The Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) has welcomed the Minister for Ageing, The Honourable Justine Elliott’s announcement of the 2008-2010 Rural Palliative Care Project. The $6.7 million announcement will allow 36 divisions of general practice in rural areas to work with health and community services to deliver palliative care in their local areas. 

The RPC Project will be implemented over the period April 2008 to June 2010.  The project will have two waves (intake periods). The divisions will deliver a project over a maximum period of two years.  AGPN will seek expressions of interest from rural divisions of general practice and / or consortia of divisions, to participate in the RPC Project.  The first wave of the expression of interest process has been completed. Wave 2 will commence in April 2008.

AGPN has two main outcomes that must be met through this expression of interest (EOI) process, they are to:

1.      resource a maximum of 36 rural divisions of general practice, or consortia of divisions, to implement and reorient local palliative care services to include the role of general practice based on the findings of the Rural Palliative Care Pilot Program; and

2.      provide sustainable models of rural palliative care service delivery that can be adapted to address the local needs of rural communities throughout Australia.

This will be achieved through enhancing common understandings among participants / key stakeholders, strengthening links between palliative care and mainstream service delivery, and taking into account the broader consumer and community interests. 

The RPC Project provides a way forward in addressing access and quality palliative care for rural and remote Australians.  Therefore, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (the Department) has made funds available through the AGPN to deliver this outcome. The available resources for the 36 Divisions will be up to a maximum of $150,000 over a maximum two year implementation period.