In this issue Policy update 2 News 6 NaƟonal PalliaƟve Care Week 9 Employment 10 Member updates 11 Sector News 13 EducaƟon 14 Conferences and events 15 Have a story? Email Claire@palliaƟvecare.org.au July 2010 ehospice expands into LaƟn America PalliaƟve Care Australia is delighted to announce the 12th ediƟon of ehospice from LaƟn America. Managed by Asociación ArgenƟna de Medicina y Cuidados PaliaƟvos (AAMYCP), the ArgenƟna AssociaƟon of Medicine and PalliaƟve Care, the LaƟn American ediƟon will be published in Spanish and Portuguese. UnƟl now, palliaƟve care in LaƟn America has suffered from a lack of networking and collaboraƟon, something ehospice will help to resolve says Dr Jorge Eisenchlas, a home care physician who is managing the new ediƟon on behalf of AAMYCP. He said: “PalliaƟve care in LaƟn America has developed heterogeneously, partly due to the unique cultural characterisƟcs and different opportuniƟes available in each country, but also because of a lack of communicaƟon in a region with large distances between capital ciƟes and centres of pracƟce. From the President It’s at this Ɵme of year that our aƩenƟon turns to one of the biggest events in PCA’s calendar, that of NaƟonal PalliaƟve Care Week. Now 17 years old, NaƟonal PalliaƟve Care Week provides us with an opportunity to spread the word about palliaƟve care in our community, to highlight the great work done by everyone working in the sector, and to focus the aƩenƟon of policy makers, funders and governments onto some of the key issues that we need address to ensure quality care at the end of life for all Australians. I was reflecƟng on our NaƟonal PalliaƟve Care Week theme, PalliaƟve care everyone’s business: Let’s work together, and am really excited by the focus on workforce this year. Firstly, it is a great way to celebrate everyone working in palliaƟve care and the diversity of people involved. This includes everyone from doctors to nurses and other health professionals, through to volunteers, paƟents and carers. (read more on page 2) During March, PCA asked people working in the sector to volunteer to be part of our NaƟonal PalliaƟve Care Week campaign and the response was overwhelming, with over 100 people coming forward. Thank you to everyone who volunteered. The theme also provides us with an opportunity to educate the community about all of the different people involved in palliaƟve care and the services available to them, as well as encouraging them to think, and have conversaƟons, about palliaƟve care and the end of life. At a policy level, we’ll be able to highlight some of the workforce issues faced by the sector and look at what we need to do to ensure palliaƟve care is everyone’s business, and every Australian has access to palliaƟve care services when and where they need them. I’m looking forward to hearing about all of the events that will be taking place across the country. Turn to page 9 of this ebulleƟn for more informaƟon about the NaƟonal PalliaƟve Care Week and how you can be involved. Professor Patsy Yates President Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected]w: www.palliativecare.org.au PCA e‐bulleƟn March 2014
Transcript
In this issue Policy update 2
News 6
Na onal Pallia ve Care Week 9
Employment 10
Member updates 11
Sector News 13
Educa on 14
Conferences and events 15
Have a story? Email Claire@pallia vecare.org.au
July 2010
ehospice expands into La n America Pallia ve Care Australia is delighted to announce the 12th edi on of ehospice from La n America.
Managed by Asociación Argen na de Medicina y Cuidados Palia vos (AAMYCP), the Argen na Associa on of Medicine and Pallia ve Care, the La n American edi on will be published in Spanish and Portuguese. Un l now, pallia ve care in La n America has suffered from a lack of networking and collabora on, something ehospice will help to resolve says Dr Jorge Eisenchlas, a home care physician who is managing the new edi on on behalf of AAMYCP.
He said: “Pallia ve care in La n America has developed heterogeneously, partly due to the unique cultural characteris cs and different opportuni es available in each country, but also because of a lack of communica on in a region with large distances between capital ci es and centres of prac ce.
From the President It’s at this me of year that our a en on turns to one of the biggest events in PCA’s calendar, that of Na onal Pallia ve Care Week.
Now 17 years old, Na onal Pallia ve Care Week provides us with an opportunity to spread the word about pallia ve care in our community, to highlight the great work done by everyone working in the sector, and to focus the a en on of policy makers, funders and governments onto some of the key issues that we need address to ensure quality care at the end of life for all Australians. I was reflec ng on our Na onal Pallia ve Care Week theme, Pallia ve care everyone’s business: Let’s work together, and am really excited by the focus on workforce this year.
Firstly, it is a great way to celebrate everyone working in pallia ve care and the diversity of people involved. This includes everyone from doctors to nurses and other health professionals, through to volunteers, pa ents and carers.
(read more on page 2)
During March, PCA asked people working in the sector to volunteer to be part of our Na onal Pallia ve Care Week campaign and the response was overwhelming, with over 100 people coming forward. Thank you to everyone who volunteered.
The theme also provides us with an opportunity to educate the community about all of the different people involved in pallia ve care and the services available to them, as well as encouraging them to think, and have conversa ons, about pallia ve care and the end of life.
At a policy level, we’ll be able to highlight some of the workforce issues faced by the sector and look at what we need to do to ensure pallia ve care is everyone’s business, and every Australian has access to pallia ve care services when and where they need them.
I’m looking forward to hearing about all of the events that will be taking place across the country. Turn to page 9 of this ebulle n for more informa on about the Na onal Pallia ve Care Week and how you can be involved. Professor Patsy Yates President
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
PCA e‐bulle n March 2014
ehospice at the Grief and Bereavement Conference
ehospice Australia also reported live from the Australian Grief and Bereavement Conference, 26 – 28 March. If you’re interested in the content from this event, click the links below to access the ar cles we have published: The Shocked Caregiver – Dr Elizabeth Lobb Improving Bereavement Support for Children
and Families at the Victorian Paediatric Pallia ve Care Program – Julie Anania
An cipatory grief in pallia ve care – Dr J William Worden
Broadening horizons at the 2014 Australian Grief and Bereavement Conference
What’s making news at the Australian Grief and Bereavement Conference – 27 March.
