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.
New PBS Listing March 2010
Methylnaltrexone has been listed on the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits. It will provide an alternative treatment for opioid-induced constipation in palliative care patients where other treatments for constipation are no longer effective. The PBAC (July 2009) recommended listing methylnaltrexone on the PBS on the basis of high clinical need, and high and uncertain but acceptable cost-effectiveness compared with placebo.
Posted by Admin on 15 March 2010
Australian Research Council Postgraduate Scholarship in Dignity Therapy
Western Australian Centre for Cancer and Palliative Care, Curtin University of Technology
Applications are invited for a doctoral scholarship for research in palliative care in the area of Dignity Therapy for Motor Neurone Disease, leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Closing date: 12 April 2010
Posted by Admin on 10 March 2010
NHMRC Program Grant scheme
The aim of the Program Grants scheme is to provide support for teams of high calibre researchers to pursue broad based, multi-disciplinary and collaborative research activities. Applications for funding to commence in 2012 are now open. Closing date 1 June 2010.
Posted by Admin on 10 March 2010
Report of the Review of Health Technology Assessment in Australia
A new report recommends improvements to the way new health products, procedures and services are assessed for public funding, in line with international best practice.
Posted by Admin on 6 March 2010
Research into the effect of palliative care for people living with HIV/AIDS
The Palliative Care Initiative of The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund is inviting proposals from suitably experienced research institutions to investigate and provide rigorous evidence on the effect of palliative care on the quality of life and outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Applications close 13 May 2010.
Posted by Admin on 6 March 2010
Additional ANZSPM Forums
Two further ANZSPM forums looking at renal failure and a patient's pathway to palliative care have been arranged for 2010:
Brisbane 3 June 2010
Sydney 24 June 2010
Posted by Admin on 6 March 2010
Victorian Bereavement Services Directory
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement website has added an online directory of bereavement services and programs available throughout Victoria. Over time this may be extended to provide a national directory of bereavement services.
Posted by Admin on 1 March 2010
Clinical Practice Guidelines Portal
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) have launched a new national Clinical Practice Guidelines Portal that will provide links to current Australian guidelines developed by governments, professional colleges, specialty societies and non-government agencies. The Australian guidelines are important tools that ensure the most recent Australian and international research is evaluated and applied across different health care settings to enable better health outcomes to be achieved for all.
Posted by Admin on 26 February 2010
Senior Medical Research Fellowship
The Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation invites applications annually for a five-year Senior Medical Research Fellowship to establish a research career in Australia and undertake research in an Australian academic institution. Applications close on 1 May 2010.
Posted by Admin on 25 February 2010
Clinical Investigator Awards
The Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation invites applications for Clinical Investigator awards. Applicants should be actively engaged in clinical work and pursuing health and medical research in a university clinical department, a teaching hospital, a clinical research unit of a research institute or in an academic general practice setting.
Posted by Admin on 25 February 2010
Margaret Corden Scholarship
Margaret Corden Scholarship to the value of $5,000 is awarded by the Council of ACT Palliative Care Society for projects which advance the knowledge and expertise of palliative care. Applications for the 2010 scholarship are now open. Individuals and organizations are invited to apply. Closing date for 2010 applications is 5 April. For further information, email info@pallcareact.org.au or phone (02) 6273 9606
Posted by Admin on 25 February 2010
Second call for Funding - Partnership Projects
The second call for funding under the NHMRC Partnership Projects initiative (Partnership Projects 2009) is open.The NHMRC Partnerships initiative is designed to more effectively integrate evidence into health policy and service delivery. Closing date is 30 April 2010.
Posted by Admin on 23 February 2010
Heart Foundation Career Development Fellowship
The purpose of the Career Development Fellowship is to develop the career of Australian citizens or permanent residents, who are 2-12 years postdoctoral. These applicants are expected to have spent at least four years actively contributing to cardiovascular research. Applications close 12 April, 2010
Posted by Admin on 17 February 2010
Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships
The Heart Foundation offers fellowships to graduates of recognised institutions whose usual place of residence is in Australia and who propose to engage in biomedical, clinical and/or public health (including health services) research related to cardiovascular disease and related
disorders. Closing date: 12 April, 2010
Posted by Admin on 17 February 2010
National Palliative Care Strategy Review
Communio is conducting a review of the National Palliative Care Strategy for the Department of Health and Ageing. As part of the review process contributions are sought from any interested individuals or groups through:
- participation in a survey (available now), and/or
- attendance at workshops to be held across Australia in March 2010.
