A program supporting members of the Orange and Dubbo communities to plan for their future health care has been launched in Orange.
ADVANCE CARE PLANNING: Orange Mayor Tony Mileto and Councillors Frances Kinghorne and Steve Peterson with Member for Orange Phil Donato and Member for Calare Andrew Gee, and representatives from the Western NSW PHN, Orange Aboriginal Medical Service and Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre, at the launch.
In short: The Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care - My Care Future Project has been launched in Orange.
The project encourages people to plan for their future health care.
What's next: A series of workshops will be delivered to raise awareness of advance care planning.
Orange City Council received $462,000 funding from the Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSW PHN) to deliver the Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care - My Care Future Project over the next 12 months.
My Care Future will be delivered by Orange City Council, in collaboration with the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service and Dubbo's Connecting Community Services.
The project encourages people to consider 'advance care planning' by deciding what they want to happen to them should they become ill or injured and be unable to speak for themselves.
The aim is for participants to complete an Advance Care Directive, a legally binding document outlining a person's preferences for healthcare and treatment.
Orange Mayor Tony Mileto said community awareness of advance care planning was low, with only a third of Australians being familiar with the process and just 6 per cent having a formal Advance Care Directive.
Orange Mayor Tony Mileto speaks at the launch.
"Advance care planning helps ensure your loved ones and health providers know about your values, beliefs and what matters most to you so they can respect your treatment preferences," Cr Mileto said.
"Everyone should consider advance care planning, regardless of age or health. It benefits you, your family, carers and health professionals involved in your care."
WNSW PHN CEO, Brad Porter said that the WNSW PHN conducted a Palliative Care needs assessment last year.
"Our assessment revealed respondents prioritised increased access to palliative care education and information and support with Advanced Care Planning.
"We are excited to support the My Care Future program, which responds to this need through a two-part Advanced Care Planning model.
"The peer led volunteer workforce will be complemented by a pilot program to deliver advanced care planning to First Nations communities, in partnership with the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service," Mr Porter said.
The My Care Future Project is based on the City of Onkaparinga's Advance Care Directive Peer-led Workshop Project 2023, which uses community volunteers to deliver workshops to increase understanding of advance care planning.
The next steps will be to deliver a series of workshops to health stakeholders, palliative care providers, community service providers and community members to aid community conversations, raise awareness of advance care planning and engage volunteers to work with the program.
