Program Overview

Introduction to the Living Well with Palliative Care Program

The Living Well with Palliative Care program is designed to enhance health workers' understanding of palliative care and their ability to discuss it with individuals affected by life-limiting conditions. This free, self-paced online course aims to increase participants' knowledge of the goals and purposes of palliative care, dispel common myths, and develop their skills in navigating conversations about palliative care.

About the Course

This course is suitable for anyone looking to enhance their understanding of palliative care, particularly healthcare workers across various settings, including nursing, allied health, and medicine. The course covers the following topics:

• Palliative care: definition and myth-busting
• Navigating communication about palliative care
• Supporting with compassion: responding to emotion in palliative care

Key Benefits

The course is designed to:

• Equip participants with information about the scope and opportunities of palliative care
• Strengthen their ability to support others' understanding of palliative care
• Develop their skills in navigating initial conversations and responding to emotions

Course Structure

The course features interactive and self-paced activities, including case studies, videos, and discussions. By the end of the course, participants should have gained:

• An expanded understanding of the potential of palliative care to improve individuals' quality of life
• Ideas for initiating conversations about palliative care
• Greater confidence in discussing palliative care with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals
• Information that can be adapted to various settings

Learning Outcomes

The course provides the opportunity for participants to engage with the following learning outcomes:

• Understanding what palliative care can offer
• Recognizing opportunities to start conversations about palliative care
• Having conversations about palliative care and responding to emotions

Lead Academic

The course is led by Michelle DiGiacomo, Associate Professor and Course Director of the postgraduate palliative care program at the Faculty of Health, UTS. Michelle has a background in psychology and behavioral health and teaches communication and psychosocial wellbeing subjects. Her research interests include the experiences of family and friend carers of individuals with chronic and life-limiting conditions.

Acknowledgement of Country

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which the university stands, including the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people, and the Gamaygal people. UTS pays respect to the Elders, past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.