• What is Palliative Care?
• How is palliative care different in paediatrics?
• Transition to palliative care
• The Victorian Paediatric Palliative Care Program
• Best Practice in paediatric palliative care
• Myths about palliative care
• Place of care

How is palliative care different in children ?

• Different spectrum of illness
• Smaller, more varied patient population
• Parents are generally more involved as care-givers and decision-makers
• Developmental factors influence the child's understanding of illness and death, as well as their ability to communicate and participate in decision-making
• Different physiology and pharmacokinetics
• The paediatrician has often developed a very close relationship with the child and family and wishes to remain involved
• Sibling and extended family needs
• Grief in parents is more likely to be severe, prolonged and complicated