Submit your Workplace Activity Report online now!

A key component of PEPA is activities designed to promote transfer of learning into the workplace.  These Workplace Learning Activities are designed to provide ongoing education and support to PEPA participants who have attended standard or reverse placements to reinforce learning and enhance the quality of palliative care.

The specific workplace learning activities that are included within PEPA are:

  • Reviewing the program and personal objectives and reflecting on the extent to which they were achieved and areas for further learning
  • Completing and submitting the relevant PEPA post-placement evaluation
  • Implementing relevant activities that promote transfer of learning into the workplace.

   Placement guides for standard and reverse PEPA placements are available from our Learning and Placement Guides page.

Pre-Placement Learning Plan

As part of your application process you will be asked to set some learning objectives for your placement.  The Placement Guide includes a Pre-Placement Learning Plan for completion and return to the PEPA Manager.   (Click here for a pdf version of the Pre-Placement Learning Plan)

Post-Placement

PEPA aims to improve networks between health providers and provide ongoing support for participants.  Accordingly, participants are encouraged to participate in post placement support networks and/or activities to promote ongoing professional development, support and communication across settings and disciplines. Your local PEPA Manager will be able to advise you of what is available in your state or region.
Post-placement opportunities that have been available in the past include:
  • Educational opportunities on a range of topics including Advance Care Planning, spiritual care, cultural diversity, communication, conflict resolution, compassion fatigue, educating clients, colleagues and yourself, the role of the specialist team, dealing with death, grief and loss
  • Clinical updates including pharmacological updates, syringe driver updates, anorexia/cachexia syndrome in advance cancer, managing complex pain, symptom management, providing specialised bereavement support, the role and therapeutic effects of complementary therapies, current research and how this is translating to improving care, existential psychosocial pain
  • Networking opportunities including forums, expos, conferences, regional education tours, special interest group meetings including GP Masterclass sessions and journal clubs
  • Involvement in the development of electronic and paper based resources including palliative care podcasts in Victoria.

As part of your post-placement learning you are expected to complete:

  1. Placement completion form
  2. Reflection of Learning 
  3. Workplace Activity Report

Click on the title of each document to download the form. These forms are also included in your Placement Guide.

You can also complete your workplace activity report online now!
If you have completed a Reverse PEPA Placement you can download your Reverse PEPA Post-Placement Completion forms here

Workplace Activities

Ensuring quality and sustainability of outcomes is a key focus of PEPA.  All placement participants are expected to implement a post placement activity within their workplace within three months of completing their placement.  Participants are encouraged to discuss their ideas for their workplace activity with their host site mentor during their placement.

Examples of workplace activities that have been undertaken by past participants include:

  • Workplace tool development and/or improvement; with the outcome of improved care planning and implementation, early identification of the deteriorating resident, a more holistic approach to care provision, and greater efficiency through intentionally streamlining the approach to care
  • In-service training provided to staff
  • Dissemination of fact sheets and morphine conversion tables
  • Establishment of palliative care resource information for staff and/or patients
  • Development of End of Life care pathway
  • More effective assessment and monitoring of pain
  • More effective planning and implementation of end of life care
  • Advocating skills with other health care professionals in regards to pain, symptom management and the identification of when a patient may be in need of end of life care
  • The expansion of current services to include a more holistic model of care
  • Modelling to other staff improved communication techniques with families of residents including the provision of information that leads to informed choices and  managing their expectations with greater awareness
  • Provision of feedback to the regional district palliative care team regarding staffing, resource allocation, assessments and outcome measures as observed within a larger metropolitan service
  • Establishment of a project team to expand the current service provision of the occupational therapist working in palliative care, in anticipation of the opening of a new 20 bed palliative care centre at the hospital

Ongoing Learning

CareSearch is an online resource designed to help those needing relevant and trustworthy information and resources about palliative care. The website has been funded by the Australian Government as part of the National Palliative Care Program.

There are sections designed specifically for health professionals and others for patients and carers.  All material in the website has been checked for quality by Australian health professionals. Pages can be read online or they can be printed and read later.  The CareSearch website is: www.caresearch.com.au