers other than non-melanoma skin cancer. It provides trend statistics on the survival of persons diagnosed with invasive cancer from 1982-1986 to 1998-2004.
Posted by Admin on 23 September 2008
Applications for 2009 NICS Fellowships
Future leaders in evidence implementation are invited to apply for a NICS Fellowship. Applicant packs and information on eligibility are available and information teleconferences have also been scheduled for late September. Applications close 5pm AEST, Monday 27th October 2008.
Posted by Admin on 5 September 2008
Release of the National Ethics Application Form Version 2
The National Ethics Application Form (NEAF) is an online tool that allows researchers to create research ethics proposals for submission to Human Research Ethics Committees. The original version of NEAF has been revised to align with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007).NEAF Version 2 is now available for current and new users.
Posted by Admin on 5 September 2008
One in four Australians aged 65 years and over by 2056
New projections from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate that Australia's population will continue to ageover the next 50 years, with around one in four Australians being 65 years or older by 2056. By 2056 people aged 85 years or over will make up 5% to 7% of Australia's population, compared to only 1.6% in 2007.
Posted by Admin on 4 September 2008
Australian Respiratory Council Research Grants
The ARC Harry Windsor Research Grants for 2009 are being offered nationally to support research in:
Tuberculosis
Respiratory diseases related to other infections
Smoking-related respiratory diseases
Posted by Admin on 2 September 2008
£1 million for end of life care institute
A £1 million grant has been awarded to help build the Cicely Saunders Institute for Palliative Care, which will be the world's first purpose-built institute for research into end of life care. The institute is designed to allow researchers to work alongside each other and deliver palliative care solutions to patients, as well as providing education, patient information and support.
Posted by Admin on 2 September 2008
Hospice Volunteering Report
A new report looks at good practice in the management of hospice volunteering in the UK. 'Sharing good practice: the management of hospice volunteering' looks at the key role of voluntary services managers and how this role has developed in response to changes in volunteering in the previous five years
Posted by Admin on 2 September 2008
Palliative Care Foundation 2009 Grants Round
The Palliative Care Foundation runs an annual program to support education and research
into Palliative Care in Australia. Applications close 10 October 2008.
Posted by Admin on 22 August 2008
2009 NICS Fellowships
NICS Fellowships provide an opportunity for future leaders in Australian health care to develop their knowledge and expertise in closing the gaps between evidence and practice. Applications close 5pm 27 October 2008.
Posted by Admin on 22 August 2008
Australian Cancer Research
The Government, through the National Health and Medical Research Council, has committed $27.5 million over five years to participate in a consortium of countries studying the disease.The International Cancer Genome Consortium will coordinate international research efforts to understand DNA changes involved in the major forms of cancer, leading to better diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Research institutions interested in being involved should submit an Expression of Interest by 29 August 2008.
Posted by Admin on 21 August 2008
NHMRC/ARC 2008 Research Administrator’s Seminar
NHMRC/ARC 2008 Research Administrator’s Seminar will be held in association with the Australian Research Management Society (ARMS), 6-7 November 2008 at the National Convention Centre, Canberra.
Posted by Admin on 8 August 2008
Australian Charter of Health Care Rights
Australian Health Ministers endorsed the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights at their July 2008 meeting. The Charter was developed after wide consultation by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and specifies the key rights of patients and consumers when seeking or receiving healthcare services.
Posted by Admin on 5 August 2008
Joint Declaration and Statement of Commitment Palliative Care and Pain Treatment as Human Rights
Representatives of palliative care and pain treatment alliances, federations, associations, organizations, related organizations and members of civil society agree to work and collaborate together to develop and implement a Joint Declaration and Statement on recognition of Palliative Care and Pain Treatment as Human Rights. The Declaration has been initiated by the International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care and the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance.
Posted By Admin on 4 August 2008
World Health Statistics 2008
The World Health Organisation has produced a statistical report on the most recent available health statistics for WHO’s 193 Member States. This edition includes 10 highlights of health statistics as well as data on an expanded set of over 70 key health indicators.
Posted by Admin on 29 July 2008
MND Grants 2009
Researchers working in Australia in fields that are relevant to motor neurone disease are invited to apply for grants funded by the MND Research Institute of Australia. Applications close on Friday 29 August 2008.
