Policy Issues

Working Groups & Expert Committees

Respecting Patient Choices
In August 2002, Austin Health in Victoria introduced the Respecting Patient Choices program of advance care planning. This program builds on the Respecting Choices program developed in the USA and has been modified for application both in the acute sector and in community based care agencies within Australia. An integrated training program for Respecting Patient Choices Consultants has been developed as part of this process. The aim of the program is to develop a sustainable, transferable model for integrating community and hospital based advance care planning. Due to the success of the pilot study, Austin Health have been funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing to implement a national program that will concentrate on the delivery of the Respecting Patient Choices program to one lead hospital in each state and territory. The program is headed by Bill Sylvester from Austin Repatriation Hospital in Melbourne. AAG representatives on the committee are Barbara Squires, Immediate Past President, and Anne Meller, Prince of Wales Hospital NSW.

National Continence Management Strategy
One project within this National Strategy is the Community Aged Care Packages Continence Research Project. Under this project, clients will undergo a comprehensive continence assessment and care plan with a view to delaying admission to residential care. AAG is represented on the CACP Continence Research Project Advisory Group by Dr George Szonyi, Head of Geriatric Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

State Divisions
AAG members participate in state or regional expert groups and committees. Refer to Divisional Pages for additional information.