Pass the coffin please: Death café at #Grief2014 Bridging the gap between research and prac ce That’s a wrap: #Grief2014 delegate reac ons Holding a conference or other event soon? Get in touch with the ehospice Australia team to find out how we can support your conference marke ng strategies ehospice@pallia vecare.org.au
Policy update Close the Gap Day Na onal Close the Gap Day on March 20 was an occasion to encourage everyone in our community to help eradicate health inequali es between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous Australians. Indigenous Australians can expect to live 10‐17 years less than other Australians. On the eighth Close the Gap Day, the message for governments was to priori se ac on on closing the gap by 2030. The Na onal Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes was a coordinated agreement by members of the Council of Australian Government (COAG) developed in 2009. The agreement was designed to facilitate and distribute $806.46 million of Commonwealth funding and $771.49 million from the states and territories to help meet the 2030 deadline.
Up un l today, there con nues to be a lack of systema c connec vity allowing us to know what our neighbours are doing. “ehospice will fill this gap, improving communica on and bringing together personal ini a ves into one common place with many voices. ehospice will allow us to share our views, developments and inspira on, and cons tutes an unlimited tool for growing and expanding pallia ve care in the region." David Praill, CEO of Help the Hospices, which runs the UK edi on of ehospice, said of the new edi on: "The vision of ehospice is to improve pa ent care by ensuring everyone working in pallia ve care is part of a networked world. Launching an edi on which covers the large region of La n America in both Spanish and Portuguese is a huge leap forward in achieving this vision, and is a major development in the growth of this vitally important resource.” The new edi on will connect people working in pallia ve and end of life care in the region ‐ offering a central pla orm where they can access the latest sector news and share good prac ce. It will also help to increase awareness and understanding of pallia ve care among the general public by publishing pa ent stories, and will also carry feature ar cles and opinion pieces from leading pallia ve care prac oners. Access the La n America edi on at: www.ehospice.com/AmericaLa na Other ehospice news Earlier in March, all ehospice edi ons collaborated to produce a joint series on the topic ‘raising awareness of pallia ve care.’ Click the links below to access the ar cles: Raising awareness of hospice and pallia ve
care (Interna onal edi on) Raising awareness of hospice and pallia ve
care a key priority (UK edi on) Use of digital media to raise awareness of
pallia ve care (African edi on) Raising awareness this Na onal Pallia ve Care
Week (Australian edi on) Raising awareness of children’s pallia ve care –
looking for champions (Interna onal Children’s edi on)
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
“The Na onal Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes expired last year and we call on the Federal Government to take a leadership role and work with states and territories to forge a new na onally coordinated approach to funding and implement a long term Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan,” said Dr Yvonne Luxford, Chief Execu ve Officer of Pallia ve Care Australia. Co‐chair of the Close the Gap Campaign and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Jus ce Commissioner Mick Gooda says Indigenous people have a broad range of cultures and needs, but real change needs to occur at a community level. “Solu ons must come from within the local community, with local consulta on and engagement. Without ownership by the community, sustainable improvements in quality end of life care are not possible,” said Mr Gooda. “Pallia ve care can, and should, improve end of life outcomes for Indigenous people.” For more informa on about the Close the Gap Campaign visit oxfam.org.au/closethegap
Above: Pallia ve Care Australia staff host a Close the Gap Day a ernoon tea
Pallia ve Care in the Senate Parliamentary Friends End of Life Care Group Co‐Convenor and pallia ve care supporter, Tasmanian Senator Catryna Bilyk gave a speech in the Senate on Thursday March 20 encouraging poli cians and the community to learn more about pallia ve care.
During her speech she made reference to Pallia ve Care Australia’s work ,including Na onal Pallia ve Care Week and the Parliamentary Friends End of Life Care Group. Here are some of the highlights from her speech: On the Be er Access to Pallia ve Care in Tasmania Program: “I was very pleased to launch a training session recently in Hobart designed to encourage the use of the guidelines for a pallia ve approach for aged care in a community se ng. The guidelines provide a framework for enhancing the care of residents and their families by offering them a pallia ve approach when appropriate and increasing the knowledge and the range of skills of staff in providing the pallia ve approach in caring for residents and their families.” “I hope that training in these guidelines will make it easier for pallia ve care workers and volunteers in communi es across Tasmania to con nue the wonderful work they do in extremely difficult circumstances.” On Na onal Pallia ve Care Week: “Na onal Pallia ve Care Week 2014 is being held between Sunday, 25 May and Saturday, 31 May 2014. The theme this year is: 'Pallia ve Care is everyone's business: let's work together.' This year they are celebra ng the people who work in pallia ve care and the important role they play in ensuring quality care at the end of life for all.” On the Parliamentary Friends End of Life Care Group: “As one of the co‐convenors of the Parliamentary Friends End‐of‐Life‐Care Group, I know that more needs to be done to improve conversa ons that we have in our society about end of life issues. More needs to be done to ensure that Australians spend their last moments in places that are familiar and that they are comfortable in.” “I should take a moment to highlight the work done by Pallia ve Care Australia. They do fantas c work, promo ng awareness of pallia ve care and providing resources for professionals, families and volunteers. On pallia ve care: “I am grateful to all the commi ed professionals and volunteers working in the pallia ve care sector. This surely has to be one of the hardest jobs within the
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
healthcare sector. They know that their clients or family members are dying and that this will happen sooner rather than later, that their goal is not to prolong life but to help people live as comfortably as possible in their remaining me and give those who are dying the opportunity to visit with family and friends, to e up loose ends, to laugh and cry, to tell their stories and to say goodbye to those they love.” You can read the full transcript of Senator Bilyck’s speech here.