Posted by Admin on 28 July 2008
The Victorian Palliative Care Research Collaboration
The Victorian Palliative Care Research Collaboration Project (undertaken by the CPCER and overseen by a steering committee) seeks to determine the feasibility, requirements and infrastructure required for establishing a statewide collaborative approach to enhance palliative care research outcomes. Please see the attached flyer for more details. To provide feedback in relation to this project please email cpcpa@medstv.unimelb.edu.au.
Posted by Admin on 28 July 2008
NHMRC Partnership Projects
The NHMRC is calling for funding applications under its NHMRC Partnerships initiative. The aim of this initiative is to build more effective connections between policy makers and researchers, and to improve the availability and quality of research evidence to help inform the policy process. Applications close Friday 19 December 2008.
Posted by Admin on 25 July 2008
MultiCentre Ethical Review Consultations
As part of its Harmonisation of Multi-Ethical Review (HoMER) activity, the National Health and Medical Research Council will conduct Australia wide focus groups during July and August 2008 to discuss implementing a nationally harmonised system of ethical review for multi-centre research projects.
Posted by Admin on 24 July 2008
New UK End of Life Strategy
This policy direction aims to provide people approaching the end of life with more choice about where they would like to live and die. It encompasses all adults with advanced, progressive illness and care given in all settings.
Posted by Admin on 21 July 2008
Cancer Institute NSW
Applications are invited from clinicians or researchers involved in any discipline of research relevant to cancer for the following fellowships and scholar awards:
- Early Career Development Fellowships
- Clinical Research Fellowships
- International Clinical and Research Fellowship
- Research Scholar Awards
Applications open 7 July 2008. External closing date: 5 September 2008. Full details on these grants are available on the Cancer Institute website.
Posted by Admin on 14 July 2008
Search for a Carer's Story
Sir Roden Cutler Charities is calling for carers to come forward and tell their stories as part of its newly launched program – ‘Search for a Carer’s Story’. The aim of the program is to recognise carers and share their stories with their fellow Australians. They are inviting unpaid carers to submit stories from July 1 to August 31, 2008.
Posted by Admin on 10 July 2008
Cancer Learning
The Cancer Learning online hub is an initiative of Cancer Australia and aims to consolidate the enormous variety of evidence-based learning activities, resources and information in cancer care available across Australia and overseas.
Posted by Admin on 9 July 2008
GSK Post Graduate Support Grants
GSK Australia is offering grants up to $15,000 per annum for two years to PhD or Post Doctorate students in the field of human health. These awards will provide additional financial support to PhD or Post Doctorate research students who are currently in receipt of a research grant from a non commercial body. Closing deadline: 5.00pm (AEST), Friday 25 July 2008
Posted by Admin on 2 July
Encouraging Best Practice in Residential Aged Care
The Department of Health and Ageing is seeking applications from health related organisations to improve evidence-based clinical care for residents¸ provide additional skills for clinical care staff and promote a sustainable best practice care culture in Australian Government funded aged care homes. Applications for funding must be received by the Department of Health and Ageing by 3.00pm EST on Wednesday 30 July 2008.
Posted by Admin on 23 June 2008
National palliative care performance indicators: results of the 2007 performance indicator data collection
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released its report on the findings of the 2007 national collection of performance indicator data from Australia's palliative care sector, and provides comparisons with the results of previous collections in 2005 and 2006.
Posted by Admin on 19 June 2008
National Professional Development Framework for Cancer Nursing
The National Cancer Nursing Education Project (EdCaN) has launched a National Framework for Cancer Nursing. The framework articulates the role of nursing in improving outcomes, guides professional development and details the capabilities of nurses working in cancer control.
Posted by Admin on 19 June 2008
Dementia Resource Guide
A new resource has been released. The Dementia Resource Guide aims to improve the care and quality of life for people with dementia by providing links to resources on 17 topic areas such as assessment and diagnosis, forward planning, medical treatment and support services
Posted by Admin on 16 June 2008
Research Grants-in-Aid Program 2009
The Leukaemia Foundation invites expressions of interest for grants-in-aid for research projects to support basic, applied and translational research in Australia into the causes, treatment and care of people living with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders. Expressions of interest will be reviewed to assess their relevance to haematological cancers and their scientific merit. An invitation to submit a full application will be issued to a short list of approximately ten applicants. Closing date for receipt of expressions of interest is 25 July 2008.
Posted by Admin on 16 June 2008
Pfizer Australia Research Fellowships
The Pfizer Australia Research Fellowships are awarded to scientists with significant potential to attain leadership in their chosen field of research. These fellowships allow successful applicants to continue their research at an Australian university or research institution. The next round of applications close 28th July 2008.
