The Palliative Approach to Care for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Professionals

Palliative care can mean different things to different people. Previous experiences and personal knowledge of family and friends often impacts on how we feel about palliative care, and it can be an unsettling time. The IPEPA program recognises that “finishing up” or dying and death, is a very sensitive business and its aim is to be culturally respectful to the journey that people take individually, and for those providing support to their nearest and dearest, in improving their quality of life.

This interactive workshop is aimed at providing Aboriginal Health Practitioners / Workers, Integrated Team Care Coordinators, Aged Care Support Workers, Registered and Enrolled Nurses, and other interested staff, with up-to-date information and a greater understanding on what is involved in the palliative approach to care.

Learning Objectives:

• To increase knowledge in providing a palliative approach to care
• To understand the principles of effective communication
• To increase awareness of pain management strategies in promoting comfort
• To increase knowledge of the multidisciplinary team approach to care
• To better understand care needs when clients are nearing end-of-life
• To better understand the complexities of grief and bereavement
• To understand Advance Care Planning