Subscribe Blog Contact
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.
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 (183kb pdf). They have also updated their flowchart for Management of people with covid-19 who are older and living with frailty and/or cognitive impairment (171kb pdf).
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 (171kb pdf). The guidance released on August 27th draws on palliative care resources to guide care management.
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.
June 2020, Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation released their report National COVID-19 in Aged Care Survey- Final Report (8.12MB pdf), based on survey of nursing staff working across different aged care sector settings. Outcomes include staffing levels, preparedness, and infection control, as well as their concerns for this vulnerable population.
Not-for-profit, Palliative Care Victoria, has announced the appointment of Adjunct Associate Professor Violet Platt as its new CEO, effective from 22nd June 2020.
Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement has released a new online course: Effective Brief Contact. The course provides a simple framework and strategies that can be used to ensure effective bereavement support when only having brief contact with bereaved or grieving individuals.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released its palliative care data update: Palliative Care Services in Australia. This is an online report on the activity and characteristics of palliative care services across Australia.
North Western Melbourne PHN has released a new model and workbook for general practice End-of-Life Care (4.80MB pdf) quality improvement (QI). Produced as part of the as part of the Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care measure, the booklet provides instruction, external links to resources, and fillable forms for practice QI in general practice.
In June 2020 Advance Care Planning Australia (ACPA) announced the departure of founding team member and Medical Director, Professor Karen Detering. They have also released two new reports, a report on Obligations of Australian health practitioners in relation to advance care planning (1.38MB pdf), and a second report that examines Australian advance care planning laws: Can we improve consistency? (1.59MB pdf) Both reports are available from the ACPA website.
The 73rd World Health Assembly has included palliative care in its approved resolution 73.1 on COVID-19 (286kb pdf). The original draft (83kb pdf) proposal was forwarded by an international group including Australia.
The South Australian government department of health and wellbeing has announced 15 recipients of funding under the Palliative Care 2020 Grants Program. The government received over 70 applications for the $1.4 million of available funds aimed at improving access to and diversity of palliative care services for South Australians.
To coincide with National Palliative Care Week (Sunday 24th May – Saturday 30th May) Palliative Care Victoria launched a video-based community awareness campaign called ‘Palliative care, it’s more than you think’. The videos are available on YouTube.
A new KPMG report commissioned by Palliative Care Australia and the Snow Foundation was released on May 26th, 2020. The report: The economics of increased investment in palliative care in Australia, presents an economic case for integrating specialist palliative care into aged care facilities, hospitals and home based care. Key recommendations include calls for additional investment, an agreement between the Commonwealth and the states and territories, and a new full-time Palliative Care Commissioner.
PCA release statement.
On May 25th, 2020 the Australian Government announced that it will provide $57.2 million in funding to improve palliative care in aged care facilities across Australia. Matching of funding by State and Territory governments is expected. Read the full announcement for more.
Now accepting calls
The Victorian Government has introduced a new advice service (396kb pdf) available to all Victorians where you can speak with a palliative care nurse or doctor about any aspect of a life-limiting illness. The advice service will will operate from 7am to 10pm, 7 days a week through the Parkville Integrated Palliative Care Service. To contact the advice service call 1800 360 000.