CareSearch, Australia’s major source of evidence-based palliative care information, has today launched a national campaign designed to increase community awareness of palliative care as well as highlighting the importance of culture.
Ahead of World Hospice and Palliative Care day on Saturday October 10, CareSearch is launching the Part of Life campaign to encourage all Australians to learn, care, and plan for death and dying.
The campaign includes a focus on end-of-life care that is inclusive and culturally appropriate.
“Death and dying will affect all of us. It’s a part of life. And that means everyone has a role to play in palliative care,” CareSearch Director Professor Jennifer Tieman said.
“With one in four Australians born overseas, we know there is great diversity of backgrounds and cultures, and palliative care must respect and support individual cultural, linguistic, and spiritual needs and preferences.
“Collectively, we are still working toward the ideal that palliative care is accessible for everyone and part of that is making sure that we can provide the right information in the right format.”
CareSearch provides evidence, information, and practical palliative care resources for everyone involved in providing care or supporting people at the end of life.
Under the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Palliative Care Strategy, six guiding principles have been identified as fundamental to ensure that all people experience the palliative care they need. The CareSearch Part of Life campaign therefore highlights six important elements of palliative care:
o Pallliative care is person-centred
o Death is a part of life
o Carers are valued
o Care is accessible
o Everyone has a role
o Care is evidence-based
“It’s important to know these fundamentals of palliative care because doing so enables us to better protect and plan for our own care and wishes – and those of our loved ones – at a time when it matters most,” Professor Tieman said.
“CareSearch is working with project partners and community groups to make it easier for all Australians to find and use palliative care, including carers.”
CareSearch provides online access to evidence on palliative care for all Australians. The project is funded by the Australian Government under the 2020-2023 ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Palliative Care Program and CareSearch is managed by Flinders University.
