Health
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Programs

Aboriginal Palliative care

The Victorian Aboriginal Palliative Care Program is being undertaken by the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) in partnership with Palliative Care Victoria.

The project's vision is to create a sustainable and culturally safe palliative care service system where Aboriginal people from all over Victoria can access palliative care services.

The project aims for Aboriginal people to have access to palliative care services in the setting of their preference and for palliative care services to provide culturally safe services to Aboriginal people. It also aims to develop and increase the awareness and access to palliative care services and to develop a long and lasting relationship between palliative care providers and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.

VIC Aboriginal palliative care artwork (PDF file, 1.41mb)

Victorian Aboriginal Palliative Care project 2007-2020 final report (PDF file, 726kb)

Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach

The Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) is designed to improve the skills, confidence and expertise of health practitioners who care for people who are dying and their families. This includes general practitioners, nurses, allied health and Aboriginal health workers.

PEPA has three core components:

  PEPA application form

  Reverse PEPA (aged care) application form

  PEPA information guide

Rural Medical Purchasing Fund

The five rural palliative care consortia are funded through the Rural Medical Purchasing Fund.  The Fund aims to:

Rural Palliative Care Medical Purchasing Fund evaluation (PDF file, 2.51mb)

Victorian Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner

The Victorian Government has been supporting the development and implementation of nurse practitioners since 1998. In 2008-09 eleven palliative care services were invited to implement Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner (PCNP) models in Victoria. A further six integrated models were funded in 2010, proposing aged and paediatric PCNP models. Candidate Support Packages and scholarships are offered to all appointed candidates and their employing agencies.

In 2008-09 there were three PCNP's in Victoria. Since then a further 3 PCNP's have been endorsed and 13 PCNP Candidates have been appointed throughout metropolitan and rural areas.

The Victorian Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Collaborative provides opportunities for PCNP's and Candidates to share resources and experiences and to provide a forum for future candidates to gain knowledge and interest in the role. The collaborative is convened by the Centre for Palliative Care.