Calling all nurses… Next month PCNA will celebrate more than a decade of progress towards its vision of excellence in palliative care nursing.

DID YOU play a part in establishing the foundation for this progress?

DO YOU want to contribute to future progress towards this vision?

ARE YOU just curious to check out the latest advances in palliative care nursing?

Whether you’re in Canberra, Cooma, Clayfield, Carlton, or Christchurch—this conference is your opportunity to meet and mingle with experts in your field, as well as catch up with old colleagues or make new friends and professional connections.

In this post we give an overview of the conference program and keynote speakers presenting at what promises to be an outstanding conference, not to be missed!

#PCNAust16 by @PCNAust

Hotel Realm, just a stone’s throw from both houses of Federal Parliament, is the stunning venue for PCNA’s 6^th Biennial Conference: From Foundation to Future.

Spread over two days of plenary and concurrent sessions, the conference program features a stellar line-up of keynote and panel speakers with a blend of experts across multiple disciplines – from Australia and abroad – covering a broad range of topics to inform palliative care practice, education, and research:

• Professor Meera Agar
  Cannabis: What is the Evidence for its use in Advanced Symptom Management
  
• Professor David Currow
  New and Emerging Cancer Treatments and the Implications for Palliative Care Practice?
  
• Dr Thomas Fischer (RN)
  Better Managing Pain for People with Advanced Dementia: The Challenges and Solutions
  
• Professor Lindy Willmott
  Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: A Global Overview of Different Legal Approaches
  and
  Drivers of Futile Treatment in the Tertiary Context: Empirical Findings from a Medical Perspective

• Emeritus Professor Margaret O’Connor AM
  Bridging Academic and Clinical Roles: Implementing a Research Role in a Palliative Care Service
  
• Panel – Diversity of Palliative Care Nursing Practice
  Ms Regina Kendall
  Dr Aileen Collier
  Ms Annabelle May
  Ms Carmel Jekabsons
  Ms Alice Atyeo
  Ms Lisa MacDonald

Several Workshops on diverse topics will also be offered to conference delegates:

• Workshop 1: Planning Palliative Care for People with Dementia in Aged Care and Other Settings – Dr Tim Luckett
• Workshop 2: Developing communication skills in palliative care, an innovative approach (Mask-Ed™) – Ms Rachel Bilton-Simek & Ms Jane Frost
• Workshop 3: Ethical Conflicts in Palliative Care: Responding with Integrity and Effectiveness – Dr Mary Gentile and Prof Sandra Lynch
• Workshop 4: A Guide to Building Partnerships: Respect, Trust and Engagement
  – Dr John Rosenberg & Ms Wendy Gain
• Workshop 5: Supporting Family Members in the Context of Ill-Health – Prof Liz Forbat
• Workshop 6: Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration (PCOC): Responding to Patient’s Needs: Patient Rate Sympton Distress Using SAS – Ms Carol Hope
• Workshop 7: Optimizing Care for Patients with Drug and Alcohol Needs – Ms Amy Faden

As you can see, whatever your passion – this conference has it covered! You can see the full program here and find registration details from the conference website.

The conference will incorporate social media through the hashtag #PCNAust16 (onsite social media support for delegates will be provided).

@PCNAust and @Palliverse look forward to seeing you there!