Palliative care project launched
by Cathy Hughes
Federal
Minister for Health and Ageing Tony Abbott officially launched the
Caring Communities Palliative Care (CCPC) project in Whyalla on June 9
with the click of a mouse on the new web site created for the occasion.
The project represents a $170,000 investment of Commonwealth funds in the campus to undertake research and education work to build the capacity of regional communities in dealing with the issues of caring for people with life limiting conditions.
The Whyalla based UniSA project team is being headed by Dr Mary Oliver (pictured right), who said the CCPC was significant for several reasons. “While the Commonwealth is clearly looking to the University to provide leadership, it is also another opportunity for us to work collaboratively with regional health service providers to achieve outcomes that can also have benefits for other Australian communities,“ Dr Oliver said.
She said the project team was working in conjunction with seven regional partner organisations representing the regional health service areas of Eyre, Jamestown, Mid North, Northern & Far Western and Wakefield as well as the Pika Wiya Health Service in Port Augusta and the Whyalla Area Cancer Support Services.
“To date the project team has interviewed 60 care givers, family members and people suffering a life threatening illness, as part of the research phase.“
“The information gleaned from these often very personal and moving interviews with various people around the state has resulted in the basis of the regional community information sessions that we are about to begin,“ said Dr Oliver.
For more information contact Cynthia Ofner on (08) 8647 6073 or visit the website at www.unisa.edu.au/why/disciplines/nursing/palliativecare/