An updated and more comprehensive version of the “go to resource” for health professionals working in paediatric palliative care in Australia and New Zealand is now available.

Digital and hardcopy versions of ‘A Practical Guide to Palliative Care in Paediatrics’ or as it is commonly known ‘the Green Book’, are now available free of charge via the Paediatric Palliative Care website.

“Children are not expected to die, so when childhood or adolescence is interrupted by life limiting illness it’s natural for the child, family, their community and health professionals to have fears, concerns and questions about what will happen,” says Dr Anthony Herbert, chair of the Clinical Expert Advisory Panel writing group.

“The guide addresses the many and varied aspects of caring for dying children and their families, including pain and symptom management, practical support, psychosocial issues, bereavement support, communication, and available resources.

“Over the last twenty years, the Green Book has become the go to resource for palliative care providers and hospitals,” Dr Herbert says.

This is the fourth update to the original guide that was first published in 1999. Four of the original authors were involved in an exhaustive review process which has drawn on the skill and knowledge of 50 health practitioners and 250 references.

All sections have been updated and have gone through an 18-month peer review process, building on the solid foundation of the 1999, 2009, and 2014 versions. New content includes:

• A focus of culture and diversity
• Advance care planning
• Pain management and opioids
• Non-pharmacological management of symptoms
• Perinatal palliative care
• Clinician wellbeing

“The Green Book really empowers palliative care workers in the most challenging of circumstances and seeks to share the knowledge and resources that underpin quality of life for the 30,000 infants, children, and young people living with live limiting conditions in Australia,” says Camilla Rowland, Chief Executive Officer, Palliative Care Australia (PCA).

“Updating the Green Book has been one of the key activities of the Paediatric Palliative Care National Action Plan Project, I am so proud of what the team has achieved and the impact this work will have.”

The three-year Paediatric Palliative Care National Action Plan Project has been funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care and is a partnership between PCA and Paediatric Palliative Care Australia and New Zealand.

Digital and hardcopy versions of ‘A Practical Guide to Palliative Care in Paediatrics’ are now available free of charge via the Paediatric Palliative Care website.

Video recordings from the 2023 Oceanic Palliative Care Conference are now available to watch on demand via the 23OPCC Education Hub. Recordings are available free of charge to delegates as part of registration. Subscriptions can also be purchased for between $200 and $400. More info and access - HERE.