I recently returned from a Winston Churchill Fellowship which enabled me to explored international palliative care volunteer models in Singapore, England, Canada and the United States. As a result I am currently developing a statewide palliative care volunteer strategy for Victoria, Australia, and am promoting the development of a national palliative care volunteer strategy.
Both nationally and internationally the profile and required skill set of the palliative care volunteer workforce is now being shaped by changing demographics, patterns of disease, increasing demands for quality care and regulation, system-wide shortage of health care professionals and reforms to health care. A key to the ability of palliative care services to deliver on this extended role will be the strengthening and expansion of palliative care and end of life volunteer services.
To view my full report and recommendations
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