As of 30 June 2023, Metro South Hospital and Health Service in Queensland will become the new host for the Advance Care Planning Australia program.
This announcement comes after The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care, announced the details of the successful recipients of National Palliative Care Program grants last Friday.
National Program Director Xanthe Sansome delivered the following message:
"Advance Care Planning Australia is about to have a new home," she said.
"After many years as the host and much success and growth in advance care planning nationally, Austin Health decided not to submit for the next round of grant funding and therefore will discontinue its role as long-term host of Advance Care Planning Australia after 30 June 2023.
"Austin Health is immensely proud of the progress made in the advance care planning space over the past decade and looks forward to a smooth transition to the new host agency."
The Commonwealth Government has selected Metro South Hospital and Health Service in Queensland to lead the program into the future. Metro South HHS has extensive experience with advance care planning as the host of Queensland's Office of Advance Care Planning with an integrated system of ACP across Queensland.
The website, online education modules and National Advance Care Planning Support Service will continue to be available after 30 June 2023 while the transition takes place. Members of the public, service providers and health professionals will still receive e-news (unless they choose to opt out) and social media updates. Metro South HHS will provide further information about the program in due course.
"I would like to acknowledge Austin Health for their support of the program and former program staff for their engagement, policy and education work, research and resource development," Mrs Sansome said.
"I would especially like to acknowledge the current team members - staff, volunteers, ambassadors and engagement committee whom I have had the privilege of working with this year - who have done an extraordinary amount of strategic work, resulting in the most successful National Advance Care Planning Week campaign ever.
"I will be supporting the transition as the Interim Program Director until 29 September 2023. You can continue to contact me on 1300 208 582 or through the contact us form until further contact details become available in the near future."
Xanthe Sansome - Program Director