Sector news

Palliative Care South Australia has announced the launch of Ambulance Wish in South Australia—a collaboration led by PCSA involving St John Ambulance SA and Flinders University and supported by the SA Government. Ambulance Wish fulfills special wishes for people living with a life-limiting condition. In the words of Shyla Mills, PCSA CEO, the program ‘is a community awareness raising program for palliative care - reframing the public perception of palliative care from sadness, pain and suffering to celebrating humans who have wonderful stories to share.’ To meet its target of fulfilling the wishes of 75 palliative care patients per year, the program is seeking the support of donors, fundraisers and corporate partners.

The information required for the palliative care status form has been streamlined to make it easier to use. This includes a simpler ‘Part B: Medical Assessment’. Palliative care status is specifically for individuals with an estimated life expectancy of 3 months or less AND an AKPS score of 40 or less, who enter permanent residential care for the purpose of receiving planned palliative care.
Visit entering residential aged care for palliative care for more information.

A new program designed to help Australia’s nurses and midwives deal with stress and burnout offers free and confidential service for nurses, midwives and students will help them better manage and reduce escalating rates of fatigue, stress and burnout. There ia planned rollout of Hubs in states and territories. The phoneline and Nurses Midwife Health Program Australia website is already available at https://nursemidwifehpa.org.au/contact

The launch of Compassionate Communities Australia (CCAus) by WA Governor Hon Chris Dawson was held at Government House in Perth in late March and marked an important milestone in the history of public health and palliative care in Australia. Compassionate Communities founder Prof Allan Kellehear said the establishment of CCAus was also a significant international development. CCAus’s role will be to pioneer the development of Compassionate Communities across Australia.

Learn more about CCAus on their website.

The Australian Department of Health and Aged Care is undertaking a review of after hours primary care policies and programs. The Review ends will consider the need for primary care after hours services, the current state of after hours service provision and successful models of primary care after hours service provision. The Department is particularly interested in hearing from primary care providers including practice owners and managers, general practitioners, non-vocational doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners, allied health practitioners, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, Primary Health Networks and others working in primary care.

You can contribute to the review via this online survey and/or by emailing a written submission to afterhours@allenandclarke.com.au. This consultation ends 20 April 2024.

Charles Sturt University (NSW), Griffith University (QLD), and Palliative Care Social Work Australia are seeking the views of social workers who have worked, or are currently working, in a palliative care service, health or other setting and supporting people with a life-limiting illness to access the NDIS. Those willing to participate in an online survey can access it and further information about the study via the link above.