Sector news

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare has released new guidance to support clinicians in the day-to-day use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. The Pragmatic AI guidance for clinicians resources are relevant to clinicians who may use AI in their clinical work, including doctors, nurses, medical imaging and allied health professionals, working in general practice, private practice, community health or hospitals.

Many Australians living in rural and remote areas have to travel great distances access essential specialised health services including oncology for cancer treatment and dialysis for those with end-stage kidney disease. Patient Assisted Travel Scheme aims to alleviate costs associated with travelling for these services for patients and eligible escorts. Currently, payment rates and eligibility criteria varies across states. The National Rural Health Alliance's Patient Assisted Travel Scheme fact sheet has collated information from each state and territory to provide comprehensive information for people wanting to know more about the scheme.

Healthdirect’s National Health Services Directory (NHSD) now enables pharmacies to include a service offering of ‘Palliative care medicine’ in their listing. The NHSD powers the Service Finder, the public-facing directory where the community can find up-to-date information about health services near them.  Customers can search and filter service offerings to find their closest pharmacy stocking core palliative care medicines, making it easier to plan ahead before visiting or calling.

Palliative Care NSW has just published a new edition of its volunteer training manual, the Palliare Handbook. This digital resource offers foundational knowledge and practical guidance for people volunteering in palliative settings and supports services looking to train new volunteers.

Free to download. Print copies can be ordered by contacting the organisation.

Several Australians were honoured for their contributions to palliative care in this year’s Honours list. Teresa Plane received the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to palliative care and the arts. Dr Lawrence Robert Palmer (SA), Associate Professor Carol Mary Douglas (QLD), and Associate Professor Catherine Margaret Swetenham (SA) were recognised for outstanding public service in palliative care and end-of-life care. Other award recipients include Emeritus Professor Peter Aran Howat (WA), Ms Kylie Ellen Pussell (NSW), and Dr Alan Bruce Secombe (QLD). 

The Australian Government has announced that the implementation of the new Aged Care Act 2024 and the Support at Home program will be deferred from 1 July to 1 November 2025. This delay aims to provide aged care providers with additional time to prepare their clients, support their workers, and ready their systems for the upcoming changes.