Organisational Context

The SMRPCC is an alliance of palliative care services in the Southern Metro Region of Melbourne with the aim to collaboratively implement the Victorian End of Life and Palliative Care framework in the region. The consortium is committed to improve access to palliative care for people with motor neurone disease and other progressive neurological conditions.

Position Context

Motor Neurone Disease is a life limiting disease and because of its nature, people diagnosed with MND may benefit from palliative care services throughout their disease trajectory.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) funds Shared Care Worker roles in all eight-palliative care regional consortia established as part of the Victorian Government’s Strengthening palliative care: a policy for health and community care providers 2004-09. This Shared Care Worker program has been in operation since 2009.

In 2021, the consortium established an extension to the position in order to include attention to Parkinson’s disease in the role. The position is for 1 year. Extension depends on funding.

Position Purpose

The MND PNC Shared Care Worker position purpose:

• to ensure that the palliative care workforce has the knowledge and skills to support people with Motor Neurone Disease and other progressive neurological conditions
• to improve access to Palliative Care for people with Motor Neurone Disease and other progressive neurological conditions (MND and other PNCs)
• to establish collaborative links with services in the community that support people with MND and other PNCs.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Provide secondary consultation to palliative care workers in the region when they are caring for a client with MND and other PNCs

• Disseminate information about MND and other PNCs to palliative care colleagues as appropriate, (e.g., webinars and pod casts, information sheets)
• Develop and deliver education to staff working in palliative care, and aged care about the disease and the services that are offered/available
• Organise the annual Program of Experience in MND (PEM) in conjunction with CHCB
• Be aware of and keep up to date regarding MND resources available from MND Australia, MND Victoria and other MND specialist organisations
• Actively promote the MND Inpatient and Community Top up funding programmes
• Collect and maintain data on referrals to palliative care services of people with MND and other PNCs
• Maintain regular communication with the MND Victoria Advisor in the region; attend biannual (minimum) networking meetings at MND Victoria and other forums/conferences as required
• Establish relationships with neurologists and movement disorder clinics to raise awareness for the need for palliative care
• Maintain relationships between the consortium, MNDAV and Fight Parkinson’s.

Please contact Tanja Bahro, consortium manager for further information and a position description.

[email protected] using the subject line: MND and Parkinson's Shared Care Worker enquiry via EthicalJobs or phone 0418584106