Flinders University and SA Health are partnering with Advanced Care Planning Australia (ACPA) to hold an Advance Care Planning Seminar at the Tonsley Theatre from 9am to 4.30 pm on Friday 7 December. The event aims to help South Australian health professionals deliver well-coordinated and patient-centred advance care planning.

The Adelaide seminar will discuss legal, ethical and implementation aspects of advance care planning, with national and local perspectives from speakers including Dr Chris Moy, Australian Medical Association SA Vice-President, and Ian Henschke, Chief Advocate for National Seniors Australia.

ACPA Medical Director, Dr Karen Detering, says placing greater emphasis on advanced care planning needs to be more widely understood by the public.

“We’re starting to see progress and growing awareness of the benefits that advance care planning can provide. However advance care planning is still not well understood by the public,” says Dr Detering.

“With people living longer and often with chronic and progressive illness, the health sector has an important role to play in both educating and empowering people to take control of their future health care.”

Matthew Flinders Fellow, Professor Jennifer Tieman from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University, agrees with this assessment. “Healthcare providers need greater support and education to ensure more South Australians can receive the care that aligns with their personal values and preferences,” says Professor Tieman.

“We welcome this opportunity to share knowledge and expertise in this growing field.”

Interested seminar participants can register online.