Above: Senator Catryna Bilyck
Defusing a Ticking Time Bomb: Improving the quality and delivery of home care in Australia A discussion paper outlining priori es for reform and key recommenda ons for improving the quality and delivery of home care services in Australia was launched at Parliament House, Canberra on 18 March.
Rising rates of age related and chronic diseases will see the number of people requiring aged care increase by 250 per cent over the next 40 years, with around 3.5 million Australians using aged care services by 2050. Based on recommenda ons outlined in the White Paper, crea ng a be er system of home care in Australia will involve: 1. Improving access to home care 2. Improving the quality of home care 3. Improving the wellbeing outcomes of individuals receiving home care. Jeff, who cares for his wife Stacey, spoke at the launch event about their experiences of requiring home care and the challenges they faced.
He made the point that the health system is complex and difficult to navigate for carers and those they are caring for, which demonstrates the need to increase educa on in the community to raise awareness about what services are available for people in their homes and how to access them. The White Paper states that carers should be acknowledged and fully integrated as partners in care, but also that reform should reduce the financial, psychological, emo onal and physical burden of providing care. The issue of caring for carers and be er suppor ng carers through improved access to respite and bereavement care is an issue which is o en overlooked or receives less a en on. While talking about the difficul es of being a carer, it is also important to acknowledge the posi ves of caring for someone at home and that it can be a rich and rewarding personal experience, as well as a challenging one. This point was made by at the launch by CEO of Carers Australia, Ara Cresswell. Pallia ve Care Australia was involved in the development of the White Paper and emphasised that more must be done to support carers by developing a suppor ve social system that provides the necessary support to enable carers to provide care in a manner that promotes their health, wellbeing and personal aspira ons. “We know that approximately 75 per cent of people would prefer to be cared for in their own home at the end of their life, but we’re not currently able to meet people’s wishes in this regard,” said Dr Yvonne Luxford, CEO of Pallia ve Care Australia. “We need a more formalised approach to home care that is flexible and based on individual needs, a ‘one size fits all’ approach will not work.” “More training is required for all involved, including ongoing educa on of healthcare professionals in areas such as pallia ve care,” said Dr Luxford. The White Paper was developed out of the Home Healthcare Forum in Canberra in early 2013, where representa ves, including Pallia ve Care Australia, met to discuss the topic of ‘Reducing the burden of care by improving home services’.
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
The White Paper calls for system wide reform in the provision of home care to be recognised and adopted as a priority by governments, policy makers, healthcare professionals and the community. To read the White Paper, click here.
Cancer Drugs Alliance Stakeholder Forum Pallia ve Care Australia joined representa ves from Australia’s cancer community in Canberra on 26 March to discuss mely and equitable access to new medicines and to call for greater representa on and involvement of cancer pa ents in decision making processes. “This unique mee ng has facilitated unprecedented discussions and a sharing of informa on and knowledge,” said Richard Vines from Rare Cancers Australia. “The consumer organisa ons in a endance, represen ng Australians living with cancer, are all acknowledging there is a cri cal need for us to now unite on this discussion and work together in a collabora ve way to support change both in the short and long‐term – for a be er future for Australians affected by cancer.”
The groups represented at the Forum are calling for four key priori es as an immediate next step: A greater representa on of pa ents/the public
within the decision‐making process. Increased educa on of relevant pa ent groups
around the processes and requirements so they can ac vely par cipate and understand the processes in more detail.
A greater investment by pa ent groups, and all relevant stakeholders, to work together as one to improve the system.
Greater transparency with the processes to show discussions and decisions more clearly to pa ents/the community.
“This Forum has uncovered amidst the wide range of discussions, a cri cal need for a coordinated and concerted effort by consumer organisa ons to ensure that pa ent needs are always foremost in the minds of those determining what treatments should be funded,” adds Richard Vines.
“The Forum was also of one voice in demanding a more transparent and easily understood process. So if a pa ent is to be denied funding for their treatment it’s important that they can easily understand why.”
The Stakeholder Forum united the en re cancer community for the first me, with representa ves from pa ent groups, oncologists, haematologists, nurses, pharmacists, poli cians, policy makers and industry coming together with the common aim: to give all Australians living with cancer their best op ons to manage their disease.
The Forum was hosted by the Cancer Drugs Alliance ‐ a not for profit organisa on commi ed to achieving the best outcomes for Australian cancer pa ents ‐ and was supported by a large number of organisa ons including Bowel Cancer Australia, Brain Tumour Alliance Australia, Breast Cancer Network Australia, CanSpeak, Cancer Council Australia, Leukaemia Founda on, Lung Founda on Australia, Medicines Australia, Rare Cancers Australia, Unicorn Founda on, Australian Private Hospitals Associa on and the GI Cancer Ins tute.
It follows on from the release last year of the Deloi e Access Economics report, Access to cancer medicines in Australia, and the 27 subsequent submissions received in response to the report from stakeholders. A copy of the report and submissions is available here.
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
News Australia New na onal website about planning ahead A new website – Start2Talk – helps people plan ahead for their future healthcare, lifestyle and financial decisions. It also helps carers that are making decisions with or for someone else. The website is designed from the consumer point of view and has informa on and links for all States and Territories. The site includes a number of prac cal worksheets that help a person work through the process of planning ahead. The worksheets can be completed and stored online or printed out and done by hand. The website also has informa on for a range of health professionals. The website was developed by Alzheimer’s Australia and can be found at www.start2talk.org.au For an introduc on to Start2Talk you can watch the following promo onal videos: Start2Talk – introduc on by Ita Bu rose,
Alzheimer’s Australia Na onal President, on YouTube
Start2Talk – animated introduc on on YouTube
South Australia New state wide pallia ve care referral form The Pallia ve Care Clinical Network has endorsed a state wide referral form for referrers to access adult and paediatric specialist pallia ve care services within metropolitan and country South Australia. The development of the state wide referral form is the first of a number of ini a ves being progressed by the Pallia ve Care Clinical Network to help create a more consistent approach to pallia ve care service provision and enhanced profile amongst service users and referrers. These ini a ves are in line with the State Pallia ve Care Services Plan 2009‐2016.
