A life limiting condition is defined as one where a child will not live to the age of 18. Supports that are provided to the family are focused on quality of life and include pain and symptom management, practical support (e.g. equipment needs), care co-ordination, emotional and spiritual support and after hours telephone support.
In 2014, Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CHQ HHS) put in a submission to receive a grant from the Department of Health (Commonwealth). This was in relation to initiatives in education and quality improvement in palliative care (not service delivery). A requirement of the funding was that there would be a presence of the project in each state and territory of Australia. The PPCS collaborated with the other children’s hospitals in Australia (through the Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Palliative Care Reference group - ANZPPCRG) to put in a submission as a collaborative with CHQ HHS being the project lead.
This is the first time the ANZPPCRG have received national co-ordinated funding to try and address the issues related to children’s palliative care - particularly for those families who are living in regional and rural communities. The Quality of Care Collaborative Australia (QuoCCA) project delivers education in paediatric palliative care. The project was refunded in 2017-2020.
QuoCCA 3 received funding for the 2020-2023 period. Its purpose is to achieve service quality improvement in national paediatric palliative care in acute and community settings, achieved through education, research, and evaluation within a quality framework, building on the foundation of the work of the national collaborative to date. This will be achieved through the following objectives:
- Improving the quality of and access to Paediatric Palliative Care through skill development of Health Professionals in community and acute settings;
- Improving knowledge with the sector and build community awareness of Paediatric Palliative Care;
- Building and enhance research/data collection capacity to help participants evaluate their services;
- Improving collaboration and linkages between other NPCP grant recipients Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments’ palliative care activities;
- Collaborate with the Paediatric Palliative Care Project to enhance outcomes for paediatric palliative care across Australia;
- Strengthen and increase the uptake of Advance Care Planning; and
- Creating project legacies (ie simulations, harmonised modules, interactive learning modules, publications, conference presentations and curriculum development).
Contacts
QuoCCA website
Dr Anthony Herbert - Anthony.Herbert@health.qld.gov.au
Susan Johnson - Susan.Johnson4@health.qld.gov.au
Last updated 16 August 2021