Resources

The National Palliative Care Standards (Edition 5) have been updated following consultation with the palliative care community and other stakeholders. Much has changed within palliative care over the past decade, including expansion of the evidence base for clinical care, re-design of service delivery models of care to meet changing community expectations and needs, and changes to the language used to describe those we care for. Most importantly there is increasing recognition that caring for people who are approaching and reaching the end of life is everybody’s business – everybody in health, aged and social care has a role to play.

Palliative Care Self Assessment (PaCSA)

Palliative Care Self Assessment (PaCSA) provides services with an online portal to self-assess against the National Palliative Care Standards (5th ed.), mapped against the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (2nd ed.), resulting in a quality improvement action plan. link here

Lung Foundation Australia has released an updated COPD Action Plan.

Action plans are a valuable self-management tool to guide patients in recognising when their symptoms change and what action they should take at that time.

OYO211007_COPD_Action-Plan_Update_Oct2021.indd (lungfoundation.com.au)

This resource has been compiled by the Consortium to assist healthcare workers understand the beliefs and customs of different religious or cultural groups at the time of death. It is NOT intended to be a comprehensive resource, but rather to serve as a guide, offering a short, simple outline of cultural and religious beliefs at the time of death. A copy of this resource is available here as Customs & Beliefs – Death & Dying.

For a more comprehensive resource:  Multicultural-palliative-care-guidelines (1999).

Palliative Care Victoria

PCV publishes many brochures for clients and carers, providing information about, for example:

• Palliative Care in general;
• Specific information about Professional Groups;
• Symptoms and their management;
• Resources for carers;
• Practical information on Enduring Power of Attorney (Medical), wills and funerals
• Death & Dying
• Grief & Loss.

Palliative Care Victoria (PCV): a volunteer training kit

The 2008 PCV ‘Palliative Care Volunteer Training Resource Kit’ contains a comprehensive ‘Facilitators Guide’, a complementary ‘Learners Guide’ and the current ‘Victorian Palliative Care Volunteer Standards and Templates’. This kit contains a facilitators ‘how to’ section and nine modules (including one focusing on spirituality) each containing their own core competencies and sample session plans.

This resource has recently been revised and is available to purchase.  More information on the PCV website.

Palliative Care Victoria Bilingual Brochures

Palliative Care Victoria have released brochures in several languages.  These brochures can be found here.

Sunraysia Region Aboriginal Palliative Care 

Sunraysia Region Aboriginal Palliative Care Pathway (2016)

Advanced Care Planning – Giving our mob a voice.

Relationships and Dementia

Information can be found here

Conversation Start Kit for families and people with dementia

The starter kit can be found here

Carers Kit

The carers kit was developed to help Carers by providing simple instructions on how to perform basic tasks safely, such as how to use shower and bath chairs safely and how to help a person in and out of a car.  Carers Kit link

Carer Gateway

Care Support Services role is to support unpaid carers who are caring for people who are frail aged, have dementia, a disability, mental illness, chronic illness and or are receiving palliative care. With funding provided by the Victorian Department of Family Fairness and Housing and the Commonwealth Department of Social Services, Carer Support Services can provide:

• Referral for Counselling, Facilitated Coaching and In-Person Peer Support
• Advocacy
• Assessment and Planning
• Care Coordination– carer supports and services (including residential respite)
• Emergency supports and services

Carers (and service providers) are able to reach out for support by contacting the Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 or  directly on 5454 7719. For more information about Carer Gateway: Carer Gateway

Carer Gateway eReferral

By referring a Carer onto the Carer Gateway, you will help the Carer to:

• access practical information and advice
• access services and supports they need to succeed in their caring role
• access free counselling and coaching services
• connect with others in a similar caring role

Carer Gateway – Make a Referral (carergatewayvictoria.org.au)

Improving Carer’s Quality of Life

Improving Carer’s Quality of Life Brochure