COVID-19 has caused many disruptions but has also created new approaches and innovations, especially when it comes to existing palliative care patients and the palliative care workforce. Palliative Care Australia (PCA) brought together experts in a range of disciplines including clinical, academic, research, policy, and advocacy. In this blog, PCA CEO Rohan Greenland discusses the work of the Australian COVID-19 Palliative Care Working Group and the range of activities being undertaken to build the capacity of systems and to foster collaboration.

COVID-19 presents an unprecedented challenge for patients, carers, and health professionals, especially for those providing home-based palliative care to patients. Professor Liz Reymond Director at Brisbane South Palliative Care Collaborative and Deputy Director at Metro South Palliative Care Service discusses the new caring@home packages for carers to support them to help manage symptoms in home-based palliative care patients and limit the risk of community COVID-19 transmission. 

COVID-19 has presented many challenges and trauma's, however, there have also been some positive developments. Associate Professor Odette Spruijt from Australasian Palliative Link International discusses the opportunities which have evolved during this pandemic, as well as shares positive experiences she has encountered at her workplace and also some on international collaborations.

Advance care planning (ACP) is one of the main topics that callers to the ELDAC Helpline call for assistance with. Caroline Litster, Research Officer from ELDAC, discusses the type of ACP inquiries received, and how the Helpline team assist callers with navigating the more complex concerns around ACP in aged care, such as those relating to residents who lack decision-making capacity.

Digital health is driving major change in health systems and in our community. It is challenging how we plan, organise and participate in healthcare and care for people at the end of life.