Oceanic Palliative Care Conference is the pre-eminent event for palliative and end-of-life care in the Oceanic region. As a sponsor and supporter of the conference, we will be publishing a series of blogs from Palliative Care Australia (PCA) and participants. In the first blog for the series, PCA discusses opportunities gained by holding the bi-annual conference virtually despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gabrielle Prest from Opal Health Care provides insight into how the aged care provider is optimising palliative care and end-of-life care for their residents and how the palliAGED Introduction modules for aged care nurses is assisting in this transformation. 

Understanding the fit between health services and the population they serve is important if we are to ensure that older Australians receive quality palliative care. CareSearch Research Associate Dr Deborah van Gaans discusses the need for evidence-based information and the new CareSearch portal that will be launched in September 2021.

Little is known about the effects COVID-19 pandemic has on people’s mental health or what support is needed when they know someone who has died. Professor of Palliative Care, Liz Lobb, discusses a new research study looking at the experiences of people bereaved during the pandemic.

The CareSearch Project is proud to once again support Palliative Care Australia's (PCA) biannual conference. As a keynote sponsor for this year's Oceanic Palliative Care Conference, we will hold an exhibit booth and chair two sessions:

• Palliative care and COVID-19, 10 September at 2:15 pm AEST, chaired by CareSearch Director Prof Jennifer Tieman
• Caring for older persons, 9 September at 1:30 pm AEST, chaired by CareSearch Senior Research Fellow Dr Katrina Erny-Albrecht

Our booth will feature free resources, information on the launch of our new portal, and an interactive poll. We will also be featuring blogs from conference scholars. Visit the conference website to register.