The form defines who is eligible for services and the reasons for referring to specialist pallia ve care. A PDF version and clinical so ware template, for use with GP desktop so ware, are available for download on the SA Health website. Completed forms can be faxed to the relevant pallia ve care service and will be processed within working hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm. Victoria Advance care planning strategy The Victorian Government has launched a new strategy to prepare health services to engage with pa ents about advance care planning. Officially launched on 16 March, Victorian Health Minister the Hon. David Davis said that the Advance care planning: have the conversa on: A strategy for Victorian health services 2014‐2018 will assist healthcare workers in discussing end of life issues to ensure that pa ents wishes are respected. “By suppor ng our health services and health workforce to implement advance care planning, we can be er support pa ents and their families at an incredibly difficult me,” said Mr Davis. “Advance care planning will give your loved one confidence that their final choices about their health care and treatment will be respected.” The strategy is predominantly directed towards publicly funded health services, private hospitals, community providers, aged care providers, ambulance services and primary care providers, par cularly general prac oners. The Strategy is available from the Victorian Department of Health website. NSW Ambulance authorised adult pallia ve care plan Ambulance NSW has joined Southern NSW Local Health District and Southern NSW Medicare Local to promote a new protocol that allows paramedics to treat pallia ve care pa ents a er hours and in their own home.
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
The Ambulance Authorised Adult Pallia ve Care Plan is an informa on kit which gives GPs the op on to authorise NSW Ambulance paramedics to deliver tailored treatment to their pallia ve care pa ents should they need assistance a er hours. The Plan outlines the pa ent’s history, diagnosis and current medica ons and gives GPs ck box procedures for the paramedics to follow, for example, in the event the pa ent is in cardiac arrest or death has occurred. General prac oners are required to fill in the form, outlining all procedures of care to be followed, which is then submi ed to a NSW Ambulance Delegate to review before placing into ac on. To view the Plan click here. NSW Royal visit to highlight children’s pallia ve care The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will pay a visit to Bear Co age, New South Wales’s only children’s hospice, during their visit to Australia in April. Bear Co age Nursing Unit Manager Narelle Mar n says her team were hopeful that they would be considered as one of the stopping points on the Royal Tour when the Australian visit was announced in 2013. “Being the only children’s hospice in NSW and given the affilia on the Duchess has with children’s hospices in the UK, we thought there was the off chance it could be possible.” “Bear Co age is very excited about the upcoming Royal visit,” says Narelle. It is an cipated that the visit of Prince William and Kate to Bear Co age will give broad media coverage to the issue of pallia ve care and highlight the need to deliver holis c care for vulnerable children and their families. “I hope [the visit] will raise the profile of paediatric pallia ve care and the importance of caring for not only the child whose life is shortened, but the family as a unit and that the visit will showcase Bear Co age as a happy, child and family friendly environment where life is lived to the fullest,” said Narelle.
There are eight families booked in for a stay during the Royal couple’s visit on April 18. It is expected the couple will meet these families and take part in music, art and play therapy on the day.
Interna onal Launch of the Atlas of Pallia ve Care in La n America Since its start in the eigh es, pallia ve care has developed gradually in La n America. Currently, there are 922 services in 19 countries or 1.6 services per million inhabitants, reflec ng the fact that the vast majority of pa ents with pallia ve care needs do not have access to treatment. The Atlas de Cuidados Palia vos en La noamerica, developed by the La n American Associa on for Pallia ve Care (ALCP) is the first systema c study which presents informa on on 19 La n American Countries (Spanish and Portuguese speaking). The study was developed by a working group convened by the ALCP with support from the Interna onal Associa on for Hospice and Pallia ve Care (IAHPC) and the Universidad de Navarra (Spain). The Atlas indicates that the development of the field in the Region has been very slow and fragmented. The number of services range from 16.6 per million inhabitants in Costa Rica to 0.2 in Honduras. Chile has the most number of services (277) while 46% of the services in the Region are located in Argen na and Chile, which represent 10% of the popula on in La n America. This confirms the need that governments should adopt policies and take the necessary steps to guarantee that the needs of all pa ents and families are met. With this project, the ALCP, members of the working group and representa ves of collabora ng organisa ons hope to contribute to the advancement and development of pallia ve care in La n America. Find addi onal informa on about the La n American Associa on for Pallia ve Care and download the Atlas here.
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
Interna onal Children's Pallia ve Care Network Survey: Management of pain in children around the world The Interna onal Children's Pallia ve Care Network (ICPCN) invites all healthcare professionals working with children to complete an online survey on the role of the organisa ons in the management of pain in children around the world. Children with life limi ng illnesses o en suffer from pain. Addi onally, pain management can be challenging for providers due to uncertainty. As such, ICPCN invites you to complete an online survey to understand what role the ICPCN can play in Improving pain management in children around the world. A recently formed task force conducted a worldwide mul ‐professional survey and determined the following areas were of great importance to paediatric pallia ve care professionals: Educa on and training, Conversing with governments, and Transla on/ dissemina on of the WHO
Guidelines on persis ng pain in children
This survey seeks to understand what aspects of these areas are important to pursue. It should take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Par cipa on is completely voluntary and you may choose to not submit your survey without penalty. There are no direct benefits, risks, or compensa on to you for par cipa ng in this study; however, the medical community at large will benefit by understanding which aspects of children’s pallia ve care you feel are important to focus research and educa on efforts.
