As we countdown to the announcement of the 2019 National Palliative Care Awards at this week's Oceanic Palliative Care Conference in Perth, we were fortunate to catch-up with some past winners.

This week we hear from Dr Anthony Herbert, Director Paediatric Palliative Care Service at the Children’s Health Queensland, Hospital and Health Service and co-ordinator of QuoCCA (Quality of Care Collaborative of Australia).

Dr Herbert shared how he and his QuoCCA colleagues used their prize money, which is bestowed on National Palliative Care Award winners to enhance their ongoing professional development.

In 2017, the QuoCCA  for Paediatric Palliative Care Education won the Outstanding Teamwork Award at the National Palliative Care Awards.

This project, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, relates to the provision of inter-professional education related to paediatric palliative care throughout Australia. 

"It was felt that a helpful way to use the prize money was to continue to build on the groups ability and capacity to teach others," said Dr Herbert.

"This included an increasing emphasis on “train the trainer” approaches.  Various aspects of content (both introductory and advanced) had been developed.  It was therefore felt important that the group further develop its teaching abilities, especially around adult learning principles and interactive learning."

On December 13 2018, approximately 20 paediatric health professionals from QuoCCA met in Brisbane to receive training.  Laurie Kelly of Brain Friendly Training delivered a “Trainers Intensive” which was aimed at enhancing their ability as both trainers and facilitators.  

"Various strategies and concepts of training were covered on the day.  These included an awareness of the types of learners (e.g. visual, auditory, kinesetic and tactile) and the influence of the right and left sides of our brains on how we learn<" said Dr Herbert.  

"Methods of teaching included memory games, time keepers, music, movement and video.   Ninety-four per cent of the participants felt the content of the day was excellent."

Some comments from the participants included:

• "Seeing it in action by Laurie made for a very engaging and practical day. I have now more tools in my toolbox having always felt nervous about how to engage an audience."
• "Excellent course to 'educate the educator'. Wealth of knowledge and useable techniques. Huge amount covered."
• "The is the most useful and practical training session I have ever attended. Not a moment where I wasn't engaged."
• "The program was dynamic. It challenged my current teaching tools, but excites me in my future workshops."

Read more about QuoCCA here