Posted by Admin on 16 June 2008
Catherine Pouget Award
The Catherine Pouget award is intended to encourage young investigators to study the impact of quality of care on, or improve the quality of life of the terminally ill. Applicants may include students, degree candidates, fellows, or faculty members early in their research. The selection committee will consider a wide range of research projects whose results are likely to improve the quality of life and/or the health care of the terminally ill. Applications forms are available from the MAPI Research Institute. Application due date: September 30, 2008
Posted by Admin on 16 June 2008
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day will take place on 11 October 2008. This year's theme is Hospice and palliative care: a human right. World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is organised by a committee of the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance.
Posted by Admin on 16 June 2008
Acquisition of Hope Healthcare Limited by Hammond Care
Hope Healthcare, one of the largest providers of public palliative care services in the Sydney region, has been acquired by Hammond Care effective 1 July 2008. Hammond Care specialises in aged and dementia care.
Posted by Admin on 16 June 2008
International Palliative Care Family Carer Research Collaboration
The inaugural meeting of the International Palliative Care Family Carer Research Collaboration (IPCFRC) occurred at the European Association of Palliative Care Research Congress in Italy (2006). The IPCFRC operates under the auspices of the European Association of Palliative Care and is being hosted within the Palliative Care Education and Research in Victoria. Details and an application form can be found on the IPCFRC website.
Posted by Admin on 16 June 2008
NHMRC Program Grant Applications
The NHMRC has called for applications under its Program Grants Scheme for grants commencing in 2010. The aim of the Program Grants scheme is to provide support for teams of high calibre researchers to pursue broadly based collaborative research activities, contributing to new knowledge health and medical research. Applications close 5.00pm AEST 11 July 2008.
Posted by Admin on 3 June 2008
Clinical Centres of Research Excellence – Call for Applications
Applications for Clinical Centres of Research Excellence have opened. The Centres of Clinical Research Excellence program is designed to recognise and reward successful clinical researchers, and expand their ability to produce high quality research, provide high quality clinical research training and translate their research funding into improved health outcomes. Applications close on 8 August 2008.
Posted by Admin on 3 June 2008
GP Caregiver Needs Toolkit
Primary caregivers of cancer patients who wish to die at home often have multiple needs of their own which are not well addressed. A 3-year NHMRC-funded project led Associate Professor Geoff Mitchell (University of Queensland), is looking at developing a General Practitioner (GP) Caregiver Needs Toolkit for assessing the needs of caregivers of palliative cancer patients. The project is looking for GPs who could be interested in being interviewed in the above NHMRC-funded research project. Please contact l.burridge@uq.edu.au or ring
(07) 3365 5403
Posted by Admin on 3 June 2008
Guidance for bereavement needs assessment in palliative care
This publication provides guidance to support the assessment of need for bereavement care. It has been produced by Help the Hospices.
Posted by Admin on 3 June 2008
Palliative care toolkit: Improving care from the roots up in resource-limited settings
This toolkit has been produced for Help the Hospices and the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance as a practical manual to equip, empower and encourage health workers in resource-limited settings to integrate palliative care into their work and their communities
Posted by Admin on 3 June 2008
Report on Palliative Care Donors
The International Observatory on End of Life Care has produced a report that looks at national and international donors that support hospice and palliative care activities in Africa; Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States; Central, South and East Asia; Latin America and the Caribbean; and the Middle East. The number of donors and their areas of activity indicate that, around the world, many palliative care developments are dependent on third party funding.
Posted by Admin on 3 June 2008
CareSearch launch/National Palliative Care Week launch
The Minister for Ageing has announced extra Federal Government funding of over $3.5 million - for the next three years to fund the Palliative Care for People Living at Home initiative at the start of national Palliative Care Week. The Minster also launched an innovative web site, the CareSearch website, that gives people with a terminal illness, their families and carers 24-hour access to practical information, support and advice.
Posted by Admin on 26 May 2008
National Palliative Care Service Directory has been enhanced
The National Palliative Care Service Directory has been remodelled by Palliative Care Australia. The Directory now has particular entry points for patients and carers and for health professionals and services. The service directory is now available.
Posted by Admin on 30 May 2008
National Palliative Care Week 2008
National Palliative Care Week in 2008 is from 25 – 31 May. This year’s theme is Palliative Care – A Matter of Life and Death. The 11th National Palliative Care Week is a great time for palliative care services, health services, medical centres, community organisations and people with an interest in palliative care to raise awareness about death and dying in the community and the importance of quality care at the end of life.