Your iden ty will remain anonymous and all data will be kept on password protected computers and secure servers. Once you begin the survey, you will need to completeit within 24 hours. Note that the survey is not limited to those who provide direct pa ent care. Click here to begin the survey. Quick links Causes of Death 2012 The Australian Bureau of Sta s cs (ABS) has released new data. Causes of Death 2012, shows that heart disease is s ll the leading cause of death; however rates have fallen steadily since 2003, while deaths from demen a and Alzheimer’s disease con nue to increase. Alzheimer’s Australia A new report from Alzheimer’s Australia states that up to 80% of people with demen a and nearly half of people in residen al aged care facili es are receiving psychotropic medica ons that in some cases are inappropriately prescribed. To read the full report click here.
Media picks Professor Ian Maddocks on ABC Conversa ons On 6 March, Richard Fidler interviewed pallia ve care specialist and 2013 Senior Australian of the Year Professor Ian Maddocks. This in depth interview is all about Ian’s life; how he came to pallia ve care prac ce, his early career in Papua New Guinea, his role in transforming care of the dying in Australia, his involvement with medical groups seeking to eliminate nuclear weapons and his family life. An absolute must listen, click here to access.
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
Na onal Pallia ve Care Week About Na onal Pallia ve Care Week Na onal Pallia ve Care Week 2014 is being held between Sunday 25 May and Saturday 31 May 2014. The theme is Pallia ve care is everyone's business: let's work together. This year we're celebra ng the people who work in pallia ve care and the important role they play in ensuring quality care at the end of life for all. It is also an opportunity to educate the community about all of the different people involved in pallia ve care and the services available to them, as well as encouraging them to think about, and have conversa ons about pallia ve care and the end of life.
Na onal Pallia ve Care Week resources available to order now! We are pleased to announce that our online ordering system for Na onal Pallia ve Care Week resources is now open.
Simply visit our website and follow the instruc ons online to place your order.
This year we have the following resources available: Consumer brochures Campaign poster Pens
All resources are free of charge.
Delivery mes Due to the large number of orders we receive for Na onal Pallia ve Care Week, you can expect orders to start arriving between 28 April – 9 May. We recommend you place your orders before Friday 9 May to ensure they arrive in me for Na onal Pallia ve Care Week. If you have any ques ons, or are unable to place an order online, please contact pcainc@pallia vecare.org.au or 02 6232 4433 for assistance. Save the date | Na onal Pallia ve Care Week Event 29 May On Thursday 29 May, Pallia ve Care Australia will be hos ng a Parliamentary Breakfast and Educa on Forum at Parliament House, Canberra. More details will be available soon but, to register your interest, email Gretchen Irvine at gretchen@pallia vecare.org.au.
Let us know about your NPCW ac vi es We would love to hear about your plans for Na onal Pallia ve Care Week and offer assistance in helping to promote these via the PCA website and social media accounts. Send us an email today with your planned ac vi es, and don't forget that we are always looking for new stories to feature on the ehospice website, perhaps your NPCW event would make a great ar cle? Email: pcainc@pallia vecare.org.au To have a look at the events Na onal Pallia ve Care Week lis ng, visit the PCA website.
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
Employment Editor ‐ ehospice Australia Pallia ve Care Australia ehospice is the world's leading news and informa on resource dedicated to hospice, pallia ve and end of life care. Pallia ve Care Australia publishes the Australian edi on of ehospice. Who do we need? a) A passionate storyteller b) A grammar guru c) An online content specialist d) All of the above? If your answer was d, then read on…. We're a er someone with a real passion for health issues who isn't afraid of a challenge; someone who thrives under pressure, delivering quality content and brilliant ideas on a daily basis. What will you do? You will publish high quality and interes ng content (ar cles/images/video/social media) on a daily basis to the web. To do this, you'll need to develop and manage rela onships with contributors, a end events as required, lead editorial mee ngs and develop and manage systems to con nuously improve content and grow the audience for ehospice Australia. Who are you? You are an experienced professional with an apprecia on of online pla orms, me culous when it comes to grammar, spelling and fact checking, full of great ideas and sound editorial judgement. You understand the not for profit environment and are not put off by limited resources or pitching in and ge ng your hands dirty when needed. You enjoy a challenge and want to make a difference to the Australian community. You'll be able to demonstrate your technical skills and journalism experience. S ll interested? Please send: A cover le er, resume and... ehospice frequently publishes a series of ar cles on par cular themes. Describe in about 500 words how you would approach a series on the theme 'The Pallia ve Care Workforce.'
Describe the key issues you would explore, specify two or three ar cles you would produce, who you would interview for these ar cles, and why you think your choices are well suited to ehospice Australia. Posi on closes Sunday 13 April 2014. For further informa on call Jessica Traficante on 02 6232 4433 or click here. General Physician / Pallia ve Care ‐ Private Hospital A General Physician is required for the Mater Hospital in Mackay. The hospital is part of the Mercy Health and Aged Care Group of Central Queensland, that also have centres in Gladstone, Bundaberg, Rockhampton and Yeppoon. The hospital offers Oncology and Haematology services, plus Coronary Care, plus all medical and surgical services. The region is growing rapidly, and over the years services that were usually referred to Brisbane are now being retained in the region; Urology and Oncology are recent examples of this. The hospital is now looking to extend the program to Pallia ve Care, and develop a strong and suppor ve Pallia ve Care service in Mackay, outside what is currently offered at the Base Hospital. The posi on would suit a General Physician with an interest in Pallia ve Care. Expected earnings are in excess of $4‐500,000 in the first year. A monthly retainer plus fee for service is the model most doctors agree to in the first year, as this will offer both stability plus the op on of unlimited earnings. You will be provided with all the facili es needed to run a successful private prac ce including, marke ng, IT support, a secretary and consul ng suites, plus all the support services required for a complex caring environment such as Pallia ve Care. The ideal candidate will have FRACP and current registra on in Australia or New Zealand. Career Medical Recruitment is engaged by the Mater to work exclusively on this assignment, so should you have any ques ons about the opportunity please do not hesitate to call and speak to our team on 02 8234 8989, or call Stephen Bo on 0415 152 444. Alterna vely email [email protected]
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
Tasmanian Associa on for Hospice and Pallia ve Care (TAHPC) Networking End of Life Care across Tasmania: Integra on, Innova on and Inclusion TAHPC has launched its new project Networking End of Life Care across Tasmania: Integra on, Innova on and Inclusion which includes the opening of three small offices as well as the recruitment of key staff to support the project. In 2013, the Federal Government announced a $325 million Tasmanian Health Assistance Package. Out of this funding came the Be er Access to Pallia ve Care in Tasmania Program, of which TAHPC was awarded $2.66 million to help establish educa on and support for pallia ve care workers and volunteers, as well as focus on the implementa on of pallia ve care in regional, rural and remote parts of the state. As a result, TAHPC have opened offices in Launceston, Devonport and Hobart and employed Project Officers to establish Regional Community Working Groups which will represent the interests of local pallia ve care communi es. President of TAHPC, Dr Rosemary Sandford said this new project has revolu onised pallia ve care in the state. “This is a whole new lease of life for TAHPC, before we’d just been a small group of volunteers from the north and the northwest which largely operated from our kitchen table,” says Dr Rosemary Sandford. “This is a whole sea change for pallia ve care in Tasmania, I really think we’re at the cu ng edge of things by providing a role model for dispersed communi es … as we are the least urbanised of all the Australian states.”
