Researchers in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences have developed free online resources about palliative care and end-of-life care, available to all students. This is part of the work they are doing within the National Palliative Care Program.
The resources are relevant to any student studying a health-related course (e.g. nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, disability, social work, paramedicine, speech therapy, etc).
The information is also relevant to any student with a family member, friend (or anyone else) who is affected by the need for palliative care.
End-of-life care is essential knowledge for all health care professionals. Most Australians die in hospitals and this number is expected to double in the next 25 years. The End-of-Life Essentials project has free evidence-based online education to help increase your confidence in end-of-life care. Recently added modules include:
- End-of-life care in Emergency Departments
- Paediatric end-of-life care
- End-of-life care in chronic complex illness
- Imminent death – how to respond.
All modules focus on clinical compassion and include self-reflection and learning opportunities for the skilled or inexperienced to grow and learn more. Communication is also an important focus. Resources within the End-of-Life Essentials Tool Kit can help implement positive changes that improve the quality of end-of-life care at work. Sign up to the EOL Essentials newsletter to keep up to date with latest research and resources.
CareSearch Project
The CareSearch Project provides up-to-date and evidence-based palliative care resources, tools and information that can support your learning and research. The project maintains two websites: CareSearch and palliAGED.
On the CareSearch website, you will find specific resources for nurses, doctors and allied health. You’ll also find information about providing care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The researchers section can help you in starting your research project, developing linkages and checking against duplication.
In palliAGED, you will find practice resources in providing palliative care for older people. The Evidence Centre section maintains summaries of systematic reviews on 35 topics related to palliative care in aged care. The newly developed Practice Tip Sheets can also support you in understanding about palliative care needs of older people and how these can be met.