#342 Communications and Advocacy update
2 September 2021
Here’s an update on a few of the issues AMA Victoria is working on for members, including:
- health system demand pressures related to COVID-19
- Australia's Annual Overdose Report
- new legal course to help health professionals deliver quality end-of-life care.
Health system demand pressures related to COVID-19 - Intergovernmental roundtable
We have been advised by the Victorian Government that state Health Ministers wish to hold a roundtable discussion with stakeholders later this month to discuss health system demand pressures related to COVID-19. Ministers have established a small interjurisdictional Senior Officials Group (SOG) to support this work, which includes representatives from NSW, Tasmania and Western Australia, as well as Victoria (which is chairing this group).
As a key stakeholder, we have been invited to participate in the roundtable. We have conveyed to the Department our willingness to be involved and noted that it is an understatement to say that this issue is of considerable importance to our members. Further, we asserted that it is important to acknowledge that this crisis is multifactorial and predates the pandemic; but in many ways, COVID-19 has exacerbated and precipitated the current crisis.
Nevertheless, we are cautiously optimistic at the long-awaited recognition on the Department’s part of the of acuity, breadth and depth of issues that currently confront our health system. We will keep members updated on the outcomes of the roundtable.
Australia's Annual Overdose Report 2021
Tuesday 31 August was International Overdose Awareness Day. It was also the day Penington Institute released its Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2021.
Tragically, our overdose crisis continues to rage on with no end in sight. Almost 35,000 Australians have died from overdoses since the turn of the century. Overdose is a silent health crisis and we need to become creative about starting a much-needed conversation.
To learn more and access this year’s edition of Australia’s Annual Overdose Report, visit www.penington.org.au/overdose.
New training to help health professionals deliver quality end-of-life care
End of Life Law for Clinicians (ELLC) is a free national training program for clinicians about the law relating to end-of-life decision-making across Australia. ELLC has launched 10 new and updated online training modules for medical practitioners and students, nurses and allied and other health professionals. Watch this video to learn more.
Topics include: capacity and consent to medical treatment, withholding and withdrawing treatment, Advance Care Directives, substitute decision-making, legal protection for providing pain relief, futile or non-beneficial treatment, emergency treatment, end-of-life decision-making for children and managing disputes.
CPD points may be claimed and certificates of completion are available.
Click here for more information.
