Since 2003, the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care has funded Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to undertake the national coordination and project management of the Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) and implement the Palliative Care Curriculum for Undergraduates (PCC4U). In December 2019, the Department announced funding for a new three year phase of the Palliative Care Education and Training Collaborative (incorporating PEPA and PCC4U) to build on the achievements of these previous initiatives.
The project takes a collaborative, whole-of-workforce approach to building the capability and capacity of the health workforce to provide quality palliative care to all Australians.
The specific activities for the Collaborative focus on three broad areas:
Delivery of education and training programs: Delivery of programs for priority health care provider groups across primary, secondary and tertiary settings through the Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA).
Capacity Building: Strengthening integration of palliative care curriculum resources in all university and VET sector courses that prepare health care providers for entry to practice, through the Palliative Care Curriculum for Undergraduates Project (PCC4U).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Palliative Care Workforce Development: Involving IPEPA – Tailored community engagement, capacity building, clinical placements, workshops, knowledge translation and service improvement activities.
National Palliative Care Workforce Action Plan: Evidence based actions to ensure a highly skilled and sustainable workforce.
About the Palliative Care Curriculum for Undergraduates
The PCC4U project aims to improve the skill and confidence of the health workforce to work with people with palliative care needs by promoting the integration of palliative care training within all health undergraduate (Bachelor health programs at a university level and Vocational Education and Training (VET) Diploma and Certificate level healthcare programs).
The PCC4U learning resources contain core modules and focus topics, each covering aspects of palliative care. Within each module or topic you experience the story of someone facing a life-limiting illness. These stories help users to understand why palliative care is a vital part of the health care industry.
The modules are free to use and can be found on the PCC4U website at www.pcc4u.org.au