To participate in the online survey click here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PalliativeCareStrategyUpdate. This survey will remain open until midnight 1 March 2010.
To register for a workshop click here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Stakeholder_registration
A report of Phase 1 activities including the literature review and consultation with key informants to establish a Framework against which the current Strategy should be reviewed is also available.
Posted by Admin on 15 February 2010
Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation Grants
Applications are now open for research grants into serious conditions that affect children. Grants of $75,000 will be awarded for research to be undertaken in 2011. Early Career Grants of up to $35,000 per annum to scientists applying for the first time as Chief Investigator are also considered. Applications close on 29 April 2010.
Posted by Admin on 15 February 2010
A good death
Four Corners, a program on the ABC, Australia's public broadcaster, highlighted the contribution of palliative care in a show looking at the stories of four Australians as they come to the end of their lives, and the people determined to give them a good death.
Posted by Admin on 12 February 2010
Australia Fellowships
The Australia Fellowship is an award to support the salary and research of outstanding researchers with a vision to expand the scale and scope of Australian health and medical research. Australia Fellows will be conducting innovative research at the highest international levels. Applications are now open. Expression of Interest CLOSE: 25 March 2010
Posted by Admin on 12 February 2010
2010 Dementia Grants Program.
Alzheimer’s Australia Research (AAR) has announced its 2010 Dementia Grants Program. Grants available include:
- New Researcher Grants
- Travel Grants
- Postgraduate Scholarships
Applications close 12 April 2010.
Posted by Admin on 8 February 2010
Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits February Update
The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits was updated on 1 February 2010. The modified release preparation of hydromorphone - Jurnista 4mg, has now been listed on the General Pharmaceutical Benefits listing as of February 2010. It has a restricted benefit for pain not responding to non-narcotic analgesics.
Posted by Admin on 5 February 2010
Intergenerational Report 2010
This is the first Intergenerational Report of the Rudd Government. In addition to assessing the fiscal and economic challenges of an ageing population, this report also includes a comprehensive discussion on environmental challenges and social sustainability.
Posted by Admin on 2 February 2010
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers Association
A peak national body for Australia's 1,600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers has established. The will provide advocacy, mentoring and support for indigenous health workers and will provide information through a new website at www.natsihwa.org.au.
Posted by Admin on 1 February 2010
World Cancer Day
Each year on 4 February, the World Health Organization supports the International Union Against Cancer to promote ways to ease the global burden of cancer. Preventing cancer and raising quality of life for cancer patients are recurring themes.
Posted by Admin on 28 January 2010
End of Life Care for All (e-ELCA) e-Learning Program
The NHS eLearning for Healthcare (e-LfH) has released as e-learning raining program End of Life Care for All. Some of the modules for administrative and clerical staff and volunteers are openly available.
Posted by Admin 25 January 2010
Identification of resources to support palliative care for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
The Department of Health and Ageing is seeking tenders from capable and experienced individuals or organisations to map and critically assess resources which support palliative and end of life care for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Closing date is 2pm on 12 February 2010.
Posted by Admin 22 January 2010
Career Development Awards
This scheme aims to further develop Australian health and medical researchers early in their career. It will enable investigators to establish themselves as independent, self-directed researchers; expand capacity for biomedical, clinical, public health and health service delivery research, and for evidence-based policy development in Australian health systems; and encourage the translation of research outcomes into practice.Applications close on 31 March 2010.
Posted by Admin 22 January 2010
Call for Researchers to serve on the Project Grant Review Panels in 2010
NHMRC is currently identifying researchers to serve on the Project Grant Review Panels in 2010. Researchers can express their interest by email to grp.membership@nhmrc.gov.au
Posted by Admin 22 January 2010
NHMRC TRIP Fellowship Scheme
Translating Research Into Practice (TRIP) is a new early-to-mid career fellowship scheme to support the translation of research findings into clinical practice. Applications are now open and will close at 5pm (AEDST) 1 March 2010, for funding commencing in October 2010.