TAHPC will operate alongside other pallia ve care ini a ves such as the AHHA, Silver Chain and JustHealth Consultant’s free training workshops and the District Nurses’ $38 million program for 24 hour nursing services. Dr Sandford says these programs are designed to complement each other for benefit Tasmania’s ageing popula on. “This Federal funding has a empted some new things by giving funding to community groups such as ours and also to the District Nurses to set up the Hospice in the Home Program, which complements exis ng pallia ve care services,” says Dr Sandford. “This is not a compe on to see who’s the best and the brightest, this is more about how do we best service the Tasmanian popula on in the best possible way and that’s by working together in a complementary fashion.” TAHPC’s Head office is located at Suite 4/30 Patrick Street North Hobart. For more informa on about TAHPC, click here or call (03)6231 2799. Pallia ve Care WA What’s new in paediatric pallia ve care? Pallia ve Care WA invites you to our inaugural paediatric pallia ve care event. Dr Rosanna Capolingua, Chair of the Child and Adolescent Health Service Governing Council, will launch Managing Pain in Children: A Clinical Guide for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals, 2nd edi on, co‐edited by local author and paediatric pallia ve care Clinical Nurse Consultant, Stephanie Dowden. Pallia ve Care Australia President, Professor Patsy Yates, will present the new Paediatric Pallia ve Care Posi on Statement and there will be an opportunity to meet members of the Pallia ve Care Australia Board.
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
PCA member organisa on updates Palliative Care Australia’s membership comprises the eight state and territory palliative care organisations and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine. These organisations created and share the vision, mission and aims of Palliative Care Australia and operate through a federated governance structure.
Pallia ve Care WA is keen to acknowledge the achievements of people working in this important area, and to provide an opportunity to hear new informa on and network with other health and community care professionals. This free event is proudly supported by Pallia ve Care WA and Pallia ve Care Australia. Refreshments will be provided. When: 6 ‐ 7.30pm, Monday 14 April 2014 Where: Etro Roo op Room, 49 King St, Perth RSVP: RSVPs required for catering purposes. Please RSVP at pcwainc@pallia vecarewa.asn.au and include any special dietary requirements.
ANZSPM Posi on Statement (2014) Quality End of Life Care – Part 1 This posi on statement is the first in a series of two documents designed to guide and encourage clinicians, health planners and agencies that set and monitor standards for safety and quality pertaining to the provision of Quality End of Life Care (EoL Care) for pa ents, families, loved ones and carers. These statements will help guide clinicians who are managing issues associated with their pa ents’ last 6‐12 months of life. Some of the elements outlined would be applicable even earlier in a pa ent’s journey, at diagnosis of a life limi ng illness.
Part 1 specifically outlines evidence based guidance for Quality EoL Care assessment and planning. Emphasis must be placed on the individual and their specific needs, to ensure that the process enhances pa ent preferences and involves family, loved ones and carer engagement in the health planning and care support processes.
Part 2 will be developed over the next few months and focus on evidence based implementa on strategies aimed at delivering quality EoL Care in the se ng of pa ent choice, where possible.
Part 1 of the posi on statement is publicly available, and so may be distributed to anyone who may have an interest. It can be downloaded from the ANZSPM website Publica ons Page.
ANZSPM Conference Registra ons and Call for Abstracts We are pleased to let you know that we have opened registra ons and are calling for abstracts for our upcoming conference ‐ ANZSPM 2014: Pallia ve Medicine: past, present and future 2 ‐5 September 2014 Surfers Paradise Marrio Resort & Spa, Gold Coast, Australia This conference celebrates 20 years of ANZSPM conferences. Our Conference Commi ee has put together a fabulous program for learning, networking, sharing and fun ‐ and the loca on looks absolutely stunning! Be sure to register early to ensure your place. Full informa on about the program, how to submit abstracts, and how to register, can be found on our conference website, or you can follow the links from www.anzspm.org.au Specific enquiries about the conference can be directed to: ANZSPM Conference Secretariat Tel: +61 2 4973 6573 Fax: +61 2 4973 6609 Email: [email protected]
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
Addi onal Scholarships for Tasmania As part of the Australian Government’s Tasmanian health package SARRAH will offer 11 addi onal scholarships for 2014.The eligibility criteria and applica on process for these scholarships is the same as for the current scholarship, no ng that these addi onal scholarships can only be awarded to prac cing Tasmanian Allied Health Professionals.
