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Read palliative care news and events around Australia. Please note that the links below were current at the time of posting, however links may become obsolete as websites update their content.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety have released two new papers relating to aged care access and quality indicators. Paper 16 shows that many people in non-metropolitan regions move more than 100 kilometres, or drive for more than 60 minutes, from their home when they begin permanent residential aged care or use respite in an aged care facility. Paper 15 presents information on over 50 quality indicators about residential aged care including how results are distributed across facilities.
These and all other papers are now available for download from the Royal Commission website.
On Friday 13 November, 2020 the Board of Palliative Care Australia (PCA) released a media statement to announce that they would commence recruitment of a Chief Executive Officer following the resignation of Chief Executive Officer Rohan Greenland to take up an appointment as Chief Executive Officer of MS Australia. In the interim Ms Tamara Mckee has been appointed as acting CEO of PCA during the recruitment process.
On October 26th, the PCC4U team launched the PCC4U Care Worker Toolkit. This online suite of palliative care eLearning modules supports the delivery of CHCPAL001 - Deliver care services using a palliative approach (Release 2). The Toolkit provides sixteen modules organised into five topics to develop knowledge and skills in palliative care through case studies, video vignettes, activities and evidence based content. Visit the new website for more information and to get started.
On October 20, the Department of Health have released their Implementation Plan for the National Palliative Care Strategy 2018. Key to the plan are four action areas:
You can download the plan from the Department website.
On October 22nd at the final hearing of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, findings were handed down by the Counsel Assisting team for the consideration of the Commissioners, and for any response by interested parties.
The documents containing 124 recommendations including in relation to palliative care are now available from the website:
The Commission has also released two new research papers prepared by National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) :
Talking End of Life … with People with Intellectual Disability (TEL) is designed for disability workers but is also helpful for others, and shows you how to teach people with intellectual disability about the end of life. This month the website has added new resources and refreshed the video pages. Visit the TEL website to learn more.
caring@home has new resources available for health professionals providing palliative care in the community - new versions of palliMEDS and Medicine Guidelines.
Palliative Care Self Assessment (PaCSA) provides services with an online portal to self-assess against the National Palliative Care Standards (5th ed.), mapped against the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (2nd ed.), resulting in a quality improvement action plan.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is seeking input and feedback from the public on the draft National Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care Information Priorities. The draft document aims to help guide efforts in palliative care and end-of-life care information development over the next 10 years. The deadline to submit feedback is on 8 November 2020.
CarerHelp is hosting a panel discussion on Caring at the end of life: Navigating grief and loss on 13 October 2020. Hosted by Di Darmody, speakers in the panel include: Mr Chris Hall (CEO, Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement), Associate Professor Lauren Breen (School of Psychology, Curtin University), Ms Voula Kallianis (Social Worker, Palliative Care, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne), Ms Briony Lyle (bereaved carer of her late husband), and Ms Rennie Neasey-O’Connell (Funeral Director, Parkside Funerals). The discussion will be livestreamed on Carers Australia Facebook Page at 5:00 pm AEDT, Follow the Carers Australia Facebook page to be alerted when the livestream begins.
11-17 October is National Carers Week and this year's theme is Tell Us Why You Care which aims to highlight the realities of caring and help build a carer-friendly Australia. One in eight Australians provide unpaid care and support to family members or friends with a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged. Unpaid carers make an enormous contribution to our community and economy and National Carers Week gives everyone a chance to show their appreciation.
Commencing 1 October 2020, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listings for opioid medicines will look different. Following feedback received regarding recent changes to opioid analgesic medications listed on the PBS, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) has recommended additional changes to ensure unimpeded access to opioid medication to palliative care patients. You can read more about the changes including extension of secondary review rights to palliative care nurse practitioners (611kb pdf).
This years PCNA (Palliative Care Nurses Australia) conference is going to be an interactive virtual event running over 4 days from the 22nd - 25th of November 2020.
The Commonwealth Department of Health has sponsored grants available for PCNA delegates:
Apply now for the chance to receive:
September 10, 2020. As part of the response to COVID-19 the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce has developed and released a flowchart for Management of people with covid-19 who are receiving palliative care (158kb pdf). (Updated 15 October 2020) They have also updated their flowchart for Management of people with covid-19 who are older and living with frailty and/or cognitive impairment (154kb pdf) (Updated 15 October 2020).
The Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) group have released a new Online Learning module and accompanying Learning guide to support Careworkers. Great to see resources being developed for these important members of the care team, and we are also pleased to see reference being made to the CareSearch/palliAGED evidence in palliative care. You can visit the PEPA website to learn more and register for the course.
As part of the response to COVID-19 the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence TaskForce has developed and released a resource for Management of people with covid-19 who are older and living with frailty and/or cognitive impairment (154kb pdf). The guidance released on August 27th draws on palliative care resources to guide care management. (Updated 15 October 2020)
This best-practice learning package is tailored to health professionals delivering palliative and end-of-life care in all clinical settings across Queensland.
The learning package is available from www.pallconsult.com.au and includes:
Clinical Excellence Queensland has released a suite of resources to provide support and direction for bereaved family, friends, and carers. The resources provide useful information about preparing for the end of life of an adult family member or friend; what to do after someone dies; grief and loss; caring for self and others; a checklist of suggested tasks; and a comprehensive list of support services.
Resources include:
To access the resources and order printed copies visit the Care at End of Life bereavement support website.
On 7th August, 2020 the Premier of Western Australia unveiled plans for the states’ first hospice for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. The service plans to provide a wide spectrum of support from early diagnosis through to bereavement services for families following the death of a child.