Posted by Admin 22 January 2010
Australia Fellowship round five – EOI opening and closing date amendment
Australia Fellowship round five will open for Expressions of Interest on the amended date of 10 February 2010 for funding commencing in 2011. The closing date for Expressions of Interest is 25 March 2010. NHMRC particularly invites translational researchers (practice or policy) to apply.
Posted by Admin 22 January 2010
NHS Annual Evidence Update on ‘Patient and carer involvement in chronic disease’
NHS EVidence has published its Annual Evidence Update on ‘Patient and carer involvement in chronic disease’. This update on patient and carer engagement in chronic disease management reflects the widening field of supportive and end of life care.
Posted by Admin on 22 January 2010
ANZSPM Forums
ANZSPM will be hosting a series of forums in the early part of 2010.
- 29 March 2010, Christchurch: What's new in pain control
- 30 March 2010, Palmerston North: What's new in pain control
- 31 March 2010, Auckland: What's new in pain control
- 12 May 2010, Adelaide: Anxiety and depression in the terminally ill
- 13 May 2010, Perth: Anxiety and depression in the terminally ill
- 17 May 2010, Darwin: Anxiety and depression in the terminally ill
- 17 May 2010, Melbourne: Anxiety and depression in the terminally ill
- 18 May 2010, Hobart: Anxiety and depression in the terminally ill
Posted by Admin on 13 January 2010
Review of Ethics Guidelines
AIATSIS is currently undertaking a full review of the our Guidelines for Ethical Research in Indigenous Studies (GERIS) and associated materials. The project is looking at developments in ethical practices over the past decade and emerging trends for the future, with the aim of delivering a coherent policy document to guide ethical research involving Indigenous peoples over the next 5-10 years. Comments are now invited on the Discussion Paper and revised draft of GERIS.
Posted by Admin on 13 January 2010
Palliative Care Medication Guidelines (Queensland)
The Brisbane South Palliative Care Collaborative has finalised the updated version of the document ‘Guidelines for the Handling of Medication in Community Based Palliative Care Services in Queensland’. The guidelines were endorsed by the Environmental Health Unit, Queensland Health and Queensland Health Patient Safety and Quality Executive Committee in August 2009. Hard copies of the guidelines are available by emailing BSPCC@health.qld.gov.au or alternatively the document can be viewed and downloaded direct by visiting http://www.health.qld.gov.au/cpcre/medguidepccn.asp or http://www.palliativecareqld.org.au.
Posted by Admin on 13 January 2010
Translating Research into Practice (TRIP) Fellowships
The NHMRC TRIP Fellowships provide support and training for future leaders in knowledge translation, the science and practice of evidence implementation. Applications for this scheme are now open. Closing date is 1 March 2010
Posted by Admin on 12 January 2010
Practitioner Fellowships Scheme
The NHMRC's Practitioner Fellowships Scheme is intended for active clinicians and public health or health services professionals to undertake research that is linked to their practice or policy. The Scheme
may support practitioners in developing a career that includes successful research. Applications for this scheme are now open. Closing date is 12 February 2010
Posted by Admin on 12 January 2010
Research Fellowships
The NHMRC's Fellowship Awards provide support for experienced researchers to undertake research that is both of major importance in its field and of benefit to Australian health. The Research Fellowship Scheme is now open for applications. Closing date is 12 February 2010.
Posted by Admin on 12 January 2010
Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme
The Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme is a research grant funding program conducted by Cancer Australia to support cancer research project grants in identified priority areas. In the 2010 round of the scheme, Cancer Australia, beyondblue: the national depression initiative, Cancer Council New South Wales, Cancer Council Tasmania, CanTeen, Cure Cancer Australia Foundation, the Leukaemia Foundation, Meat and Livestock Australia, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the National Centre for Gynaecological Cancers, the National Lung Cancer Program and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, will support Australian researchers to work collaboratively towards generating evidence, increasing knowledge and improving the translation of research into policy and practice in cancer research priority areas. Applications are now open. Closing date: 17 March 2010
Posted by Admin on 11 January 2010
News items from previous years can be found on the Community News 2008 page and Community News 2009 page.
This page was created on 11 January 2010.
Last updated 15 March 2010