Melbourne Consulting and Custom Programs

Specialist Certificate in Palliative Care

 

2010 Feb, Apr, Jul, Aug & Sep

Feb 25 & 26 - Palliative Care: The Essentials

Apr 15 & 16 - #Therapeutic Communication Skills in Palliative Care

Jul 16 - Evidence Based Palliative Care

Aug 12 - Symptom Management in Palliative Care

Aug 13 - Palliative Care in Non-Cancer Context

Sep 9 - Psychosocial Aspects of Palliative Care

Sep 10 - Family Centred Palliative Care and Cultural Issues

#This topic is only offered to the Specialist Certificate students.  It is not offered as a short course. 

 

The Centre for Palliative Care Education and Research at St Vincent's Hospital has developed a University accredited graduate training program in Palliative Care through the University of Melbourne. 

 

Course Objectives

The course aims to be the industry standard for working in specialist palliative care and will be delivered by experts in their fields, drawn from multiple institutions around Victoria, as appropriate. The course will explore the core concepts related to palliative care, including symptom management, communication skills, and evidence based practice, non malignant palliative illnesses, psychosocial issues and the role of the family caregiver.

 

Course Structure

To satify the requirments of the Specialist Certificate in Palliative Care, students need to complete two, 12.5 credit point subjects within a 12 month period.

360876 Fundamentals of Palliative Care (12.5 point subject)


360877 Critical Enquiry in Palliative Care (12.5 point subject)

Each subject involves four days of fact to face contact spread throughout the year and incorporates the following.

PLACES ARE STRICTLY LIMITED

Note: For those health professionals who do not wish to enrol in the Specialist Certificate, the single day and two day short course may be available, but places will be limited and preference will be given to the Specialist Certificate students.

 

Specialist Certificate Subjects

 

SUBJECT ONE: FUNDAMENTALS OF PALLIATIVE CARE

Feb 25 & 26 - Palliative Care: The Essentials

Apr 15 & 16 - #Therapeutic Communication Skills in Palliative Care

#This topic is only offered to the Specialist Certificate students.  It is not offered as a short course. 

 

SUBJECT TWO: CRITICAL ENQUIRY IN PALLIATIVE CARE
 
Jul 16 - *Evidence Based Palliative Care

Aug 12 - **Symptom Management in Palliative Care

Aug 13 - Palliative Care in Non-Cancer Context

Sep 9 - Psychosocial Aspects of Palliative Care

Sep 10 - Family Centred Palliative Care and Cultural Issues

*This is a core topic for all students in order to graduate with the Specialist Certificate in Palliative Care

**This is a core topic for registered doctors and nurses

Note: Specialist Certificate students need to attend four of the five above topics.  Students must choose four topics to complete the second subject: critical enquiry in palliative care.

 

Assessment

Eash subject is formally assessed to meet the requirements of University accreditation.  Assessment is designed to be practical and clinically relevant for healthcare professionals.

 

Short Course Options

In 2010 selected components of the accredited course will be offered as individual non-accredited short courses.  This will be particularly inviting to generalist health care professionals and/or those working in specialist palliative care who want to update their skills.

 

Academic Team

Assoc. Prof. Peter Hudson, Director, Centre for Palliative Care Education & Research

Dr Mark Boughey, Co-Deputy Director, Centre for Palliative Care Education & Research and Director, Palliative Medicine St Vincent's (Melbourne)

Dr Jennifer Phililp, Co-Deputy Director, Centre for Palliative Care Education & Research and Deputy Director, Palliative Medicine St Vincent's (Melbourne)

Mr Chris Hall, Director, Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement

Dr Jenny Hynson, Consultant Paediatrician, Victorian Paediatric Palliative Care Program The Royal Children's Hospital

Dr Eleanor Flynn, Palliative Care Consultant, St Vincent's (Melbourne) and Melbourne Citymission

Dr Di Clifton, Psychiatrist, Psycho-Oncologist, St Vincent's Melbourne

Ms Karen Quinn, Co-Ordinator Education & Project Officer for VPCNPC, Centre for Palliative Care Education & Research

Where relevant, experts from other institutions and services are also involved in the delivery of the programs.

 

Who should attend? 

The training is targeted at health professionals (all disciplines) who are required to provide palliative care in their work setting.  A delivery format of two four-day subjects offered intensively throughout the year has been established to accommodate the needs of regional and interstate health professionals.

 

Specialist Certificate Entry Requirements

An undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification in medicine, nursing, an allied health profession, science or social science which is recognised by the University as evidence of adequate preparation for the course plus documented evidence of at least one year's full-time relevant professional work experience in a medical, scientific or allied health evironment.  Potential students will be responsible for providing palliative care within their current workplace.

 

Course Brochure

Professional Development in Palliative Care

 

Libraries

Accredited students will be issued a University of Melbourne student card, which will give them full borrowing rights for all branches of the University of Melbourne libraries at Parkville.

The University of Melbourne holds one of the most significant academic libraries and archive collections in the southern hemisphere.  It has one of the largest collections, providing three million volumes on paper and University Archives, including collections of international significance on many subjects.

 

Online Databases

Accredited students will also be issued a University of Melbourne email username and password.  This email username and password will allow you to access an extensive online resource library via the internet.  This electronic database provides reference material for assignments and is a valuable tool to assist in your study.

Please find following web address for the University of Melbourne's online resource library: http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/

 

Online Learning System

Once a student has enrolled they will be issued with a user name and password to access the Online Learning system, also known as Moodle.

We suggest each student visits the site, completes the steps to login and familiarises themselves with the system.  The system is a main point of communication between the coordinator, student services and other students enrolled.  If there is required pre-reading, it will also be made available to view and print from Moodle.  In addition, students can upload assignments directly to Moodle for assessment.

Information uploaded to Moodle such as assignments, and communication between the coordinator is strictly confidential and private.  Other users do not have the ability to view this information without the expressed permission of the author and Melbourne Consulting & Custom Programs, the University of Melbourne.

 

Venue

Graduate House, University of Melbourne

220 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC 3053

 

Accommodation

There is a number of accommodation options near the University of Melbourne.  Please find following a few options to make further enquiries. 

 

2010 Fees

Specialist Certificate in Palliative Care - $4,360 (GST exempt).

Short Courses - $350 per day + GST

Fees include course materials, catered lunch and morning & afternoon tea.  It is a full day course.

 

Financial Support

FEE-HELP information is available via www.goingtouni.gov.au

 

Scholarships

Twenty Department of Human Services scholarships of up to $3000 per year are available for people undertaking approved postgraduate palliative care courses.  For information please see Palliative Care Victoria website: www.pallcarevic.asn.au or phone (03) 9662 9644.  

 

Academic Prize

The Order of Malta Award is an annual prize ($1000) which will be awarded to the student who achieves the overall highest academic grade for the year.

 

Proposed New Subjects

We are currently exploring four new subject options to add to our suite of subjects.  One will have a focus on paediatric palliative care and the others will be devoted to bereavement, aged care and psychosocial.  Further details will be available on the web site once they are confirmed.

 

Registration

Closing date for the Specialist Certificate applications is Friday, 22 January 2010.

 

Application Process

Specialist Certificate applications are managed by the Student Services Team. Click here for the Application Form and further instructions.

Short Course applications are managed by the Project Manager.

 

For further information contact:

Danielle Boardman
Project Manager

Melbourne Consulting and Custom Programs
The University of Melbourne
Level 3, 442 Auburn Road
Hawthorn, Vic 3122 Australia

T: +61 3 9810 3250
F: +61 3 9810 3149
E: palliativecare@mccp.unimelb.edu.au 

top of page