The NAHSSS is funded by the Commonwealth Government Department of Health. For more informa on email the Postgraduate Team on [email protected] or free call on 1800 338 061 HESTA Aged Care Awards Know someone in the aged care sector who deserves an award? The HESTA Aged Care Awards recognise aged care professionals who work relessly to improve the quality of life of ageing Australians in their homes, re rement villages and aged care facili es. The total prize pool of $30,000 is generously provided by ME Bank, proud sponsor of the awards. There are three award categories in all, designed to cover the wide range of professions and skills exhibited by Australia’s aged care sector professionals. If you know an outstanding aged care professional, recognise their ini a ve and leadership by nomina ng them for one of the following awards: Individual Dis nc on Outstanding Organisa on Team Innova on Nomina ons close: 30 May 2014 Finalists announced: 15 July 2014 Winners announced at the awards dinner on Tuesday, 5 August 2014. Recipients of care, carers, colleagues, and aged care professionals themselves can nominate a special individual, team or organisa on. Everyone involved in every stage of the delivery of aged care can enter or be nominated. Visit the Awards website for more informa on
Sector News Caresearch The Australian Grief and Bereavement Conference CareSearch exhibited at the Australian Grief and Bereavement Conference in Melbourne from 26 – 28 March, and our Research Fellow Sarah Hayman gave a presenta on on Connec ng bereavement support prac oners to reliable research evidence. You can view Sarah’s presenta on on the CareSearch Conference Presenta ons page or click through to learn more about our Bereavement Search Filter, which runs an immediate and up to date search of PubMed and provides an easy, reliable way to find relevant bereavement literature in English. GP and Nurses Hub Updates The project team is busy finalising changes to the GP Hub and the Nurses Hub and we would like to thank those who have provided feedback and are involved in review processes. We would welcome par cipants from primary care who would like to comment on some new pages and changes to exis ng sec ons in the GP Hub. If you are interested in helping out, contact us by emailing [email protected].
Thinking of a ending a conference? Funds available for allied health professionals Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH) is pleased to announce the Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship Support Scheme (NAHSSS).
The scheme supports prac cing allied health professionals to a end con nuing professional development ac vi es such as short courses, conferences, clinical placements and non‐award postgraduate modules.
The next round of applica ons opens on 2 April for CPD ac vi es that take place from 1 July to 31 December 2014. The online applica on will be available on Con nuing Professional Development Scholarship Page under CPD Applica on on the SARRAH website www.sarrah.org.au. Funding of up to $3,000 per scholarship is available.
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
Educa on Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies Short Course: Introduc on to Pastoral Care and Ageing This four day course is an introduc on to new and exci ng ways of looking at later life; it promotes resilience and flourishing of ageing as well as effec ve ways of suppor ng older people in need of care. It uses person centred care principles and develops these into prac cal ways of engaging with and affirming older people. It opens the way to new learning in later life. The course includes material on ageing and spirituality, working pastorally with older adults, an introduc on to ethics and prac cal theology of ageing, as well as issues of frailty and demen a. It is suitable for anyone working with older people, in the community or in residen al aged care. It is also suitable for people who are growing older. There are no prerequisites for entry to this course. This short course is not for award, although credit would be given to students who complete it should they subsequently enrol in the Graduate Cer ficate, Graduate Diploma or Master of Arts degree programs conducted by distance educa on. The cost of this course is $350. Registra ons close on June 20, 2014. To enrol, please download the registra on form by clicking here and return by email to [email protected] or post to CAPS, 15 Blackall Street, Barton ACT 2600. Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine Opioid Medica on in Pallia ve Care ACCRM is pleased to announce that the Opioid Medica on in Pallia ve Care module has now been revised and updated on Rural and Remote Medical Excellence Online (RRMEO) – the College’s online pla orm to support the educa onal needs of rural health prac oners. The module contains evidence based informa on about opioids and their use in pallia ve care. Where evidence based informa on is not available, consensus based best prac ce informa on has been included. The package addresses issues such as pain assessment, pain management, the use of opioids
2nd Australian Pallia ve Care Research Colloquium Registra ons Now Open The Centre for Pallia ve Care is delighted to invite you to a end the 2nd Australian Pallia ve Care Research Colloquium and the PCRNV Early Career Researcher Breakfast Forum: Building a career in research. Program highlights include a welcome address by Rob Moodie, inaugural chair of Global Health at the Nossal Ins tute and Professor of Public Health and Director of Teaching and Learning at the University of Melbourne’s School of Popula on and Global Health. Colloquium topics include: Health economics: Measuring cost
effec veness and cost benefit U lising exis ng data sets to enhance
knowledge Ge ng research into prac ce: The latest from
implementa on science Pallia ve care and the NHMRC: Pragma c
insights and strategies for success Ethnography unpacked Giving them a voice: Involving culturally and
linguis cally diverse people in research
