Working as an Aboriginal Health Worker in palliative care

• The Aboriginal & Islander Health Worker Journal provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers with up to date and relevant health information 
• Two Aboriginal Health Workers wrote about their role in an article for the Medical Journal of Australia called The Aboriginal Health Worker.

Information on courses
There are different ways to develop your knowledge and skills in palliative care. Web-based learning modules, short courses and specialist palliative care courses are offered in many organisations and universities. Further information can be found in the Education pages of CareSearch.

The Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) is an initiative under the National Palliative Care Program. It is a supported multidisciplinary course with work placements offered across Australia and it is funded until 2010. An article about the Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach and Aboriginal Health Workers called Learning about the palliative approach may be of interest.

A Cancer Care Course is available in central and southern Queensland for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers.

Research
Many health professions may be interested in looking at palliative care research questions in their area of specialty. This may be work that is planned for the future. Any palliative care professional, regardless of discipline, is able to access the CareSearch Research Data Management System (RDMS).

What’s in the literature?

• Mcgrath. P, Patton. M, Ogilvie. K, Rayner. R, McGrath. Z and Holewa. H (2007) The case for Aboriginal Health Workers in palliative care. Australian Health Review 31:3: 430- 39
• Mitchell M & Hussey L  2006 The Aboriginal Health Worker MJA 184:10

• Rural Health Education Foundation – program on Aboriginal Health Workers and Chronic Disease management
• Department of Health and Ageing’s Palliative Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People magazine
• Indigenous Resources on CareSearch
• Australian Indigenous Health InfoNet

Palliative care links and information
Palliative Care Australia is the peak national organisation representing the interests and aspirations of all who share the ideal of quality care at the end-of-life for all. It has produced the following policy documents:

• Standards for providing quality palliative care for all Australians
• Palliative care service provision in Australia: a planning guide
• A guide to palliative care service development: A population based approach.

The Department of Health and Ageing website has a palliative care section.

Related CareSearch pages
What is palliative care?
Clinical practice
Professional considerations

This page was created on 15 May 2008 and is due for review in May 2010