These pages provide access to resources and literature relevant to the practice of palliative care for psychologists.

Role in palliative care
Psychologists are experts in human behaviour, and work with clients and their families across a wide range of areas, including palliative care. Psychologists who work in palliative care are specialists in the cognitive, emotional, social and behavioural factors related to the experience of terminal illness and bereavement issues.

All practicing psychologists are legally required to be registered with the Psychologists Registration Board in their state or territory, in the same way that medical practitioners must be registered.

The Better Access to Mental Health Initiative provides services from psychologists to clients with an assessed mental disorder. The list of mental disorders includes adjustment disorder, bereavement disorder, as well as anxiety and depression. The Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative: Orientation manual for clinical psychologists, psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists is available free of charge from the Australian Psychological Society (APS) website.

The journal ‘Monitor on Psychology’ has an article by Tori deAngelis about the need for more psychologists in end-of-life care.

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) has a position paper on Euthanasia and the Terminally Ill. This paper discusses the psychological issues relating to euthanasia, focusing on voluntary active euthanasia. The paper does not take a position on the debate, nor does it attempt to cover all the legal issues involved, rather it suggests a variety of ways in which psychologists can be usefully involved in the debate and in terminal care issues.

There are interest groups and networks for those who may wish to know more:

• The peak body, the (APS) has a College of Health Psychologists whose particular focus is on the psychological factors related to health and illness
• The APS has the Interest Group of Ageing and Psychology. Many members in this Interest Group have expertise in palliative care support for clients and the family 
• The British Psychological Society has a special interest group in oncology and palliative care, and have also convened a working party to develop information and guidance on end-of-life care
• Research projects in this area are underway at the Medical Psychology Research Unit at the University of Sydney.

The American Psychological Society has a public document on the role of psychology in end-of-life decisions and quality of care issues.

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.

• 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.