Event details: Date: 7 ‐ 8 August 2014 Cost: $390 Inclusions: Colloquium a endance, catering, the Colloquium dinner and social events. Early Career Researcher Breakfast Forum: Building a career in research Date: 7 August 2014, 8 ‐ 10am Inclusions: Breakfast, presenta ons and discussion. Cost: $40 Register online here. Registra on will close for both the Colloquium and the Forum on Friday, 17 July 2014 or once capacity has been reached. Please note numbers are limited and early registra on is recommended to avoid disappointment. To view the program, session summaries and speakers, please visit the Centre for Pallia ve Care website: www.centreforpallcare.org. For further informa on contact 03 9416 0000 or [email protected]
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
Australian Wound Management Associa on (AWMA) Na onal Conference Gold Coast Conven on & Exhibi on Centre, Qld 7 ‐ 10 May 2014 To register click here To view the conference program click here
7th World Congress World Ins tute of Pain Maastricht, The Netherlands 7‐10 May 2014 W: h p://www2.kenes.com/wip2014/Pages/Home.aspx
St Francis Hospice 13th Annual Kaleidoscope Interna onal Pallia ve Care Conference Dublin, Ireland 28‐29 May 2014 W: h p://www.s .ie/kaleidoscope
8th World Research Congress of the European Associa on for Pallia ve Care Lleida, Spain 5‐7 June 2014 w: h p://forskningsweb.org/research2014/
Interna onal Conference on Opioids Boston, MA, USA 8‐10 June 2014 W: h p://www.opioidconference.org/
10th Interna onal Conference on Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society Hong Kong 11‐14 June 2014 w: h p://www.socsc.hku.hk/icgb2014/
Cultural Diversity In Ageing Conference Melbourne Conven on Centre, VIC 12 ‐ 13 June 2014 For more informa on click here T: 03 8823 7979 E: [email protected]
Risky Business 2 Interna onal Demen a Conference Sydney, New South Wales 26‐27 June 2014 W: h p://www.demen aconference.com/
6th edi on of the Singapore Pallia ve Conference Singapore Polytechnic Conven on Centre 26 – 29 June 2014 w: www.spcconference.com
with other medica ons, the advantages and disadvantages and adverse effects of different opioids, and the principles and regimes governing their applica on in the treatment of pain and other symptoms commonly experienced by pallia ve care pa ents, such as dyspnoea and cough. If you have already completed the old module you will have received recogni on for your comple on in your RRMEO learning planner and do not need to take any ac on. If you have recently enrolled in the old module but have not yet completed it, then you will be able to con nue accessing it un l 11 April to give you the chance to complete it (although we would encourage you to enrol in the new module for the most up to date content). For ACRRM members and RRMEO subscribers: Click here to ENROL The College would like to thank both Pallia ve Care Australia and Dr Ma hew Grant for their assistance in reviewing the module and supplying updated content.
Conferences and events
Pallia ve Care Nurses Australia Conference 2014 Sofitel Hotel, Sydney 6—7 April 2014 W: www.pcna.org.au The Second Pallia ve Care Conference Kuwait 3 ‐ 15 April 2014 For more informa on click here Australian Pain Society Annual Scien fic Mee ng 13‐16 April 2014 Hobart, Tasmania W: h p://www.dcconferences.com.au/aps2014/
25th Annual Sydney West Suppor ve and Pallia ve Care Conference 2 May 2014 Spor ngbet Stadium, Penrith W: h ps://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/sydney‐west‐25th‐annual‐suppor ve‐and‐pallia ve‐care‐conference‐ ckets‐5517135902
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
ACORD 2014 Coolum, Queensland September 14‐20 2014 W: h p://www.acord.org.au/downloads/ACORD%202014%20FLYER.pdf
Diversity Therapy Australia (DTA) Na onal Conference Grand Chifley, Adelaide September 18‐20 2014 For sponsorship details click here For trade exhibitor informa on click here 2014 Na onal Diversional Therapy Australia Conference Adelaide, South Australia 19‐20 September 2014 W: h p://www.diversionaltherapy.org.au/Events/tabid/59/Default.aspx
Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies Conference University House, ANU, Canberra 30 September—2 October 2014 For more informa on click here T: (02) 6272 6205 E: [email protected] Pallia ve Care NSW Conference Pallia ve and End of Life care: Making History 22—24 October 2014 W: h p://pallia vecarensw.org.au/site/
21st Hospice New Zealand Pallia ve Care Conference Reaching Out, Community Engagement 29‐31 October 2014 Wellington, New Zealand The call for abstracts is now open – closing 23 May. W: h p://www.hospice.org.nz/conference‐2014/conference‐2014
Pallia ve Care WA Conference Technology Park Func on Centre, Bentley 31 October 2014 W: h p://pallia vecarewa.asn.au/site/
Pallia ve Care Queensland Conference Fi y Shades of Pain 3—5 December 2014 W: h p://www.pallia vecareqld.org.au/ World Cancer Congress Melbourne Conven on and Exhibi on Centre 3—6 December 2014 W: h p://www.worldcancercongress.org/
Cancer Nurses Society of Australia 17th Winter Congress Melbourne, Victoria July 24‐26 2014 W: h p://www.cnsawintercongress.com.au/
20th Interna onal AIDS Conference Melbourne Conven on and Exhibi on Centre 20—25 July 2014 W: h p://www.aids2014.org/
Pallia ve Care Victoria Conference Bayview Eden Hotel, Melbourne 31 July—1 August 2014 W: h p://www.pallcarevic.asn.au/
6th Interna onal Conference on Pa ent and Family Centred Care Vancouver, Canada 6‐8 August 2014 W: h p://www.cvent.com/events/the‐6th‐interna onal‐conference‐on‐pa ent‐and‐family‐centered‐care/event‐summary‐31f718a720e546c7a48870ac806d46f0.aspx?RefID=IPFCC
Centre for Pallia ve Care 2nd Australian Pallia ve Care Research Colloquium Melbourne 7– 8 August 2014 w: h p://centreforpallcare.org/index.php/events/australian_pallia ve_care_research_colloquium/ Registra on opens 14 March 2014.
Interna onal Conference on End of Life: Law, Ethics, Policy and Prac ce 2014 Brisbane 13‐15 August 2014 w: h p://icelconference2014.com/
The Australian and New Zealand Society of Pallia ve Medicine Surfers Paradise Marrio Resort and Spa, Gold Coast 2 – 5 September 2014 W: www.anzspm.org.au/anzspm2014 20th Interna onal Congress on Pallia ve Care Montréal, Canada 9 – 12 September 2014 E: [email protected] W:www.pal2014.com
Palliative Care Australia Inc. PO Box 24 Deakin West ACT 2600 t: +61 2 6232 4433 f: +61 2 6232 4434 e: [email protected] w: www.palliativecare.org.au
