These pages provide access to resources and literature relevant to the practice of palliative care for bereavement counsellors.
Role in palliative care
This information will help you to find out more about working in palliative care. It may include narratives from those working in the area, descriptions of the role, or why the position is important.
Palliative Care Victoria has produced a brochure Grief and Bereavement Counsellors that describes how a bereavement counsellor can help. The Rural Health Education Foundation has a video program on Bereavement Care.
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement has developed a resource called Minimum Standards for Bereavement Support Programs in Palliative Care Services in Victoria.
Palliative care education and training
There are different ways to develop your knowledge and skills in palliative care. Web based learning modules, short courses and specialist palliative care courses and training are offered in many organisations and universities. Further information can be found on 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 the country. The PEPA project is funded until 2010.
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement has a range of bereavement training programs available throughout Australia
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). For further information go to the Research resources section of the website.
Resources
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
Principles for the provision of Bereavement Support by Palliative care services in Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. 1998
The Bereavement Care Centre website (Mal and Dianne McKissock)
Palliative care links and information
Palliative Care Australia (PCA) 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. Its members are the eight state and territory palliative care associations and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine. The membership of these associations includes palliative care service providers, clinicians, allied health professionals, academics, consumers and members of the general community.
PCA have produced several policy documents, including:
The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing has a palliative care section.
Related CareSearch pages
This page was created on 24 March 2008 and is due for review in March 2010