The Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine (ANZSPM) will be holding its biennial scientific meeting in Perth between 8-11th September, 2016. The theme of ANZSPM 2016 Conference (#ANZSPM16) is “The Changing Landscape of Palliative Care”.

Palliverse is excited to announce that we will be working with ANZSPM to enhance the overall Conference experience by harnessing the power of social media.  We will be facilitating the sharing of knowledge from the Conference, encouraging discussion and debate within and beyond the Conference halls, and providing hands-on social media support before, during and after the event.

If you haven’t registered yet and you are keen to come, why wait?  You can find out more about the event and register for it here.  And – if you register by the 30th of June you will be eligible for an early-bird discount! 

The ANZSPM 2016 Conference will be a fantastic gathering and a real highlight on the scientific and social calendar for palliative care across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and beyond. The focus this year will be on “The Changing Landscape of Palliative Care”.

As described by Derek Eng (chair of the Conference Organising Committee), the changing landscape of palliative care includes progressive shifts in our region and internationally in how palliative care is practised, resourced, and backed up by evidence.  Additionally, recent high profile community debates around topics such as the use of medicinal cannabis has demonstrated the changing community dialogue around aspects of palliative care provision.  The Conference will encourage and support participants to examine and engage with these changes.

The Conference itself will include local and international speakers presenting a range of provocative, interactive and practically focused sessions.  This year, a number of workshops will also be offered on topics including frontal-lobe problems, aged care, medicinal cannabis, addiction medicine, and chronic pain.  Beyond the clinical, additional workshops will offer attendees media and social media training, plus an opportunity to develop self-reflection and expression by focusing on the humanities. Trainee’s will not be forgotten, with a Trainee Day being offered prior to the Conference, which will once again feature keynote speakers from the main Conference.

The growing interface between palliative medicine and social media is one of the major themes of the Conference. The Palliverse team will be on deck for the entire meeting. We will be running social media workshops on day one (September 9th), which are specifically tailored for Conference delegates and designed to help absolute beginners navigate and make the most of this brave new world. We will also be on hand at the Social Media Hub during lunch times to provide attendees with one-on-one assistance with their social media queries. Furthermore, we will be working hard throughout the Conference (and afterwards!) to keep delegates and the rest of the world informed of what is happenings at the sessions through live social media updates, and to continue the conversations afterwards by hosting tweet chats on Conference hot topics!

The setting and venue of the conference promises not to disappoint.  The conference venue is the well-appointed facilities of the luxurious Duxton Hotel, nestled in the midst of the best that Perth has to offer, including the beautiful Swan River foreshore and the entertainment precinct of Northbridge. The Conference dinner will be one not to miss with world-class food and wine at the State Reception Centre in King’s Park. Bring your camera as you take the pre-dinner stroll and gaze at the breathtaking views of the city and the river, hued golden by the setting sun.

Come join ANZSPM, the Palliverse team and the rest of the palliative medicine community from across Australia, New Zealand and beyond @ANZSPM16 in Perth this September to relax, network, reflect and learn!