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Overview of Palliative Care
Palliative care improves the quality of life for individuals facing chronic and complex illnesses.
Studying palliative care could involve learning pain management techniques, counselling or administering medication. Courses can range from TAFE certificates to postgraduate study and prepare students for a career in care.
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Studying Palliative Care
Palliative care students can undertake palliative care diploma or certificate courses at Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions or private nursing colleges. TAFE or certified community care and social work students can pursue higher education pathways at universities.
The entry requirements for community and social welfare courses are basic passes in English, mathematics and sciences (either one) and humanities. Certain institutions may also require interviews or written tests to further assess the students.
Selected universities also offer postgraduate options in palliative care studies; often studying the psychological, physical and spiritual impacts on patients, assessed either by coursework or research.
Careers in Palliative Care
Palliative care workers are also known as medical social worker, as this job is a sub-discipline under the umbrella of community care and social work.
Working with doctors, nurses, therapists and spiritual leaders, palliative care workers ensure that patients receive the best care they can get.
Palliative care workers also provide counselling services to patients, to the main care-givers of the patients, and their family members.
Palliative care workers working with young children are required to undergo police and a Working With Children checks.
While the working hours of a palliative care worker may be erratic and long, the satisfaction of working to relive the suffering of patients will offer certain levels of job satisfaction.
Palliative care workers can work for the Department of Human Services, private welfare organisations or as a casual palliative care worker in nursing homes or for private individuals.
Skills needed in Palliative Care
Palliative care workers are expected to be compassionate, patient and emotionally strong.
Palliative care workers may also be required to administer controlled drugs.
More information
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