This course unit will provide an insight into the provision of palliative care for vulnerable groups, including Children and Adolescents, the elderly, people with disabilities, severe mental illness and drug dependence, sex workers, the homeless, refugees and internally displaced people, prisoners and members of the armed forces. Barriers to accessing and remaining in palliative care services will be discussed and reviewed along with strategies to overcome such barriers. The area of stigma and poverty and how these impact on palliative care provision will be addressed along with the importance and challenges of establishing trust and building therapeutic relationships in such groups.

This course will take learners through the educational methods, assessment of learners and curriculum development. It will enable the learner to assess the needs of training, design implement and evaluate a palliative care training program. The course also takes learners through mentoring, and managing a mentorship program.