Dr Jessica Maskell1,5, Ms Merryn Gray1, Ms Jane Logan2, Ms Laura Love3, Ms Chrissie Lynn4, Ms Katherine Richards1, Ms Kim Sutherland6, Dr Graham Grove1
1Specialist Palliative Care Rural Telehealth Service, Gold Coast Hospital And Health Service, Southport, 1 Hospital Boulevard Southport, 2Specialist Palliative Care Rural Telehealth Service, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Townsville, Australia, 3Specialist Palliative Care Rural Telehealth Service, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service , Cairns , Australia, 4Specialist Palliative Care Rural Telehealth Service, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service , Birtinya, Australia, 5Social Work and Spiritual Care Services, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service , Southport, Australia, 6Social Work and Welfare Clinical Education Program, Metro South, Queensland health, Brisbane, Australia
Biography:
Lynn Berger (BSW) is the state-wide clinical lead for Grief and Bereavement with the Specialist Palliative Care Rural Telehealth Service (SPaRTa). With 25 years of experience in social work leadership, advanced clinical experience in gender-based violence, community development, and palliative care in Australia and Canada. She has led quality improvement projects and published peer-reviewed articles on collaborative leadership and Co-operative Inquires.
Abstract:
Background:
Access to grief and bereavement care (GBC) was identified as a priority in Queensland following the Palliative Care Reform Program (PCRP). To date, GBC provision within public health services has been inconsistent with no agreed service delivery benchmark or model. Hence, the PCRP supported the development of a grief and bereavement model for Queenslanders living in regional, rural, and remote (RRR) areas.
Aim:
Delivery of a contemporary evidence-based comprehensive grief and bereavement (GB) model of care (MOC) for RRR Queenslanders, providing personalised, compassionate, and evidence-based interventions for people facing imminent death and bereavement due to life-limiting illnesses.
Methods:
Development of the model employed a robust project delivery framework. This included completion of a local areas needs analysis, thorough literature review, review and consultation with local, national, and international experts, and benchmarking of other services.
Outcomes:
The GB MOC for RRR Queenslanders integrates a public health bereavement framework. This model ensures universal, additional, and specialised support tiers are provided to address varying needs of bereaved individuals and their communities, consisting of direct client care, secondary consultations, and community capacity building initiatives. Model implementation has led to improved access to quality GBC for RRR Queenslanders.
Conclusion:
The model demonstrates a holistic approach to delivering GBC, addressing the unique needs of bereaved individuals and their communities, potentially reducing the need for specialised care through early interventions, and strengthening community resilience through capacity-building activities. The model’s integration of a public health approach provides a blueprint for further improvements across Queensland.