This section will keep you up to date with news in the palliative care sector. Please note that the links below were current at the time of posting, however links may become obsolete as websites update their content.
May 2022
Australasian conference on care of older people, 23-28 October 2022
The Centre for Research in Aged Care (ECU), in partnership with the Australian Hartford Consortium in Gerontological Nursing Excellence, are hosting an Australian Conference on Care of Older People. This virtual event will feature approximately 12 hours of content over six days with presentations from researchers across disciplines interested in the care of older people. Closing dates for abstracts is 20th June.
IAHPC award for Australian hospice
Congratulations to the team at Anam Cara House Colac, a rural hospice located in western Victoria who have just been announced as winners of the International Association for Hospice & Palliative care (IAHPC) 2022 Institutional Recognition Awards – high income country category. See the IAHPC May newsletter for more or visit https://preview.mailerlite.com/g9h1f9q7n8
April 2022
GEN: Residential Aged Care Quality Indicators October to December 2021
Quality indicators (QI) measure aspects of service provision that contribute to the quality of care given by residential aged care services (RACS). Since 1 July 2019, participation in the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program has been a requirement for all Australian Government-subsidised RACS. Data is provided on the following five QIs:
- Pressure injuries
- Physical restraint
- Unplanned weight loss
- Falls and major injury
- Medication management
Aged Care Nursing and Allied Health Scholarships
The 2021-22 budget measure – Growing a Skilled and High Quality Workforce to Care for Senior Australians, aims to grow a skilled aged care workforce, which will provide high quality care to senior Australians. These scholarships will allow for up to 400 additional scholarships per year for three years, for personal care workers and nurses to complete qualifications. There will be up to 100 allied health scholarships per year for up to three years, which will be for allied health professionals to focus on dementia related qualifications. Applications close soon on Thursday 5 May 2022 for the Aged Care Nursing & Allied Health Scholarships.
Rural Locum Assistance Program (LAP) Aged Care
The Rural Locum Assistance Program (LAP) Aged Care provides staffing support services in rural and remote Australia for key personnel locum placements, which may include, but is not limited to registered nurses, enrolled nurses and facility managers. The program helps providers to recruit aged care professionals or backfill staff on leave with suitable qualified and experienced locums.
Aged Care Research Priorities Survey
The Aged Care Centre for Growth and Translational Research is conducting a survey to understand the priority needs of the aged care sector.
The Centre will respond to these needs by developing resources, activities and grant rounds that address these priorities in 2023.
The survey is currently open and will close on 8th of May 2022. Click here to start the survey 2022 Aged Care Sector Survey.
PCA has released new guidance please add this to the webpage
PCA has released the new National Palliative Care Standards for All Health Professionals and Aged Care Services: for professionals not working in Specialist Palliative Care. These Standards are intended to guide health providers to deliver high-quality palliative care in a wide range of settings (in services outside of specialist palliative care services).
LGBTI and Dementia: Understanding Changes in Behaviour
Understanding why a person with dementia is experiencing changes in behaviour is critical to developing effective person-centred care. When caring for an LGBTI person with dementia, the right background and knowledge can be lacking. LGBTIQ+ Health Australia has new resources about care issues.
End of Life Essentials new diversity module released
End of Life Essentials (EOLE) has released a new module, Care for Diverse Communities. The aim is to help health care professionals learn about inclusive practice and respect when providing end-of-life care in hospitals. EOLE are also inviting doctors/allied health professionals/nurses currently working with patients, and who are NEW learners to the EOLE 'Patient-Centred Communication and Shared Decision-Making' module to participate in an evaluation study of the module. Visit the EOLE website for more information.
Review and development of a specialisation verification framework for My Aged Care – Final report
This final report prepared by Australian Healthcare Associates outlines the results of a review into selecting special needs specialisations within the My Aged Care system's Find a Provider tool. It also discusses developing a framework to verify specialisations and research on ways to do this.
March 2022
Enabling Better Aged and Community Care for Forgotten Australians
The inaugural National Enabling Better Aged and Community Care for Forgotten Australians Forum is happening on 4 April in Brisbane and via Zoom. The hybrid event will bring together Forgotten Australians, service providers and researchers to highlight what the future could hold for aged and community care for Forgotten Australians.
You can register to attend in person or virtually.
Good Practice Guide Reference resources for aged care hearing assistance programs
A free Good Practice Guide (1.09MB pdf), endorsed by the Deafness Forum of Australia, is available to help establish and maintain an effective hearing assistance program. The guide was prepared for residential aged care and is also applicable in home care.
PCNA conference scholarships
The Commonwealth Department of Health is funding a scholarship package for delegates to attend the Palliative Care Nurses Australia (PCNA) 2022 Virtual Conference, being held from 1 to 4 May 2022. Applications close 5pm, Monday 14 March 2022 with successful applicants notified from Monday 18 April 2022. Apply online now or visit the Conference Webpage to find out more.
SA Palliative Care 2022 Grants Program
The South Australian State Government has made a commitment to improve and diversify quality palliative care options in South Australia. The Program follows the success of the 2020 grants round, with calls for applications in the following areas:
- Improve palliative care data collection, monitoring and reporting
- Extend palliative care support to patients and practitioners treating non-malignant diseases
- Improve access to palliative care in the community (including grief and bereavement)
- Increase the number and involvement of primary care practitioners in palliative care.
Applications close March 20, 2022
February 2022
Concepts for a new framework for regulating aged care
Addressing some of the recommendations of the Royal Commission, the Australian Department of Health has released Concepts for a new framework for regulating aged care. This document outlines the concepts and principles which will underpin the proposed new regulatory framework.
AIHW report on End-of-Life care information priorities
A strategic plan to improve national information on palliative care and end-of-life care has been released by AIHW National Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care Information Priorities (891kb pdf). The aim of this plan is to provide foundation priorities for better national data into the future.
Palliative care Australia Pre-budget submission
Palliative Care Australia’s 2022-23 Pre-Budget Submission was released February 3rd, 2022. The submission draws upon PCA’s recently released five year roadmap (2022-2027), which sets out the investment and initiatives needed in palliative care to ensure that Australians have access to high-quality palliative care today and in the future.
Tasmania getting ready to welcome PalliHub
On February 22, 2022 Palliative care Tasmania is set to launch PalliHub.org.au. An online platform to exchange ideas and provide support for specialists, generalists, community members and volunteers involved in caring for someone living with a life limiting condition. Visit the website to learn more.
Lancet Commission report on the Value of Death
January 31, 2022 saw release of the Lancet report on the Value of Death. An in depth and thought-provoking look at experiences of death today, including where it occurs and what needs to change for death and dying to be recognised as not only normal, but valuable.
January 2022
Western Australia frameworks and consultation for end of life
The Western Australia department of health has recently released a new framework and announced upcoming consultation relevant to care at the end of life and palliative care:
Palliative care included in new national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health plan 2021-2031
December 15 saw release of the new national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health plan 2021-2031. Priority nine, access to person centred and family centred care, calls for end of life activities including palliative care to embed kinship, culture and community. You can download the report from the Department of Health website.
New project to support telehealth for palliative care and mental health
In January 2022 it was announced that Monash University will lead a $2 million Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC) project to enhance telehealth capabilities that aim to improve patient, clinician and caregiver experiences for mental health and palliative care services.
Online training in voluntary assisted dying and the law
End of Life Law for Clinicians (ELLC) has released a new online training module about voluntary assisted dying and the law. Exploring laws in Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia, and Queensland, the module can be accessed for free at the ELLC online training portal.
Page last updated 23 May 2022