About the Consortium

The Consortium is responsible for:

• Regional planning and, working in conjunction with DHS, and the implementation of the regional plan;
• Coordinating care for people with a life threatening illness;
• Determining priorities for future service development and funding;
• Participating in the development of a service delivery framework. 

Strategic Planning Day

The Consortium strategic planning day will be held on July 8th.  Consortium members will spend the day planning on strategic directions for the next two years, taking into consideration the new palliative care policy directives from the Department of Health and the National Standards for palliative care.

 

About Us

Djerriwarrh Palliative Care
Is a community based service in Bacchus Marsh and covers the western half of Moorabool Shire.

Ballarat Hospice Care Inc.
Is a community based service based in Ballarat and covers the City of Ballarat, the northern half of Golden Plains Shire, Moorabool Shire to Ballan, Pyrenees Shire to Beaufort and the eastern half of Hepburn Shire to Daylesford.

Ballarat Health Service
They operate Gandarra, an 8 bed acute palliative care service.  This services the greater Ballarat region, similar to that of Ballarat Hospice Care Inc.  The Grampians Regional Palliative Care Team operates under Ballarat Health Services to provide consultancy by two Palliative Care Physicians and a Nurse Practitioner Candidate and education for the region.

St John of God
Have two acute palliative care beds and provide a service for the whole of the Grampians region.

Central Grampians Palliative Care
They are auspiced by East Grampians Health Service located at Ararat.  They are a community based serviced which covers the western half of Pyrenees Shire, City of Ararat and Northern Grampians Shire

Wimmera Hospice Care
They are auspiced by Wimmera Health Care Services in Horsham and are a specialist service  which covers the very large area of Yarriambiack Shire, Horsham City, West Wimmera Shire and Hindmarsh Shire.

 

 Consortium Manager - Claire McKenna

Claire has been working with the Consortium since August of 2007.  Claire can be contaced via her mobile on 0428 737 330.

 

 

Range of services 

Palliative care services are generally provided when active treatment ceases for the patient’s diagnosed illness.  Patients may still receive treatment for symptom management.

Inpatient
Inpatient palliative care services provide services within a hospital for patients who require specialist inpatient palliative care or respite. 

Community
Community based palliative care services provide a range of services to clients in their home including:

• nursing;
• liaison with medical practitioners, district nursing, and, when necessary, nursing homes;
• counseling for the client and their family; 
• allied health services;
• complementary therapies;
• coordination with other services.

 

Volunteers

Volunteers play an integral role within the palliative care team and may assist in many ways. Volunteers don’t necessarily have to work directly with patients, their families and carers in order to be able to provide assistance to them. The following is just a few ways that volunteers can assist:

• Patient Support
• Administration
• Fundraising Events
• Health Promoting Palliative Care

Patient Support Volunteers
After the needs of the patient, their families and carers have been assessed a suitable volunteer will be appointed and introduced. Volunteers perform a variety of duties, such as:

• Companionship
• Carer Respite
• Transport
• Shopping, Errands
• Letter writing

Volunteer Training
Volunteers are carefully selected for skills and maturity and are provided with appropriate training to enable them to carry out their role. Patient Support training is comprehensive and is in accordance with Palliative Care Victoria and Department of Human Services Standards. For more information on becoming a Palliative Care Volunteer, please do not hesitate to contact your local palliative care provider. Alternatively you may like to visit Palliative Care Victoria’s website at www.pallcarevic.asn.au/Volunteers

If you have any other skills which you may be able to offer, please do not hesitate to contact us with your ideas.

Research shows that volunteering can have a significant impact on your physical and mental health. Volunteering can:

• Improve the well being of individual volunteers by enhancing support networks. It is well known that people with strong social support networks have lower premature death rates, less heart disease and fewer health risk factors;
• Increase opportunities for close interpersonal relationships and strengthen a sense of belonging;
• Improve self esteem;
• Heighten a sense of well being, improve insomnia, strengthen the immune system and hasten surgery recovery time;
• Offer people the opportunity to participate in fulfilling activities;
• Make a difference in the lives of others;
• Older adult volunteers live longer than non-volunteers.

For services in your area, see the "Services Directory" page.

For further information and links see the "Links" page.