Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always
– Hippocrates
The Australian Veterinary Palliative Care Advisory Council was established in 2017 in an effort to harness expertise from a range of specialities across veterinary and allied health fields.
It aims to develop and support the best end-of-life care practices within veterinary medicine, encourage cross-discipline interaction between veterinarians and allied health practitioners to improve patient outcomes and be a source of practical advice for veterinary practitioners looking to increase their clinical skills in this area. It also endeavours to openly encourage conversations about death and bereavement within the veterinary and animal health field.
AVPCAC defines Palliative Veterinary Medicine to be the practice of medicine that aims to improve quality of life, minimise animal suffering and distress and provide support to caregivers throughout the period of a patient’s illness. This is done through a focus on the symptomatic management of total pain. Whilst not limited to end-of-life it is commonly applied to this scenario, in which case, the discipline encompasses active care of both the patient and the caregivers during and after the dying process.
The members of the council contribute their time and expertise to the cause in a voluntary capacity. Applications to join the council are invited and may be submitted for consideration at any time by any outgoing council members. To express an interest or to support the work of the Council please get in touch.
About Palliative Care
Palliative care is a newly emerging field within veterinary medicine. It refers to the ideals of ensuring patient comfort, providing access to specialised end-stage health care and supporting caregivers through the difficulties of end-of-life decision-making. When curative treatment is not always possible or considered to be in the patient’s best interests, palliative care provides a formalised avenue for comfort-focused care and invites us all to participate in more effective end-of-life communication with clients in an attempt to reduce or relieve suffering.
In Australia, there has been no formal recognition of veterinary palliative care as its own unique field and yet, the practice of palliative care requires specialised knowledge across a broad range of subjects. This council aims to facilitate the dissemination of information to practising veterinarians, that will allow them to deliver more comprehensive palliative care services to both their patients and the families who care for them.
AVPCAC Mission
The Council recognises the need for an inclusive approach to this mission and is committed to supporting the development of interdisciplinary alliances between veterinarians, allied health professionals such as animal physiotherapists, as well as mental health and counselling professionals.
To achieve this mission, AVPCAC aims to:
- Provide resources and documentation to support best end-of-life care practices within veterinary medicine
- Actively encourage cross-discipline interaction by inviting allied health to engage with the veterinary industry through the actions of the Council
- Advocate for the continued dissemination of knowledge between specialities that are able to contribute to improved patient outcomes at end-of-life
- Support the development of any conference or education platforms focused on Palliative Veterinary Medicine
- Encourage the advancement of scientific knowledge and clinical practice through promotion of research and clinical investigation
- Communicate with other professional bodies both nationally and internationally, with interests in Palliative Veterinary Medicine
The 2023 Australian Veterinary Palliative Care Conference – Visit the website to find out more