PEPA may be a great opportunity for you to gain knowledge, skills and experience in the palliative approach to care.
Many allied health professionals care for people with life-limiting conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, end stage organ failure, cancer, cystic fibrosis or severe dementia.
If you work in the primary health setting supporting patients with these types of conditions, then PEPA may provide you with further skills and experience to improve your care for patients.
PEPA includes:
- clinical workforce placements of up to four days with a specialist palliative care service within a metropolitan or larger provincial service at little to no cost to yourself or your employer
- a planned activity that you implement in your own workplace within three months of completing the placement
- establishing networks to assist you in your own practice with people with life-limiting conditions
- invitations to attend additional post placement support activities
Financial support is available to assist you to undertake this education program, including contribution towards backfill (payable to your employer) and travel (for rural and remote applicants).
Tailored workshops are also available in most states and territories in metropolitan and regional areas. Workshops are generally offered free of charge. To find out more see our calendar of events.
In the PEPA context, the term Allied Health professionals generally refers to practitioners from the following disciplines:
- Ambulance officers/paramedics
- Bereavement counsellors/coordinators
- Counsellors
- Dietitians/ Nutritionists
- Diversional therapists
- Mental health workers
- Music therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Paramedics
- Pastoral care workers
- Pharmacists
- Physiotherapists
- Psychologists
- Podiatrists
- Social workers
- Speech pathologists/ therapists
- Welfare officers
Occupations that do not fall under the above categories may more appropriately fit under ‘other health professionals’ within the PEPA context.
A new Online Learning Module for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals is available.
Alternatively, you can access a pdf copy here: Learning Guide for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals (2012)
AHPRA Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
Annual registration with AHPRA for health professionals requires individual participation in continuing professional development to meet requirements of each National Board. Points can be gained through PEPA placements and workshops with the number of points available varying depending upon the professional discipline. This is a self recording process and all responsibility to document and claim points falls on the registrant directly.
For further information contact your state or territory PEPA manager, or visit their website.