In the wake of the Tasmanian Government’s announcement of new scholarships for staff to study a Certificate in palliative care or Specialist Certificate in palliative care at Flinders, we caught up with Course Coordinator Dr Caroline Phelan to learn more about Australia’s largest postgrad palliative and end-of-life care course.
What is your role here at Flinders?
I’m an academic and course coordinator for postgraduate palliative and end-of-life courses. I teach and research and my main area of interest is complex symptom management, decision making and health professional education. As a course coordinator, I work with a team that delivers the largest postgraduate palliative and end-of-life care course in Australia and we have created a curriculum that challenges students to think critically and apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios. I co-lead a national palliative care project, End-of-Life Essentials, funded by the Commonwealth. The project aims to improve end-of-life care in hospitals by providing free and evidence-based education to healthcare professionals across Australia. I work with an amazing project team to develop online modules and resources that are easily accessible and practical for busy healthcare professionals.
Tell us a little about your journey to Flinders.
With a background as a Registered Nurse (RN) and a passion for pain management and decision-making, I decided to pursue a PhD to make a difference in clinical care. I’ve worked in some big hospitals in various roles but have always loved teaching and research. Surprisingly, this journey brought me to South Australia and Flinders University, where I was lucky to join an awesome group focused on palliative and end-of-life care. This incredible team of researchers and educators is dedicated to improving palliative care, death, and dying by educating the next generation of healthcare professionals and working with communities.
What’s your favourite part about your job?
One of the highlights of my academic journey is seeing students have those “a-ha” moments. It’s when a complex concept clicks, and they realise its practical value in clinical practice. Being able to facilitate those moments is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I think most academics fill their day in much the same way – there are a lot of admin tasks that we do, but then we get to do some fun stuff like run a research study.
Who inspires you?
I find inspiration in those who tirelessly work to uplift others. Throughout my career, I’ve been lucky to work with amazing individuals and see the power of collaboration over competition. I truly believe that meaningful achievements are never accomplished alone. In academia, where individual striving is often emphasized, this philosophy is a refreshing reminder of the power of teamwork.
How do you spend your spare time?
I send memes to people, watch movies and excellent TV, have debates with my kids about the really import stuff- like who would win in a battle between the Hulk and Batman, watch basketball, feed the people who live in my house (my kids), clean up after those people, drink wine, well any alcohol really, and I’m currently investigating becoming a super villain as a side hustle. I feel there might be some money in that.