BUILDING END OF LIFE CARE CAPACITY IN COMMUNITY PHARMACIES

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is working with a lead community pharmacist in the Illawarra Shoalhaven and Goulburn regions to facilitate access to end of life medications by having them available in their pharmacy.

This initiative focuses on the core medicine list (as endorsed by the Clinical Excellence Commission), utilising pharmacy networks to strengthen the palliative care multidisciplinary team and care coordination, and enhancing access to appropriate medication at end of life.

CAPACITY HELP: TRANSLATING PUBLIC HEALTH PALLIATIVE CARE CONCEPTS INTO PRACTICE

A partnership between La Trobe University and Palliative Care NSW is bringing a public health approach to palliative and end of life care in South Eastern NSW. 

Capacity Help aims to increase community awareness of the community supports, and services available in relation to loss, ageing, dying, and grief. The project aims to improve collaboration between health providers, not-for-profit organisations, volunteers, government, and more, with a focus on demystifying death and bereavement across the region.

COMMUNITY-BASED PALLIATIVE AND END OF LIFE CARE

Waminda, the South Coast Women's Health & Welfare Aboriginal Corporation, provides a community-based palliative and end of life care program aiming to improve coordinated care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Shoalhaven. 

The program strengthens capacity through training and credentialing three Aboriginal health workers in palliative and end of life care, and provides resources to communities and their health care workers. 

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CONSUMER AND CARER RELIEF AT END OF LIFE – PHASE 2

The Consumer and Carer Relief at End of Life – Phase 2 (CCREOL) is a joint initiative between Palliative Care NSW, Southern NSW Local Health District, and COORDINARE. It aims to support consumers and carers at end of life by developing volunteer-based support in the Southern NSW region.

A Palliative Care volunteer service has recently been established at Snowy Monaro Regional Council and the Palliative Care Eurobodalla Volunteer Service.

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ENHANCING PALLIATIVE AND END OF LIFE CARE IN RACFS

Palliative Aged Care Consultancy Services (PACCS) has been funded by COORDINARE to help selected Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) in South Eastern NSW provide palliative care for their residents. 

A Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) facilitates Needs Rounds to selected RACFs on a regular basis. The Needs Round is a specific meeting with the key staff of the RACF and the PACCS Clinical Nurse Consultant to discuss the residents and their needs. 

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STRENGTHENING CAPACITY AND COORDINATION OF END OF LIFE CARE

Dr Sue Rainsford from Australian National University (ANU) is currently piloting the use of case conferencing in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) to enhance end of life care in Cooma, Berridale, and Bombala.

Dr Rainsford is supporting RACFs by conducting regular Needs Rounds and working with staff to identify residents who are approaching end of life.

THINK, TALK, RECORD

The Multicultural Communities Council of the Illawarra (MCCI) promotes advance care planning to people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds through their 'Think, Talk, Record' approach.

MCCI currently supports CALD communities and the service providers working with CALD communities in the Illawarra region. The long-term vision is to extend the 'Think, Talk, Record' approach into other South Eastern NSW regions, including Bega, Cooma, Goulburn, and Queanbeyan.

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