Today, Peta McVey, our Palliative Care Guidance Manager, delivered a series of educational sessions to TAFE Cert III and Cert IV students enrolled in Ageing & Disability courses.
The sessions covered a range of key topics, including an introduction to palliative care (its definition, how to access it, and factors influencing societal views on death and dying). Peta also presented practical tools for identifying advanced illness, initiating palliative care, and beginning advance care planning discussions, with an overview of Advance Care Directives (ACD).
Over 50 students attended the first session, alongside 30 online TAFE educators from rural and remote areas. The second session had around 25 students in attendance.
Throughout the sessions, students were particularly engaged with how their role as support workers would fit into the provision of palliative care, especially in a home setting, and the steps required to make this transition. Questions also arose regarding Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD).
The sessions provided valuable insights into patient care, reinforcing the importance of empathy and a holistic approach to supporting individuals facing end-of-life challenges.