Posted by Admin on 26 May 2008
Draft ComPAC Guidelines
A draft of Guidelines for a Palliative Approach for Aged Care in the Community Setting have been prepared as part of the COMPAC Project. These documents will be available for public comment from May 17th, 2008. Submissions will be accepted from that date until June 16th, 2008. They are proposed for submission to the NHMRC for approval under section 14A of the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992. You are invited to make a submission on the draft guidelines. The guidelines can be found at the CareSearch ComPAC pages
Posted by Admin on 4 May 2008
Asia's first Palliative Care Research Centre
The Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) has collaborated with the Lien Foundation to establish the Lien Centre for Palliative Care - Asia's first research and training centre for end-of-life care. The Centre will be headed by Director Dr Cynthia Goh and will be located at the National Cancer Centre Singapore
Posted by Admin on 4 May 2008
2008 NICS Fellows
The NHMRC’s National Institute of Clinical Studies has awarded ten 2008 NICS Fellowships to help improve the use of evidence in key health areas. Ms Wendy Jansen from South Australia has been awarded the NICS-SA Health Nursing and Midwifery Fellow for the following project: Improving the quality of palliative care services to all terminally ill patients in the hospital setting.
Posted by Admin on 4 May 2008
Annual Pain Week Update
The National Library for Health National Knowledge Week on pain in supportive and palliative care takes place online from 28 April to 2 May 2008.
Posted by Admin on 28 April 2008
Complementary Medicines Grants announced
Over $7 million worth of grants have been announced for research into complementary and alternative medicines. Details of the successful grants are now available.
Posted by Admin on 21 April 2008
Palliative care funds for rural areas
The Australian Government has provided $6.5 million to provide more coordinated care for rural Australians with a life-limiting illness. Funding has been awarded to 36 Divisions of General Practice in all states and territories to support their efforts to develop a coordinated approach to caring for rural people at the end of their lives.
Posted by Admin on 17 April 2008
New PBS Listing
Fentanyl lozenges (Actiq) have been listed on the Palliative Care Schedule to assist those palliative care cancer patients who cannot tolerate further increases in their morphine dose due to side effects. Around 8,000 patients are expected to use this treatment in the next five years. Further details are available in the Minister of Health's media release and in the April NPS RADAR newsletter
Posted by Admin on 1 April 2008
NHMRC Grant Rounds 2008
Further information on opening and closing dates for the following NHMRC research schemes have been announced.
Centres of Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE): Opens 31 May 2008 and closes 4 August 2008.
Development Grants: Opens 5 April 2008 and closes 2 June 2008.
Capacity Building Grants in Population Health Research: Opens 12 April 2008 and closes 30 June 2008.
Posted by Admin on 28 February 2008
PCA Forum
Palliative Care Australia is hosting a forum called A Matter of Life and Death: Confronting the new reality. This forum will be held on Thursday 13 March in Canberra.
Posted by Admin on 20 February 2008
2008 Dementia Grants Program
Alzheimers' Australia has released its range of research grants including new investigator grants, grants into dementia care and travel grants. Applications close on 25 April in 2008.
Posted by Admin on 18 February 2008
Superannuation access for terminally ill
The Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law has announced that the Australian Government will legislate to make superannuation lump sum payments tax free where paid to persons suffering from terminal medical conditions.
Posted by Admin on 18 February 2008
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is a unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world. The theme for World Day 2008 which will take place on October 11th is "Hospice and palliative care: a human right".
Posted by Admin on 11 February 2008
Cecily Saunders International
The UK Prime Minister has unveiled plans for the world's first institute of palliative care, The Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care. This international academic establishment will focus specifically on palliative care research and teaching linked to clinical care.
Posted by Admin on 11 February 2008
National Palliative Care Week 2008
National Palliative Care Week will be held 25-31 May 2008. The Palliative Care Australia website will provide updates through their newsletter and website.
Posted by Admin on 4 February 2008
Oncology and Palliative Care Educational Needs Survey
The Australian Association Of Occupational Therapists (Victorian Branch) has an Oncology and Palliative Care special interest group. This group is conducting a survey of OT members regarding their educational needs in palliative care.
Posted by Admin on 30 January 2008
New UK paediatric resource
The 2007 edition of a children’s palliative care symptom control manual, Basic Symptom Control in Paediatric Palliative Care: the Rainbows Children’s Hospice Guidelines, has been launched. The manual is available at Association for Children's Palliative Care.
Posted by Admin on 14 January 2008
Last updated 19 November 2008