Visit our online resources library

Our  online resources library enables you to search by key words and download resources. Use the link in the right column.

Relevant websites

The following websites provide resources specifically for health professionals. You may also wish to refer to the list of websites for families and patients.

Advance Care Planning

• Caresearch provides information about advance care planning for health professionals.
• Department of Health information about Victorian services funded to assist with advance care planning.
• International Society of Advanced Care Planning and End of Life Care - information about membership and access for members to resources, newsletters, and event information.
• Respecting Patient Choices helps health care professionals to talk to people about living well and the healthcare choices that can be made, including advance care plans and directives.

Carer Education

• Carers Victoria programs for healthcare professionals who provide services to family carers.

Children

• The Victorian Paediatric Palliative Care program (VPPCP) – this website includes information for health professionals about symptom management, ethics, procedure at time of death and other resources.
• Victorian Paediatric Palliative Care Program: The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), Very Special Kids (VSK) and Monash Medical Centre (MMC) provide a consultation-liaison team responsible for the facilitation of care of children with palliative care needs and their families.

Ethics

• The End of Life Palliative Care Education Resource Centre, Medical College of Wisconsin  - shares educational resource material for health professional educators involved in palliative care education. This website  includes a comprehensive section with fast facts documents on a range of aspects of palliative care.
• The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne includes an overview of bioethics as applied to paediatric palliative care and in situations where decisions about care are complicated.

Genetic Counseling

• The Genetic Health Services Victoria Genetic Health Services Victoria  provides diagnosis, risk assessment, management and counselling for people with genetic conditions. Referrals can be made by a medical practitioner or an individual.
• The Peter Mac Familial Cancer Centre is a comprehensive cancer genetics centre with a commitment to clinical service and research. The FCC provides cancer risk assessment, genetic counselling and genetic testing, medical advice and management as well as psychological support  to individuals and their family who have concerns about their personal and or family history of cancer .

Government Departments

• Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing Palliative Care Section
• The Department of Health Victoria Palliative Care Section

Grief and loss

• Australian Center for Grief and Bereavement has a wide range of resources available for health professionals. for bereaved adults and children.
• Bereavement Care Centre bereavement counselling, educational courses, books & DVDs and information for bereaved adults and children.
• National Association for Loss and Grief (NALAG) Victoria branch state wide telephone counselling and referral service, education and a Practitioner Accreditation Program. Phone 03 9650 3000 or free call country Vic 1800 100 023.

Medical Responsibilities

• Cause of Death Certification Australia The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides a booklet to guide medical practitioners in completing certificates.
• Department of Health information about medical responsibilities in regard to death verification for nurses and paramedics.
• Department of Justice Registry of Birth, Deaths and Marriages, Victoria has an order form for Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.
• State Coroner’s Office of Victoria information on the coroners process and the value and process of an autopsy.
• Victorian Government Health Information information for medical practitioners on certifying death and authorising cremation.

Medications and Symptom Management

• Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme – information sheet on access to medications for palliative care
• Therapeutic Guidelines: Palliative Care (version 3, 2010) a complete listing of contents and the publication can be purchased in print or electronic format.
• CareSearch – General Practitioner Pages the medical management of symptoms and advises on the relevant drugs and their appropriate dosages.
• Palliative Medicine Handbook detailed, evidence-based prescribing advice. Note:was written in the UK, and some medications listed may not be available in Australia.
• Department of Health and Aging Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule people receiving palliative care are eligible for prescribing benefits.
• Palliative Care Guidelines- this UK website aims to offer up-to-date, evidence based information and guidance on professional aspects of palliative care. The information is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between a patient and his/her own physician. Whilst much of the material will be universal, the website is based in Wales, UK and may not reflect legal or other restrictions on practice in other countries.
• Clinician Health Channel gives access to palliative therapeutics, once registered.
• Opioid Conversion Chart simple Australian chart to convert various analgesics.
• End of Life Physician Resource Center (EPERC). Provides resources for educators and clinicians on end of life car – based at the Medical School of Wisconsin, USA.
• Edmonton Regional Palliative Care Program (Alberta, Canada) assessment tools, clinical practice guidelines/protocols and palliative care tips.

National Organisations

• Alzheimer’s Australia – their website includes information, research and other publications on providing quality care for people with dementia.
• The Australian & New Zealand Society for Palliative Medicine -
• CareSearch links to documents that have summaries of the evidence relating to aged care palliative care provision and reference lists.
• National Aging Research Institute (NARI) research into ageing and improving the quality of life.
• Palliative Care Australia – the national peak body for palliative care in Australia. Its website includes resources relating to policy, position statements, standards, conference and events.

Quality and Standards

• Australasian Association for Quality in Health Care (AAQHC) – a membership organisation that provides a voice on safety and quality issues and facilitates communication, cooperation and ongoing education and development.
• The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care – is a national statutory authority established to lead and coordinate improvements in safety and quality in health care across Australia. Its activities include consumer engagement, research, the development of standards and guidelines, and publications.
• Australian Council on Healthcare Standards – is involved in the measurement and implementation of quality improvement systems for Australian health care organisations, including the ACHS Evaluation and Quality Improvement Program (EQuIP)
•  CareSearch -  information about finding and using evidence and access to published evidence for reference in quality improvement activities.
• National Standards Assessment Program (NSAP) -  a quality improvement program to improve quality in palliative care experiences and outcomes for patients, their families and carers. The website includes the standards, information and resources.
• Palliative Care Clinical Network (PCCN) – provide clinical leadership in the implementation of policy directions and program initiatives in Victoria.
• Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration (PCOC) – a national voluntary program utilising standardised validated clinical assessment tools to benchmark and measure outcomes in palliative care.
• Quality Improvement Council (QIC) – promotes continuous quality improvement in health and community services through the provision of standards, accreditation programs and developmental resources.

Relationships and Communication

• The Cancer Council Victoria programs for people with advanced cancer and their family, ring 131120 to talk to a cancer support nurse for a confidential discussion, booklet on sexuality can also be downloaded from this site.
• Relationships Victoria offers a service (including telephone counselling) to couples and families.  Call nearest branch by telephoning 1300 364 277.

Sexuality and palliative care

• Chronic illness and sexuality article by Dr Rosemary McInnes published in in the Medical Journal of Australia in 2003.

Please also refer to the resources and website links in the following sections of this website (click on the name):

Aboriginal Communities; Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Communities (CALD); Education; Families and Patients;  Volunteers;  Young People