News

In 2024, the National Palliative Care Standards 5th ed. (2018) has been updated to ensure it is consistent with contemporary practice, language, and digital innovation to carry the sector through to 2030. The National Palliative Care Standards for Specialist Palliative Care Providers (the Standards 5.1 ed.) continues to clearly articulate and promote a vision for compassionate and appropriate specialist palliative care. The Standards 5.1 ed. recognise the importance of care that is person-centred (and family*-centred) and age-appropriate. The Standards 5.1 ed. continue to point to the requirement for specific consideration of the individual needs of people who may be especially vulnerable as members of diverse populations and or due their experiences. The Standards 5.1 ed. is mapped to the National Safety and Quality in Healthcare Standards and Consensus Statements. Palliative Care Self-Assessment (PaCSA) checklists can be used to self-assess against the standards.  Services can download Audit Tools and Service Stories that will further support self-assessments.

Palliative Care South Australia has announced the launch of Ambulance Wish in South Australia—a collaboration led by PCSA involving St John Ambulance SA and Flinders University and supported by the SA Government. Ambulance Wish fulfills special wishes for people living with a life-limiting condition. In the words of Shyla Mills, PCSA CEO, the program ‘is a community awareness raising program for palliative care - reframing the public perception of palliative care from sadness, pain and suffering to celebrating humans who have wonderful stories to share.’ To meet its target of fulfilling the wishes of 75 palliative care patients per year, the program is seeking the support of donors, fundraisers and corporate partners.

The information required for the palliative care status form has been streamlined to make it easier to use. This includes a simpler ‘Part B: Medical Assessment’. Palliative care status is specifically for individuals with an estimated life expectancy of 3 months or less AND an AKPS score of 40 or less, who enter permanent residential care for the purpose of receiving planned palliative care.
Visit entering residential aged care for palliative care for more information.

A new program designed to help Australia’s nurses and midwives deal with stress and burnout offers free and confidential service for nurses, midwives and students will help them better manage and reduce escalating rates of fatigue, stress and burnout. There ia planned rollout of Hubs in states and territories. The phoneline and Nurses Midwife Health Program Australia website is already available at https://nursemidwifehpa.org.au/contact

The launch of Compassionate Communities Australia (CCAus) by WA Governor Hon Chris Dawson was held at Government House in Perth in late March and marked an important milestone in the history of public health and palliative care in Australia. Compassionate Communities founder Prof Allan Kellehear said the establishment of CCAus was also a significant international development. CCAus’s role will be to pioneer the development of Compassionate Communities across Australia.

Learn more about CCAus on their website.